Arthritis of the foot is called an inflammatory process that affects the joints of the legs and manifests itself in pain, swelling and a gradual decrease in joint function. Arthritis is divided into two groups:
- Primary arthritis is considered an independent nosological unit that can occur with a completely healthy body.
- Secondary arthritis affects the joints of the legs, its appearance is due to the presence of another disease and may be one of its symptoms.
Causes of arthritis:
- Autoimmune processes, when the body produces antibodies against its own tissues. It can occur in scleroderma, acute rheumatic fever, systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Infectious agents: develop after infection or when the pathogen enters the synovial membrane of the joints of the foot.
- Injuries: acute development of arthritis, causing swelling of the joints of the legs, can be with fractures or bruises, and chronic - with constant mechanical stress on the joint.
- Specific diseases: with metabolic disorders, arthritis can occur that affects the joints of the legs (with gout, psoriatic arthritis).
In all cases, the manifestations of arthritis of the joints are quite similar. But at the same time, specific symptoms that are characteristic only for a specific disease or group of diseases, and non-specific, occurring with any arthritis affecting the joints of the legs, are distinguished.
Nonspecific symptoms:
• pain;
• change in the appearance of the joint;
• violation of functions;
• crunch in the joints;
• symmetry of the lesion;
• damage to the body as a whole.
Specific symptoms:
• morning stiffness;
• multiplicity of defeat;
• joint deformation;
• skin syndrome.
Diagnosis of arthritis of the joints of the foot does not present great difficulties because of the pain syndrome that people contact a specialist. It is much more difficult to identify the cause of it. Examinations for arthritis of the foot include:
- An anamnesis, that is, possible causes that precede the onset of the disease are clarified.
- Studies of synovial fluid and blood.
- Identification of rheumatoid factor, serological examination, analysis of urine and blood. As well as special studies specific to a particular disease.
- An X-ray examination is used to determine lesions and severity.
How to treat leg joints
For each case, strictly individual treatment is required, primarily aimed at eliminating the etiological factor. When arthritis is used:
- Anti-inflammatory non-steroidal therapy to relieve pain and act on the immune link of pathogenesis. Local application is possible, in the form of injections or inside.
- Basic preparations.
- Therapy with drugs ("Methotrexate", "Infliximab", "Azathioprine", etc.).
- Hormone therapy with the use of prednisolone, dexamethasone.
- The specific treatment depends on the causes of the disease. Immunomodulating and antiviral therapy, chondroprotectors, cytostatics, antibiotics are used.
- Non-drug therapy makes it possible to adjust the lifestyle and nutrition, includes therapeutic gymnastics and physical education, physiotherapeutic procedures, as well as the use of traditional medicine methods.