Arthritis of the foot

Understanding Foot Arthritis

Arthritis can develop in any of the 30+ joints of the foot, leading to pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. While some joints are more susceptible than others, the impact on your mobility can be significant as the condition progresses.

How Pain Evolves

Early Stages: You may only notice aching at the start of an activity (like your first steps in the morning) or after a long day of walking.
Advanced Stages: As the protective cartilage wears away, pain can become constant and may persist even while you are resting or sleeping.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Beyond general pain, you may also notice:

Physical Changes: Joints may appear larger or 'knobby' due to osteophytes (bony growths) and localised swelling.
Crepitus: A grinding or 'crunching' sensation when moving the affected joint.
Stiffness: A gradual loss of flexibility, making it harder to move the foot or find comfortable footwear.

Why Does It Develop?

Idiopathic (Wear and Tear): This is the most common form, where cartilage simply thins and degenerates over time through natural use.
Post-Traumatic: Arthritis can also develop years after a specific injury, such as a severe fracture or a bad sprain.

Treatment for Arthritis of the foot

At an initial stage, arthritic joints only hurt after weight-bearing activities but as the joint degeneration progresses pain may occur even during normal walking and in worst cases at rest.

For early-stage arthritis conservative treatment including:

Relative rest
Footwear adjustments
Insoles
Physiotherapy
Ultrasound guided injections

For later stage of arthritis, that is causing significant pain and reduced mobility, it is likely that surgery will be your best option.

Fusion (Arthrodesis)

This is the most common surgery for foot arthritis, particularly in the midfoot and hindfoot.

The Procedure: The surgeon removes the damaged cartilage and then uses plates, screws, or staples to join two or more bones together permanently.
The Goal: By eliminating movement in a joint that shouldn't move much anyway, the pain caused by bone-on-bone friction is removed.
Best for: Severe arthritis in the midfoot, hindfoot (subtalar joint), or the base of the big toe.

Like a broken bone, the joints will need time to heal and initially, weight bearing is not permitted but with modern surgical techniques, recovery time is quicker and at the end when the bones are united, pain is minimal and good function achieved.