Advanced Foot & Ankle Arthritis Treatment in Waxahachie, TX

Find Arthritis Pain Relief With Our Waxahachie Foot Specialists

Do you have pain and stiffness in your feet or ankles? Do your toes not bend like they used too? If the answer is yes, you may have arthritis in your feet.

It is estimated that one out of every six middle aged person has arthritis in their feet. Being that each foot has over 30 joints, this is not surprising. Your feet absorb the brunt of the bodies shock with every step. This can add up to a lot of joint trauma when the average person takes 5,000 to 7,000 steps every day.

The good news is that your Waxahachie Foot Specialists at Family Foot & Ankle Centers are experts at treating foot and ankle arthritis pain. Below we will discuss how the different types of arthritis affect tour feet and what you can do to about it.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis in the feet and ankles affects millions of Americans every day. This painful condition can lead to stiffness and pain in any joint, but is quite common in joint of the big toe. Other common sites in the lower extremity is the ankle and the top of the foot.  This type of arthritis often develops after the age of 30 and is often referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis.

Osteoarthritis occurs as the cartilage cushion that separates the bones begins to erode from years of movement. As the cushion continues to deteriorate, the bones begin to rub together. Your foot doctor may tell you that there is “bone on bone” at this stage. This causes pain, inflammation, swelling and stiffness can worsen with time.

As your arthritis worsens, the joint may develop spurs from the bones rubbing together. These spurs can cause further inflammation of your joint lining. The good news is that foot and ankle arthritis inflammation can be treated, even though there is no cure. If diagnosed early, treatment options can help increase motion and reduce stiffness and pain. 

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a inflammatory form of arthritis. It affects women more commonly than men. This is classified as an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system attacks your own joints by mistake. Swelling and irritation soon follows as the joint becomes inflamed from the attack. This inflammation can erode the cartilage and lead to stiffness in the joint. As the joint lining continues to swell, it can become deformed and inhibit your mobility. If not treated, the inflammation causes the cartilage in your joints to break down, leading to significant pain and stiffness.

Rheumatoid arthritis most commonly affects the small joints in feet, including the toes. Approximately 9 out of 10 people with RA will get the condition in the feet or ankles. This type of arthritis can can be destructive and result in significant joint deformity, especially in the toes.

People with RA will have periods of “flare ups” and periods of remissions that tend to worsen over time.  There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but there are newer treatment options available to help people with RA control symptoms and live a more active lifestyle. 

Gout

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by painful attacks in the joints. The affected joint can become red, warm and swollen. This is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. Over time, this can lead to destruction of the joint.

Causes
Gout is caused by a build-up of uric acid crystals in the joints. Uric acid is a waste product formed during the breakdown of certain foods.  This painful condition can also be triggered by certain foods such as bacon, seafood and alcohol.

Treatment For Arthritis in the Foot or Ankle

Treatment options for foot and ankle arthritis varies depends on several factors. These include the type of arthritis, the severity, which joints are involved, activity level and more. All goals of treatment are aimed at reducing inflammation and symptoms, preventing damage to the joints and improving your activity level.

It usually involves some combination of medications, orthotics, rest, special exercises to strengthen the affected joints, protecting the joints, and rest.  In more severe cases involving disfigurement, surgery might be necessary. 

• NSAIDs are over-the-counter or prescription medicines that are taken to reduce inflammation. Prescription medication have improved in safety and are usually taken long term.  
• Supportive shoes that have a rocker bottom, such as Hoka, can reduce pressure away from your joints
• Strengthening exercises for the feet can allow the muscles that support the foot to work more effectively and better support the joints. This can also ease stiffness and discomfort.
• Braces or orthotics can help support painful joints and remove pressure from them. These can vary from a simple shoe insert to a more complicated hinged ankle brace.
• Corticosteroids, such as Prednisone, are potent and work quickly to reduce inflammation.  These medications can be given as a pill or injected.

Some of the surgical options for ankle and foot arthritis include:

• Arthroscopic surgery may be used for arthritis in the ankle joint that is not severe. This type of surgery is done through very small incisions and has minimal recovery time. 
• Fusion surgery is often used to fuse two bones together to stop with pain with movement. This is common for the big toe joint and ankle joint.
• Joint replacement surgery has become much more popular over the past decade.

Experience Our Award-Winning Care for Arthritis in Waxahachie, TX, Today!

To learn more about our available treatments for arthritis, schedule an appointment today by calling us at 972-597-4132 or by clicking here to use our convenient online form. We offer some same-day appointments and have bilingual Spanish-speaking professionals on staff for your convenience. During your appointment, our team will be happy to answer all your questions about our treatments, our office, our flexible payment options, and anything else you may want to know about us! Call today – we can’t wait to help you live your life pain-free!

As the premier podiatry centers in Waxahachie, Corsicana and Ennis, TX, our foot doctors and team at Family Foot & Ankle Centers also provide 5-star podiatry care to patients in our surrounding areas.  We proudly serve patients in Navarro and Ellis counties and surrounding areas including Red Oak, Midlothian, Desoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Duncanville, Arlington and Mansfield. The Foot Specialists at Family Foot & Ankle Centers are improving lives one foot at a time.