Life, Death and Arthritis
I wouldn't like to say that arthritis keeps me in business, but most patients I see have it.
You get arthritis when soft cartilage that cushions your joints erodes.
As a result, your knees and hips become painful. Your toes and ankles stiffen up.
You rely more on the other side and get painful corns and hard skin from the excess pressure.
These build quicker than normal and end up as painful as the arthritic joint.
You get arthritis when soft cartilage that cushions your joints erodes.
As a result, your knees and hips become painful. Your toes and ankles stiffen up.
You rely more on the other side and get painful corns and hard skin from the excess pressure.
These build quicker than normal and end up as painful as the arthritic joint.
Arthritis Symptoms
The usual arthritis symptoms are:
- Relying more on the "good" side
- Stiffness that eases after use
- Not putting weight on the painful side
- Snapping and cracking from the joint
Osteo vs Rheumatoid
Arthritis refers to general inflammation of a joint — it's usually taken to mean osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is due to wear. It's a separate condition from rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, your body's own immune system attacks your joints.
The two conditions are easily confused. As well as the name, they share similar symptoms. The key difference is their underlying cause.
Osteoarthritis is due to wear. It's a separate condition from rheumatoid arthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, your body's own immune system attacks your joints.
The two conditions are easily confused. As well as the name, they share similar symptoms. The key difference is their underlying cause.
Arthritis Causes
There are factors that accelerate osteoarthritis. These include:
- Injury to the site
- The way you walk
- Genetics
- Arthritis in another joint
Toe Arthritis
In its early stage, it's often unnoticeable. Known as hallux limitus, this condition limits how much your big toe moves upwards.
As it develops, the joint fuses and turns into a condition called hallux rigidus. (Literally "rigid big toe" in Latin).
Your smaller toes, aren't arthritis-proof either.
They're liable to shorten, hook and bend as tight shoes take their toll. Your little toe in particular.
As it develops, the joint fuses and turns into a condition called hallux rigidus. (Literally "rigid big toe" in Latin).
Your smaller toes, aren't arthritis-proof either.
They're liable to shorten, hook and bend as tight shoes take their toll. Your little toe in particular.
Ankle Arthritis
Though it fights off stiff competition from the knee and shoulder, your ankle is the most injured joint in the body.
This complex joint is subject to a lot of stress all day. It's the intersect of where your strong leg bones meet the much daintier foot bones.
The most common cause of ankle arthritis is a fracture.
This complex joint is subject to a lot of stress all day. It's the intersect of where your strong leg bones meet the much daintier foot bones.
The most common cause of ankle arthritis is a fracture.
Hip and Knee Arthritis
Osteoarthritis in the hip or knee impinges the way you walk.
A lot of people with knee arthritis (or who've had surgery) can't straighten their leg fully. You may have difficulty going up or down hills. Or shorten the time that leg contacts the floor.
Hip arthritis sufferers (and there's lots of them) swing their bad hip side to avoid painful movement.
They then shift their weight onto their "good" side.
The way you avoid putting stress on the painful side (and offload more to the other) is called compensation.
A lot of people with knee arthritis (or who've had surgery) can't straighten their leg fully. You may have difficulty going up or down hills. Or shorten the time that leg contacts the floor.
Hip arthritis sufferers (and there's lots of them) swing their bad hip side to avoid painful movement.
They then shift their weight onto their "good" side.
The way you avoid putting stress on the painful side (and offload more to the other) is called compensation.
Too Much Compensation
Now, some compensation is a good thing. After all, it keeps you moving.
The problem comes when it goes too far.
After time, the healthy joints shouldering the burden wear down much faster than normal. And the effects trickle down.
In other words, foot problems as a result of joints damage above.
You're vulnerable to heel pain, corns and other aches, shown in this bottom of foot pain chart.
The problem comes when it goes too far.
After time, the healthy joints shouldering the burden wear down much faster than normal. And the effects trickle down.
In other words, foot problems as a result of joints damage above.
You're vulnerable to heel pain, corns and other aches, shown in this bottom of foot pain chart.
How Podiatrists Treat Osteoarthritis
My job as a Podiatrist is to assess how osteoarthritis affects you. And of course, how I can best help.
But what does that actually mean?
This involves protecting the movement you have. It means cutting off over-compensating before it becomes a real problem.
I take into account cascading problems further down your leg.
I can advise you on specialised insoles which limit pain and help you walk. They do this by encouraging movement and offloading damaging force.
Last, but by no means least, I keep on top of achey corns and callus.
But what does that actually mean?
This involves protecting the movement you have. It means cutting off over-compensating before it becomes a real problem.
I take into account cascading problems further down your leg.
I can advise you on specialised insoles which limit pain and help you walk. They do this by encouraging movement and offloading damaging force.
Last, but by no means least, I keep on top of achey corns and callus.
