The pain and stiffness you feel in your foot and ankle as you grow older could be arthritis. If left untreated, this nagging pain can grow worse, eventually becoming so excruciating that you can no longer walk even short distances. Severe arthritis can restrict your mobility and limit your quality of life, but with proper treatment, you can slow the development of arthritis and lead a more productive life. This brochure answers basic questions about the arthritic foot and offers information on treatment of this condition. For more information, you should speak with your orthopaedic surgeon.
Arthritis is a broad term for a number of conditions that destroy the workings of a normal joint.
Arthritis may occur in your back, neck hips, knees, shoulders or hands, but it also occurs in your feet and ankles. There are many different types of arthritis. The result is inflammation, redness, swelling and pain in the joint. Also, a sudden and traumatic injury such as a broken bone, torn ligament, or moderate ankle sprain can cause the injured joint to become arthritic in the future. Sometimes a traumatic injury will result in arthritis in the injured joint even though the joint received proper medical care at the time of injury.