A foot and ankle doctor is trained to diagnose and treat various health problems that affect this part of the body. They may also be trained as a surgeon. While surgery is an option, most ankle doctors prefer to avoid it whenever possible. This includes when a patient has arthritis of the foot and/or ankle.
What Is Arthritis?
Arthritis refers to an inflammation of your joints, and it is capable of attacking almost any part of your body. In your ankles and feet, the target is the small joints. Standard symptoms include soreness, swelling and pain. You are unable to walk or take part in formerly enjoyable actions and activities. With more than 100 forms of arthritis, three main types attack the foot.
Types of Foot and Ankle Arthritis
Several types or arthritis can affect your feet and ankles. All will result in a painful condition. Yet, three types dominate this medical landscape. These are:
- Osteoarthritis. Also known as “wear-and-tear” or degenerative arthritis, this problems becomes common for those who are classified as middle age or older, but it may occur in younger people too. Osteoarthritis is caused by the gradual wearing away of the cartilage in the joints of your feet and ankles. It develops slowly and can produce bone spurs (osteophytes). Other risk factors are a family history of the disease and being overweight.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis. This chronic disease has no known origin. It may first appear in the ankle or foot before spreading throughout the rest of the body. An autoimmune disease, it occurs when the immune system fails to recognize its own tissue, in this case the synovium, and attacks it. The result may be deformed and very painful and swollen joints.
- Posttraumatic Arthritis. As the name indicates, this form of arthritis develops in response to a trauma to the affected area. The erosion of the cartilage between the joints does not happen immediately. It may take years before it becomes obvious to an ankle doctor.
By identifying the issues, your ankle and foot doctor can talk to you about the most effective treatment. It may or may not include surgery. However, your doctor is will clearly inform you that, in any form of arthritis, there is no cure – only treatments.
Contact Your Foot and Ankle Doctor
Arthritis has no known cure. Treatments, however, can slow the progression of the disease as well as alleviate or reduce the pain and discomfort caused by it. Life does not end with an onset of arthritis of any type. Talk to your foot and ankle doctor about what you can do to address the issue.
Are you looking for someone to care passionately about what he or she does? Contact a professional foot and ankle doctor at Suburban Orthopaedics. Their qualified and highly skilled staff will listen carefully to what you say. Their experts will work with you to find the best option for your issues. Discover why the staff is so proud of what it has to offer. Visit them online www.suburbanortho.com. You can connect with them on Facebook for further updates!
