Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease in which certain cells of the immune system malfunction and attack healthy joints.
Many conditions of the body can relate and create foot and ankle conditions. Below is a small list of systemic conditions we see frequently that creates foot and ankle pain and concerns.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease in which certain cells of the immune system malfunction and attack healthy joints. RA causes inflammation in the lining (synovium) of joints, most often the joints of the hands and feet. The signs of inflammation can include pain, swelling, redness and a feeling of warmth around affected joints. In some patients, chronic inflammation results in damage to the cartilage and bones in the joint. Serious damage can lead to permanent joint destruction, deformity and disability.
When joints become inflamed due to RA, the synovium thickens and produces an excess of joint fluid. This overabundance of fluid, along with inflammatory chemicals released by the immune system, causes swelling and damage to the joint’s cartilage and bones.
Rheumatoid nodules (lumps), which cause pain when they rub against shoes or, if they appear on the bottom of the foot, pain when walking
While treatment of RA focuses on the medication prescribed by a patient’s primary doctor or rheumatologist, the foot and ankle surgeon 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:
Symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease typically appear in adolescence or early adulthood, but may also develop in midlife.
Most of the time patients respond well with conservative treatments which include formal on home exercise to maintain what strength they have with or without an ankle brace. Drop foot is usually the biggest concern that develops where patients are at increased risk of falling. We do provide and create custom braces that are smaller and dynamic mimicking the upward motion of the foot. Typically patients are using a large brace that goes in the front of the leg or back of the calf that can rub behind the knee.
Rarely do they need reconstructive surgery and again meet to have a detailed examination to assess what benefits them and what their goals are after the surgery.
COVID-19 Latest Update
For our patient’s convenience, we offer foot and ankle treatments for all kinds of conditions such as Achilles tendonitis in Adrian, MI, Achilles tendonitis in Ann Arbor, MI, and Achilles tendonitis in Jackson, MI. We have our own digital x-ray, MRI, Cat-scan, and ultrasound equipment at many of our podiatry clinics. Our on-site podiatric physical therapy clinics allow for constant communication between the physicians and physical therapists, ensuring the most effective therapy and successful recovery for our patients.
Some of the case studies related to Systemic Conditions causing Foot/Ankle Pain are listed below. If you want to learn more about them click on the button below:
This week like usual we had a wide variety of different conditions that we saw in our clinic. One condition that stood out the most was painful, dusky, bluish toes in young female patients. Every now and then you have to dig deep in your gray matter and figure out what you are faced with. …