Foot Arthritis and Its Effects

Foot Arthritis and Its Effects

When you think of arthritis, you may tend to think it targets areas like the hands. While that is a prime spot, it also greatly affects your feet. Many people find that they experience foot pain and other side effects due to arthritis in their feet and are thus in need of a Levittown podiatrist to seek relief.

 

There are some things you can do before seeing a podiatrist. Here’s what you need to know about foot arthritis and its effects. 

Senior man giving foot massage to yourself to relieve painWhy Does It Hit The Feet?

Your feet have 30 joints in them. Arthritis is bound to hit one of them. There are many different types of arthritis that can hit the feet. Here are some of them: 

- Rheumatoid Arthritis - This usually affects both feet at the same time and the same joint in each foot is the one that is hurting. 

- Gout - People who get gout tend to have in their big toe, but it can affect any part of the foot.

- Osteoarthritis - If you feel like something is hurting in the area between your big toe and the rest of your foot, chances are that it’s osteoarthritis. You can get it in the ankle or midfoot. 

- Psoriatic Arthritis - If you notice your toes are swelling, then you probably have this. This can lead to things like plantar fasciitis and bone spurs. 

- Ankylosing Spondylitis - This is another one that can cause plantar fasciitis and you can also feel pain in your Achilles tendon. 

 

What Can Be Done For Foot Arthritis?

Now that it has been established that you have foot arthritis, you need to have it taken care of. There are several options for you when it comes to managing any pain, swelling, or stiffness that usually accompanies it. 

- Take pain medication: You can take medicine that you find over-the-counter or if the pain is bad, a prescription version. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen can be helpful. These are called nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and they can be very beneficial when it comes to lowering your swelling, pain, and redness. Make sure that you talk to your doctor, though, since they can up the risk of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal issues. There are gels like Voltaran, which doesn’t have much of a side-effect risk. 

- Wear proper shoes: When it comes to keeping your feet comfortable when you have foot arthritis, it boils down to an old Nike marketing slogan: “It’s GOT to be the shoes.” You need to have shoes that fit well and can also have room for any side conditions like hammertoes or bunions. There are brands out there that are designed purely for comfort. You want shoes with cushioning, thick soles, arch support, heel cups, and shock absorption. Ask your podiatrist in Levittown what shoe works best. 

- Shed some pounds: Heavier people tend to get arthritis at a younger age. Your feet bear a big brunt of your weight, so they will likely suffer first. Shedding those pounds, though, can go a long way toward helping your joints. The lighter you are, the less you have to worry. A 20-pound loss can significantly reduce the amount of force your joints have to bear. 

- Move Around: That might seem counterintuitive with the pain that you’re in, but exercise can help with joint function and keep levels of pain and fatigue down. This can go hand-in-hand with the above - shedding weight, since it will up your metabolism. It will NOT make your arthritis worse, it can make it better. 

 

Other Things to Consider

girl's foot exerciseYou can do other things for your foot arthritis like apply ice or heat, put inserts in your shoes to help your foot pain, take supplements like chondroitin or glucosamine, see a physical therapist, take steroidal injections (through a Levittown foot arthritis doctor), or investigate surgery if none of the above are of any help. 

The most important thing you can do is to take care of your feet. If you let your nails grow, then that can cause problems. Try to go to a spa to have your feet taken care of every four to six weeks, but make sure they follow proper safety precautions (including masks). That way, you can always have trim nails and smooth skin on your feet. 

Having foot arthritis does not mean that your quality of life has to end or even decline that much. With the proper footwear and exercise, you can get close to how you were before you had the condition.  Just follow the steps above and enjoy each and every day!

Dr. John J. Hickey and the staff at Levittown Podiatry can help you with your issues with foot arthritis. He has many years of experience and will put that to use to get your feet feeling better and improve your ability to walk around. Give him a call at 516-735-4545 today to make an appointment.

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Levittown Podiatry

2870 Hempstead Tpke, Suite 103,

Levittown, New York 11756

Phone: (516) 735-4545

Website: https://www.levittownpodiatry.com/

 

 
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