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Do you experience pain and swelling of the feet? Did you wake up one morning with pain and swelling in the feet?
Dr. Diana Girnita explains the top 5 causes of feet arthritis, symptoms, and treatments from a rheumatologist's perspective.
Key Takeaways
- Feet arthritis can have multiple causes, each requiring different treatment approaches.
- Early recognition and diagnosis, especially of autoimmune types, are essential for effective management.
- Supportive footwear and lifestyle modifications play a key role in managing symptoms.
- Medications vary from anti-inflammatories to disease-modifying drugs depending on arthritis type.
- Consulting a rheumatologist is important for accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment.
Summary
- Arthritis of the feet causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and can deform toes.
- The five main types discussed are osteoarthritis, bunions, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout.
- Osteoarthritis involves cartilage breakdown, commonly affecting the big toe joint with pain and stiffness.
- Bunions are bony deformities at the base of the big toe caused by genetics, arthritis, or tight shoes.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease causing symmetric joint inflammation and deformities in the feet.
- Psoriatic arthritis affects people with psoriasis, causing swollen 'sausage digits' and tendon inflammation.
- Gout results from uric acid crystal buildup, causing sudden, severe pain and swelling, especially in the big toe.
- Treatment varies by type: supportive shoes and surgery for osteoarthritis and bunions; medications like DMARDs for RA and PsA; NSAIDs and uric acid-lowering drugs for gout.
- Lifestyle tips include wearing comfortable shoes, using orthotics, maintaining healthy weight, and low-impact exercise.
- Early diagnosis and proper treatment by a rheumatologist are crucial to prevent joint damage and improve quality of life.
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
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Or do you see changes in the shape of your toes? Is this arthritis of the feet?
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Today's topic is arthritis of the feet, a condition affecting millions worldwide. In this video, I will discuss the top five things you need to know about arthritis of the feet, including the differences between osteoarthritis, bunions, rheumatoid arthritis,
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psoriatic arthritis, and gout affecting the feet. Let’s begin! Understanding arthritis of the feet. Arthritis of the feet is a common condition manifesting as joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
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Pain in the feet can come from multiple reasons. If you do not recall any trauma that can cause a fracture or a ligament rupture, then pain in your feet might be a sign of arthritis.
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The most common types of arthritis that affect the feet are osteoarthritis, bunions, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout.
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Each type of arthritis has unique symptoms and treatments, and I will address them here.
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1. Osteoarthritis of the Feet. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, typically affecting older adults.
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It occurs when the cartilage in the joints breaks down, leading to bone-on-bone friction and inflammation.
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Osteoarthritis in the feet often affects the big toe joint, causing pain, not much swelling, but it may cause some stiffness.
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It can also cause bony growths or spurs to form around the joint, leading to limited mobility.
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It can act up during cold weather or after a long walk when your body puts more pressure on your feet, or after walking on concrete flooring, again due to increased pressure on the toe joints.
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The feet can be painful but not deformed. Sometimes the toes can deform and look like hammer toes or develop bunions.
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Let’s talk next about what are bunions. 2. Bunions. Bunions are bony bumps that form on the joint at the base of the big toe.
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This is a deformity that happens at the big toe that can cause pain and discomfort and can also make it difficult to wear certain types of shoes. Smaller bunions (bunionettes) can develop on the joint of your little toe as well.
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Bunions can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, arthritis, and wearing tight or ill-fitting shoes.
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They are more common in women than in men and can develop at any age.
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In addition to the visible bump, symptoms of bunions may include pain, swelling, redness, and stiffness in the affected area.
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If left untreated, bunions can lead to complications such as calluses and bursitis. 3.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints, leading to inflammation and damage.
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It can affect any joint in the body, including the feet. When RA affects the feet, patients experience pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformities.
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Most times the feet must be both affected in a symmetric pattern. Patients describe difficulties walking in the morning; they feel like they are walking on pebbles.
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Moving is always helpful; in 1 hour or a few hours, the stiffness in the feet disappears.
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If you want to learn more about rheumatoid arthritis, you can go ahead and listen to this video on my channel.
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Now, if you want even more to live better with rheumatoid arthritis, then I encourage you to get this 5 days FREE challenge. I will post the link in the comments of this video.
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How to quickly and safely reduce inflammation levels and increase energy levels. Which superfoods have been shown to help alleviate the pain and fatigue caused by RA. Which supplements are beneficial in RA.
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How to exercise for rheumatoid arthritis so you can reduce stiffness and move better. Now, let’s move forward to another reason for feet arthritis, and that is…
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4. Psoriatic Arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects people with psoriasis, a skin condition characterized by scaly patches on the skin.
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About 20% of people with psoriasis can develop this type of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis.
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Patients can develop pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, including the feet. The most common signs of psoriatic arthritis in the feet will include sausage digits or “dactylitis” - for example, one of the digits will swell up
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like sausage digits. The toes can swell up and although it may look like gout, usually the pain is not as bad as in patients with gout.
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However, the toes can look diffusely swollen and the swelling can go up and down.
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PsA affects tendons, and the most common tendons affected in the feet are the Achilles tendons and plantar fascia.
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The Achilles tendon can be painful, swollen, red, and patients will have difficulties walking. When plantar fascia is affected, patients have symptoms of plantar fasciitis.
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That means that you may have pain when you wake up, pain with the first steps, and then when the plantar fascia is stretched, the pain can ameliorate.
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These episodes of repeated plantar fasciitis should draw attention, and if you have psoriasis, you should mention your skin disease and ask to be evaluated by a rheumatologist.
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Many patients get treated multiple times by orthopedics or podiatry before they are seen by a rheumatologist.
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So don’t forget, when something is repeating, you should find out what is the cause of that.
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In aggressive cases of PsA, the bones of the joints can be severely affected and even destroyed, so again, it is crucial to have a diagnosis and to get treatment in the right timeframe.
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Especially for PsA, where the diagnosis is hard to make. If you want to learn more about PsA, watch this video on my channel.
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5. Gout. Gout is a type of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, which can cause severe inflammation and pain.
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Many patients, especially males, but also females after menopause, will know that if you develop a red, hot, and extremely painful swelling of the first toe, this might be a sign of gout.
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Gout affecting the big toe is also called podagra. You should ask your PCP to test your level of uric acid, although in some cases, if the uric acid is tested during the gout attack, the level can be normal.
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Now, what can you do to treat feet arthritis? The treatment for arthritis of the feet depends on the type of arthritis and severity of the disease.
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I will explain briefly what can be done for these 5 types of arthritis. 1.
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For osteoarthritis and bunions, conservative treatments such as wearing supportive shoes, orthotics or shoe inserts, and physical therapy may help alleviate pain and improve mobility.
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In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to remove bony growths or repair misaligned joints.
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2. For rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or biologic agents may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and slow the progression of the disease.
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Physical therapy and exercise can also help improve flexibility and strength in the affected joints.
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3. Medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine, or corticosteroids may be prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation during a gout attack.
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Long-term medication such as allopurinol or febuxostat may also be prescribed to prevent future attacks.
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Let me give you some lifestyle tips to help you manage arthritis of the feet: You should wear comfortable shoes with a wide toe box and good arch support to reduce pressure on the joints of the feet.
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You should use orthotic inserts or shoe pads to help cushion and support the feet and improve overall comfort.
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It is important to maintain a healthy weight to reduce pressure on the joints and minimize the risk of developing arthritis in the feet.
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Also important, incorporate low-impact exercises such as walking, cycling, or
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Practice good foot hygiene, such as keeping the feet clean and dry, and trimming toenails regularly to prevent infections or ingrown toenails.
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If you have pain and swelling, you may use heat or ice therapy to the affected joints to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain….and….
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Avoid activities or footwear that exacerbate symptoms, such as high-impact exercise or high heels. Conclusion: In conclusion, arthritis of the feet is a common condition that can affect anyone.
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It's essential to understand the different types of arthritis to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment in the right time frame.
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Osteoarthritis, bunions, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout have unique symptoms and treatments. If you're experiencing foot pain or discomfort, Leave me a comment and tell me have you ever experienced pain in the feet?
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I hope that this video has provided valuable information If you or someone you know is experiencing feet pain, remember that there is always help available.
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My company, Rheumatologist Oncall is able to see patients in multiple US states, reach out to us if needed.
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Thank you for watching, and don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more informative videos.
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Thank you and have a great day!
Topics:feet arthritisosteoarthritisbunionsrheumatoid arthritispsoriatic arthritisgoutfoot painarthritis treatmentrheumatologistfoot deformities
