Degenerative arthritis is a condition that slowly wears away joints. In the beginning, you may notice that the affected joint seems stiff, and it may even ache. As the joint cartilage breaks down, the bones rub against each other, causing pain and swelling. Over time, bone spurs develop, and the joint’s range of motion becomes limited.
Arthritis is most likely to develop near the site of an old injury.
Your feet pound the pavement every day, they support and propel your body as you move through life. The wear and tear of daily use, and injury are the common causes of arthritis.
When arthritis affects your big toe, your foot hurts when it pushes off the ground. Arthritis often appears in the big-toe joint along with a bunion.
When arthritis affects the rear or midfoot joints, you feel pain when you put weight on your foot. Arthritis may affect the joint where the foot and ankle meet. It may also affect other joints nearby.
You may have an imaging test to check the condition of a joint. X-rays show damage to bone, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show damage to the joint lining.
If your symptoms are mild, medications may be enough to reduce pain and swelling. For more severe arthritis, surgery may be needed to improve the condition of the joint.
Remember that foot pain is not normal. Healthy, pain-free feet are a key to your independence. At the first sign of pain, or any noticeable changes in your feet, seek professional podiatric medical care. Your feet must last a lifetime, and most Americans log an amazing 75,000 miles on their feet by the time they reach age 50. Regular foot care can make sure your feet are up to the task. With proper detection, intervention, and care, most foot and ankle problems can be lessened or prevented. Remember that the advice provided in this page should not be used as a substitute for a consultation or evaluation by a podiatric physician.
Disclaimer: Portions of this web page were copied from the American Podiatric Medical Association's (apma.org) web site. NEOFASA, Inc. makes no claims as to being the orginial author of some portions of this web page. Please feel free to visit the apma.org web site for further infomation on this subject.t.
