Arthritis Specialist

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is an umbrella term for numerous degenerative conditions that affect the joints.

Joints are designed to cushion or ease movement everywhere bones come together in your body. When you have arthritis, the lining of your joint begins to break down, so when bones rub together, it causes swelling and discomfort.

Arthritis that develops in your foot and ankles can reduce your mobility and negatively impact your quality of life. Nearly half of men and women in their 60s and 70s have foot pain caused by arthritis.

How does arthritis affect the feet?

Arthritis in your feet typically develops over time because of wear and tear. As the cartilage lining your joints breaks down, your feet lose their flexibility, strength, and function.

Several types of arthritis can develop in any joints of your feet or ankles, but your big toe is especially vulnerable.

When you have arthritis in your big toe, you experience pain when your foot pushes against the ground, which limits your ability to walk comfortably. This type of arthritis is especially common with bunions.

Gout is another type of arthritis that affects the big toe joint. This form of arthritis is due to high levels of uric acid in the blood which causes sodium urate crystals to build up around the joints. If left untreated, gout can severely damage the joint and its function.

Arthritis can occur in the middle or back of your feet or in your ankles, too. It can lead to bone spurs, another painful foot condition where small pieces or splinters of bone form in the joints, leading to pain and loss of mobility.

How is arthritis in the feet treated?

Dr. Rambacher offers the most advanced treatments available to reduce your arthritis pain and restore your mobility, including:

• Medications: to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation
• Joint fusion: reducing friction by fusing joints together
• Bone trimming: surgically removing bone spurs or other bone growths

Dr. Rambacher also offers innovative treatments like stem cell therapy. This nonsurgical, regenerative treatment uses stem cells that are injected into the affected area to produce new cartilage. As new cartilage develops in the joint, function is restored, and pain eases.

Call Podiatry Hotline Inc., or schedule an appointment using online booking to find treatment solutions for your arthritis pain.