Arthritis is a painful inflammatory condition that can occur anywhere you have joints, including the small joints found in your feet and ankles.
Arthritis in your feet is a long-term condition with no known cure, but there are ways that you can reduce the pain or inflammation associated with the problem to help improve your quality of life.
The ultimate diagnosis for arthritis in the feet or ankles will need to come from a doctor as they may need to order tests such as x-rays, other imaging tests, or blood tests to properly diagnose the condition.
Arthritis in the feet can come from rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune inflammatory condition that causes the joint lining to become inflamed and swollen, or from osteoarthritis, which is a wearing down of the cartilage between bones over time or with an injury.
This is the most common form of arthritis, and this normally occurs from the progressive wear-and-tear of the cushioning cartilage of the joint over time.
Injury to a specific joint may also cause prolonged inflammation and damage that may eventually lead to osteoarthritis in the area.
Also known as RA, is an autoimmune condition where the body starts attacking the synovial lining of the joints, leading to pain, swelling, and inflammation of the area.
RA might be hereditary and may occur more commonly if you have a lot of people in your family that have the condition, as genes may play a part in getting this disease, there may also be an environmental or chemical trigger that causes a flare-up of hereditary RA.
Oral anti-inflammatory medications available at most grocery stores and pharmacies including Ibuprofen or Naproxen.
Speak with your doctor before starting on any over-the-counter medications to make sure they are a good option for you.
Over-the-counter creams or ointments which contain capsaicin or menthol to give the area a tingling or cooling sensation which may help lessen the pain sensation temporarily.
oral anti-inflammatory medications that are stronger than over-the-counter medications.
short-term use for severe joint pain.
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs like Methotrexate or Hydroxychloroquine to help prevent your immune system from attacking your joints.
Taken by mouth for severe pain.
Examples are etanercept and infliximab to help reduce inflammation and improper immune response.
These combine a mixture of anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications that can go through the skin to help reduce symptoms locally.
In severe situations, your doctor may recommend that you have surgery to help remove excess debris and tissue from around the joint, fuse bones together to prevent additional pain from movement or even suggest a full ankle replacement.
Once you have been diagnosed with arthritis, your doctor will likely start you on one or more of the prescription or over-the-counter medications listed above.
But, for some additional measures to help reduce pain and inflammation at home, you can try some of the following home remedies:
Here at Zen Nutrients, we carry pharmacist and physician-formulated supplement formulas that may help support general foot health.*
You can purchase or learn more about our foot-focused supplement PodiVite today.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.