The symptoms of foot or ankle arthritis tend to be tenderness or pain in the area, stiffness in the joint, swelling in the joint, and a reduced ability to move or walk. If you have those symptoms, the issue may be arthritis, so you should seek professional diagnosis and treatment. If you have the condition, because arthritis is a chronic condition, it doesn't go away on its own and it requires professional care. The condition typically affects the following joints: the joint where the ankle and shinbone meet; the joint of the big toe and foot bone; and the three joints of the foot involving the heel bone, the inner mid-foot bone, and the outer mid-foot bone. Sometimes other areas of the body are affected by arthritis in the foot or ankle, like the knees, because arthritis affects gait (walking) and movement in general, and this can compromise other areas of the body.