Foot Health Tips: Preventing and Relieving Arthritis Discomfort

Understanding Foot Pain

At some point in your life, you deal with pain in and around your ankles or feet. It’s among the hardest-working and most intricate parts of your body. It comprises a web of soft tissue. It consists of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood arteries. This web holds its 26 bones and 33 tiny joints together.

Soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains account for most short-term foot or ankle pain episodes. Self-care techniques should help these recover gradually. You most likely won’t need to see a doctor for treatment. However, some people may need many months to recover fully.

Meanwhile, some pain might need a clearer source or get any better with self-care. When it seems to be worsening, not improving, or lasting for more than several months, it is a cause for alarm. Changes in the foot or ankle structure or an underlying ailment may be causing pain.

Prolonged pain within and around the feet or ankles may have multiple causes. These include ill-fitting shoes,

• osteoarthritis,
• inflammatory arthritis,
• connective tissue illnesses.
• inadequate blood flow
• nerve injury.

Let’s examine in more detail how to avoid and treat foot pain caused by arthritis. 

What is Foot – Arthritis?

The foot and ankle are affected by three main forms of arthritis:

1. Osteoarthritis

Also referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis, osteoarthritis is brought on by the degeneration of the cartilage that surrounds and protects the ends of your bones. The ability of the bones in our joints to easily glide against one another is lost when the articular cartilage in our foot becomes thin. 

The rough, uncovered surfaces the bones are now gliding against cause pain while moving joints. The most prevalent type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, usually strikes people in their middle years.

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis

An immune system malfunction causes this type of arthritis. When the body’s defenses start to weaken, rheumatoid arthritis occurs. It harms the bone structure and articular cartilage in the ankle and foot. 

The articular cartilage becomes overactive in rheumatoid arthritis, making joint mobility easier. This inflammation destroys our joints and the tendons that support them. This can lead to stress fractures or joint abnormalities. 

Other bodily tissues may also be impacted by rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis usually affects women more than males. Symptoms may appear between the ages of 40 and 60.

3. Post-Traumatic Arthritis

Our joints’ protective articular cartilage might deteriorate due to trauma, such as a wound. Ankle or foot injuries might lead to the development of post-traumatic arthritis. 

Post-traumatic arthritis is frequently the result of traumas, such as displacements and fractures that harm the joint’s surface. Ankle and foot injuries are more likely to progress to arthritis, even if properly treated. 

Symptoms of Foot Arthritis

The symptoms of foot arthritis can vary, but generally, arthritic joints hurt and become inflamed. While symptoms can appear suddenly, they usually appear gradually. The following are typical signs of arthritis in the feet:

• discomfort brought on by movement 
• discomfort brought on by strenuous activity
• combined sensitivity
• more discomfort in the morning or after taking a nap
• inflammation, warmth, and redness in joints 
• having trouble running, walking, or standing 

To choose the best course of action for your specific situation, it’s critical to know and monitor your symptoms.  

How Can You Prevent Foot Arthritis?

You can try to manage your discomfort by including these exercises in your routine:

1. Put on Supportive Footwear: Your footwear choices are crucial. You should be mindful of the footwear you wear, which may aggravate foot arthritis. Avoid wearing unsupportive shoes, like high heels, if you have signs of foot arthritis. Instead, choose shoes with better balance and arch support with insoles for foot pain.
    
2. Extend your Achilles Tendon: Regular stretching can help prevent foot arthritis indirectly. You can reduce your risk of injury and increase general mobility by extending your ligaments and tendons in your foot. Reduced injury risk will lessen the likelihood of acquiring arthritic diseases.  
   
3. Visit a Podiatrist in your Area: It is difficult to self-diagnose foot arthritis, but fortunately, you do not have to. Visit a skilled podiatrist for a thorough assessment of your ailment and a breakdown of your potential treatment choices.

When to See a Doctor?

Suppose you suffer from foot pain regularly. In that case, you know what causes it and how to manage your discomfort effectively whether through foot pain insoles or icing the area. However, in the following circumstances, you ought to consult a physician right away:

• Your pain is intense and starts from nowhere.
• A recent injury is the cause of your foot pain.
• After an injury, you cannot put any weight on your foot.
• You suffer from foot pain and a medical problem that disrupts blood flow.
• There is an open wound in the painful area.
• Your painful area shows discoloration or exhibits other signs of inflammation.
• You’re experiencing foot pain along with a fever.

Relief from Arthritis: Professional Treatments

Reducing the quantity of force applied to the foot and ankle during the initial phases of arthritis may help with pain. For instance, low-impact exercises like yoga and swimming can improve cardiovascular health without straining the ankle or foot.

Additionally, reducing weight might reduce joint pressure. Every time you move around and stand, your foot and ankle support your entire body. Being overweight amplifies this pressure and may trouble the progression of arthritis. Consult doctors to support you in making healthy dietary and exercise adjustments because they recognize that losing weight is difficult. 

1. Anti-inflammatory Non-steroidal Medications

Doctors frequently prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) to treat arthritis-affected foot and ankle joints to minimize swelling and pain. NSAIDs are commonly prescribed orally by doctors, and there are several over-the-counter options, including naproxen and ibuprofen. 

If the over-the-counter treatments aren’t alleviating the discomfort associated with arthritis, your physician can suggest a prescription medication. Your doctor will guide you on the appropriate dosage and duration of treatment, regardless of whether they prescribe or suggest non-prescription NSAIDs. 

Prolonged usage of NSAIDs should be under a doctor’s supervision because they can have negative side effects such as headaches, diarrhea, and nausea.

2. Foot Pain Orthotics: Braces and Inserts 

Using an ankle or foot brace or an orthotic device that fits inside your shoes such as insoles for feet pain lessens your arthritis symptoms. An insert or brace may reduce discomfort and stiffness in the foot or ankle joint, allowing for more comfortable walking.

There are several sizes and stiffness levels for orthotic inserts. Depending on the location of arthritis pain, you can position them within the shoe to provide support to different areas of the foot. By shifting the body’s weight to different parts of the foot, orthotic inserts can relieve discomfort and lessen the strain placed on the arthritic portions of the foot.

Additionally, there are variations in brace sizes and support levels. Some are like a cast that covers a portion of the foot and ankle, while others are adaptable and worn like shoe inserts for foot pain. 

Your daily routine and the extent of your symptoms will determine which brace type is ideal for you. For example, a light brace can be sufficient if you intend to spend the day in a setting that doesn’t require much walking. Foot pain insoles for shoes with greater support could be a better option if your profession needs you to stand for extended periods. Drugstore braces and foot pain inserts can be effective in certain situations.

3. Injections of Corticosteroids

When injected straight into arthritic joints, corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that can reduce discomfort and swelling for three to six months.

Doctors inject into the joint space steroid medicine using a needle. A tiny amount of anesthetic is typically present in the steroid solution. For added precision, doctors may use live X-ray or ultrasound imaging during the treatment if arthritis affects particularly small joints, like those in the upper part of the foot.

Since corticosteroid injections are outpatient treatments, you can return home immediately following a session. Following an anesthetic injection, the foot or ankle becomes painless for 30 to 60 minutes. After two to three days, the corticosteroids start to relieve discomfort.

Adverse reactions to steroids can include nausea and injection site discoloration. The majority of experts recommend individuals to have two steroid injections annually.