Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that tends to affect joints that handle a fair amount of stress in our body. While the knees and hips tend to get most of the attention when it comes to arthritic degeneration, another area of our body that oftentimes feels the effects of joint degeneration is our feet. There are 33 joints in each of our feet, and if they begin to show wear and tear as a result of decades of stress and strain, every step can become uncomfortable.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you can attempt to relieve foot-related osteoarthritic discomfort without surgery. In today’s blog, Dr. McDonald walks you through some of the non-operative ways he helps to manage foot arthritis in his patients.

Treating Foot Arthritis Without Surgery

We all have some degree of osteoarthritic degeneration in our foot joints, even if there are no physical symptoms like pain or swelling. Some cartilage loss is inevitable as we get older, and since we can’t regrow lost cartilage, it’s important to prevent cartilage loss from happening and take steps to treat arthritis in an early stage. Here’s a look at some of the treatments we typically recommend for patients looking to treat early-stage foot arthritis or for those who want to help stave off arthritic degeneration as they age:

• Weight Loss – Our feet help to disperse the weight of our body with each step you take, and it stands to reason that the heavier you are, the more weight your foot joints must handle. Losing a couple pounds can take a significant amount of stress off your feet, shielding them from expedited degeneration and helping to limit discomfort in arthritic joints.
• Physical Therapy – Physical therapy is a great intervention for anyone looking to treat joint arthritis. PT helps to strengthen the supportive muscles and soft tissues around the joint so that less stress is directly placed on the joint when you’re moving. Shielding the joint from stress and protecting it from overload can prevent osteoarthritis symptoms and slow down the progression of the condition.
• Orthotic Inserts – Another aspect we review with patients dealing with foot arthritis is their footwear. Poorly-fitting shoes may not provide enough support to the foot complex, causing different areas to absorb an excessive amount of stress. Transitioning the patient to a more comfortable and supportive shoe can do wonders for arthritis treatment and prevention. So too can the implementation of custom orthotic inserts that normalize stress patterns on our feet.
• Anti-Inflammatories – Anti-inflammatory drugs may be paired with one or more of the above techniques to manage symptoms of arthritis while you pursue more active interventions. Arthritis can lead to painful and uncomfortable inflammation in the joint, and these medications can keep this inflammation at bay so that it’s easier to pursue more helpful treatments like physical therapy or weight loss. A corticosteroid injection can provide more direct and longer-lasting inflammation relief for patients dealing with more severe arthritis in their joints.

We’re confident that Dr. McDonald can help you find the right non-operative treatment for your foot arthritis, but he’s also able to provide more hands-on care in the event that a minimally invasive procedure is required. Whether that involves removing irritating joint debris or fusing a joint to limit painful movement, he’ll help you put an end to your arthritis-related discomfort.

For more information about foot arthritis and your treatment options, or to talk to Dr. McDonald about a different foot and ankle issue, give his office a call today at (860) 244-8889.