Your feet do a lot of the heavy lifting in your life. There’s a reason why on particularly taxing days, your feet can feel extraordinarily tired. There’s a difference though between aches from a hard day and serious, persistent pain. If your feet constantly feel stiff and painful, you might be dealing with arthritis.
The good news is that – while arthritis is not something that is curable – working with a board certified podiatrist on our team here at Tipton & Unroe Foot & Ankle Care, we can manage your foot pain.
What is happening inside an arthritic foot?
Once you understand arthritis, you’ll get a clear picture of why it’s causing so much pain. Arthritis is the deterioration or damage of your joints. These are the two main types of arthritis that affect your feet:
Rheumatoid arthritis– your body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue in your own body.
Osteoarthritis – this type comes about with normal wear and tear.
With both kinds of arthritis, you lose the protective cartilage in your joints. Considering that you have 28 bones and 30 joints in each foot, there are plenty of possible pain points!
Living with arthritic feet
Unfortunately, there is no known cure or reversal for arthritis. There are several ways to reduce the pain and improve your comfort, however. Depending on which type of arthritis you have, our doctors here at Tipton & Unroe Foot & Ankle Care can help make you more comfortable and help improve your quality of life with some of these treatment options:
Medications – For rheumatoid arthritis, doctors can prescribe drugs that block inflammation and slow down the deterioration of your joints. If you have osteoarthritis, we may recommend a regimen of anti-inflammatory drugs to help relieve pain.
Steroids – These powerful anti-inflammatories can greatly reduce pain caused from arthritis. They are unsafe to use for long periods of time, however, so our foot doctors would only utilize them as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Weight loss – carrying excessive weight can exacerbate your arthritis, especially in your feet and ankles. Our doctors can help guide you on a healthy and safe exercise routine and diet to lift some pressure from your feet.
The right footwear – Our podiatrists can recommend the right style and shape of shoes that can keep your feet comfortable and reduce pain. It’s important to give your toes enough room so they’re not cramped or pinched. We might also prescribe orthotic inserts or custom orthotics that will give your feet the extra support and padding needed.
We can help
If you are experiencing joint pain, don’t ignore it! It could be a sign of arthritis, or some other underlying issue. Get expert advice from our podiatrists who have years of experience and the advanced technologies and treatments to help! Contact any of our locations in Louisville and Bardstown, KY to set up an appointment today!