The Agony of the Feet Your feet take tremendous abuse. Walking on cement can give each foot a 180-pound jolt with each step. Many people experience arthritis of the feet, but few are aware that this condition can often be successfully treated. Other types of arthritis can be caused by systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout and psoriasis. Cartilage, a connective tissue at the ends of bones, allows bones to glide freely on one another.
Arthritis is caused by the erosion of cartilage.
Eventually they grind on each other. Some of the pain from arthritis also may be caused by inflammation and swelling of the joint. Hammertoes and bunions may eventually cause arthritis to develop in a joint. Other causes of degenerative arthritis are excessive motion in a joint, caused by an unstable foot or by trauma such as sprains and fractures. Although arthritis of the feet and ankles may have different causes, the treatments are often similar.