Because of their numerous joints and other structures, your feet and ankles are susceptible to degeneration, sprains, fractures, or other injuries. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 70%-80% of cases of foot and ankle arthritis occur due to a previous injury. You will require foot and ankle arthritis treatment Phoenix if you are experiencing debilitating pain, stiffness, and swelling. For instance, performing all your normal range of motions and movements becomes more challenging if you have stiff and inflamed joints.
Although there are more than 95 forms of arthritis that can affect your foot and ankle, a few others are quite prevalent. Still, they all come with almost similar symptoms.
Below are the common types of arthritis that can cause pain and discomfort in your foot and ankle.
- Osteoarthritis
This type of inflammation in the joints of your ankles and feet occurs due to gradual degeneration or wear and tear of the cartilage that protects bones from coming into contact with one another.
The wear and tear of the cartilage in the joints of your feet or ankles are triggered by overuse or frequent exposure to stress.
For instance, you may be more prone to ankle and foot osteoarthritis if you are a professional ballet dancer who regularly executes the pointe technique. The pointe technique involves fully extending the feet while wearing pointe shoes to support all your body weight.
Being overweight and aging can also cause ankle and foot osteoarthritis.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
This form of joint pain and inflammation results from the immune system mistakenly attacking and harming healthy, harmless tissues, including joints in your ankle, feet, or other body sections.
When rheumatoid arthritis affects your feet, it can cause problems such as claw toes, bunions, and calluses. Calluses are thick and hardened skin that merge to protect the rest of the skin against pressure or friction.
- Post-traumatic arthritis
Post-traumatic arthritis is inflammation and pain affecting a joint that has experienced a traumatic injury. It does not occur due to joint wear and tear.
Even if you properly treat an injury affecting your foot or ankle joint, you are more likely to have joint inflammation.
Often, unlike other types of arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis affecting your foot, ankle, or other areas of your body disappears within a few months.
Once your doctor has physically examined you and subjected you to diagnostic tests like x-rays, you must undergo conservative, minimally invasive, or surgical treatments that can provide significant relief. That can allow you to live a healthy, normal life.
Treatment options your doctor is highly likely to favor are wearing an ankle brace, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, ankle fusion surgery, or joint replacement.
For example, ankle braces can help prevent the progression of ankle and foot arthritis and provide the necessary support and stability.
On the other hand, PRP injections introduce plasma rich in platelets in the affected joint. Platelets have a lot of growth factors that can promote coagulation, immune response, and healing of damaged ankle joints and other tissues.
Contact Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute today to schedule an appointment with an arthritis specialist to get more information about treatment.
