Arthritic Joints Grind to a Halt

Arthritis of your joints can bring a great amount of pain and hinder your mobility in a slow and calculated manner. The danger with arthritic joints is that you may believe that it is under control but, in reality, the arthritis is starting to slowly control the amount of movement you are capable of. It results in the swelling of your foot’s joints and causes the degradation of the cartilage in between them. This will produce a grinding of the bones against each other because there is no longer any cushioning.

Arthritis can present itself in middle-aged individuals, in those who have a defective immune system or in people who sustain a significant traumatic injury to their feet or ankles. So remember, the signs that your feet and ankles are developing arthritis are lingering joint pain, stiffness, inflammation and a decline in mobility.

Treatment for this condition includes:   

• Take part in activities that help to increase the motion of your joints to prevent them from becoming stiff. This may include exercising.  
• Use shoes that do not cause pain to your feet, as any increased pressure can speed up the process of arthritis.
• Try to lose weight as it can have many benefits to the longevity of your foot’s joints.
• Use medications such as anti-inflammatories to reduce swelling. Steroid injections are also helpful in this regard.
• Surgery may be required when arthritic joints have become so worn out that fusion or joint replacement procedures become the only viable options to maintaining your mobility and comfort.  

Here at Benenati Foot & Ankle Care Centers, our foot doctors, Anthony Benenati, DPM, Neil Shaw, DPM, Julie Mrozek, DPM and Adam Thompson, DPM can work with your specific symptoms to reduce the amount of arthritic pain you may be experiencing. If you’re ready to slow down the progression of arthritis throughout your feet and ankles, contact us to make an appointment. We have offices conveniently located in Saint Clair Shores, Warren and Macomb, MI. Also, check out our Patient Education section to obtain further information about this and many other foot and ankle conditions that could affect you.