Arthritis

Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle

Arthritis is inflammation resulting from the degeneration of cartilage in the joint causing pain, swelling, and stiffness. Types of Arthritis

There are three types of arthritis affecting the foot and ankle and may include:

Osteoarthritis: Also called degenerative joint disease, this is the most common type of Arthritis,

Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy joints, tissues, and organs.

Post-traumatic arthritis: Arthritis developing following an injury to ankle or foot.

Symptoms

Symptoms of foot and ankle arthritis include pain or tenderness, swelling, and stiffness in the joint and limited range of motion.

Treatments

Non-surgical treatment options for foot and ankle arthritis include medications (antiinflammatories), injections (steroids), physical therapy, ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), weight loss, orthotics such as pads or arch supports. Surgery may be required to treat foot and ankle arthritis if your symptoms do not improve with conservative treatments.