Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition where the immune system attacks the joint lining tissue, causing painful inflammation and stiffness. Nearly 1.3 million people in the United States have some form of RA.
Causes
Body Complication
A body complication can be dangerous when it affects everyday nerve, motor and autonomic functions, including the immune system and blood flow.
Great Big Toe Joint Disorder
Hallux rigidus is a disorder of the joint located at the base of the great big toe. It causes pain and stiffness in the joint.
Structural Bone Deformity
A structural bone deformity usually occurs when some of the bones move out of place or a joint is stressed over a period of time.
Symptoms
Foot problems caused by RA commonly occur in the forefoot, although they can also affect other areas of the foot and ankle. The most common signs and symptoms of RA-related foot problems, in addition to the abnormal appearance of deformities, are pain, swelling, joint stiffness and difficulty walking.
Deformities and conditions associated with RA may include:
- Rheumatoid nodules (lumps), which cause pain when they rub against shoes, or pain when walking if they appear on the bottom of the foot.
- Dislocated toe joints
- Hammertoes
- Bunions
- Heel pain
- Achilles tendon pain
- Flatfoot ankle pain
Over time, these symptoms can cause your foot to become increasingly painful and difficult to use. One of the long-term symptoms is known as joint destruction. This happens when the bone, cartilage, and other joint tissue breaks down. This can make your foot joints weaker and extremely painful to use, and you may notice a change in your foot shape as a result.
As you age, flare-ups may become more severe and periods of remissions shorter, but your experience may differ based on what treatments you receive, how often you’re on your feet, and your overall health.
Changes in Arch of Foot
Some conditions may cause an arch to collapse into a fallen arch or tighten into a high arch.
Deformities In The Affected Area
Foot deformities are a group of congenital and acquired conditions involving structural abnormalities that may affect the bones, tendons, and muscles of your foot.
Pain On Top Of The Foot
Many health conditions and injuries can upset the foot’s movement and balance, causing problems and pain on top of the foot.
Potential Treatments
Your doctor will develop a treatment plan aimed at relieving the pain of RA-related foot problems.
The plan may include one or more of the following options:
- Orthotic devices. Your doctor will fit you with custom orthotic devices to provide cushioning for rheumatoid nodules, minimize pain when walking and give you the needed support to improve the foot’s mechanics.
- Accommodative shoes. These are used to relieve pressure and pain and to assist you with walking.
- Aspiration of fluid. When inflammation flares up in a joint, the surgeon may aspirate (draw out) fluid to reduce the swelling and pain.
- Steroid injections. Injections of anti-inflammatory medication may be applied directly to an inflamed joint or to a rheumatoid nodule
Ankle Arthroplasty (Total Ankle Replacement)
Ankle Arthroplasty, also called Total Ankle Replacement, is a replacement surgery of a damaged ankle joint using an artificial implant.
Arthrodesis (Ankle Fusion)
Ankle Fusion (Arthrodesis) is a type of surgery to fuse the bones of the ankle joint into one piece, eliminating the joint itself.
Big Toe Joint Replacement
A first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint replacement treats arthritis of the big toe. The joint is removed and replaced with metal, plastic or both.
Midfoot Fusion
A Midfoot Fusion is a procedure where one or more of the metatarsal cuneiform joints or intercuneiform joints are fused.
Regenerative Medicine Treatments
Regenerative medicine involves the delivery of growth factors to injured joints and tissues to promote the healing process.
