Arthritis affects almost 40 million Americans. Although every joint in the body is
susceptible to arthritis, the foot and its joints are common targets. The force
of the body's weight on the foot and ankle make them susceptible to arthritis.
The symptoms typically include swelling and pain or tenderness in one or more
joints for more than two weeks, redness or heat in a joint, limited joint motion
and early morning stiffness.
There are more than 100 different forms of arthritis, and symptoms vary according to
type:
Osteoarthritis: Sometimes referred to as degenerative arthritis or joint "wear and tear," osteoarthritis occurs in the joints. Pain and stiffness caused by cartilage destruction develop slowly over the years.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is a chronic inflammatory disease
that can affect the entire body. Although the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is
unknown, this potentially crippling disease is believed to result when the body
produces enzymes that inflame the joints and other tissues.
Neuropathic Arthritis: Sometimes referred to as Charcot's joint, this is a progressive disease that is almost always associated with partial or total loss of sensation. This can involve the entire foot or ankle or a very specific joint, and can also be characterized by swelling, redness, dislocations of bones, fractures or ulcers.
More commonly this condition is called Neuropathic Osteoarthropathy. When it is
associated with diabetes it is called Diabetic Neuropathic Osteoarthropathy
(DNOAP).
Gout: This is a form of arthritis in which uric acid appears in excessive quantities in the blood and may be deposited in the joints and other tissues. During an acute attack of gout there is swelling, inflammation and extreme pain in a joint -- particularly the big toe.
Septic or Infectious Arthritis: This is caused when bacteria spreads from an infection through
the bloodstream to a joint
Surgery to reconstruct the joint - either through resection, fusion or implants - may be needed if arthritis causes chronic problems that cannot be controlled by
medications, orthotics or physical therapy. While surgical care will not cure
arthritis or completely restore the joint to its natural health, it will ease
pain and make daily activities more manageable.
