Arthritis of the foot - damage to the joints, manifested by inflammation of any part of the foot. This is a very unpleasant and painful pathology, which is accompanied by deformation. As a result of this, difficulties arise when walking, selecting shoes, as well as psychological disorders.
The foot serves to balance when walking or standing, helps to push off when moving. In the presence of absolutely any deformation, including the occurrence of foot arthritis, it is not able to perform the required functions, as a result of which the load transfers to the hip and knee joints, which is fraught with very dangerous consequences.
Features of the disease
Feet are made up of many joints and small bones. They have to withstand a significant load every day.
Arthritis of the foot can be observed in people of any age, as a result of which complex changes in the joints occur, their deformation and painful sensations arise. The disease must be treated in a timely manner. The doctor must prescribe medications. Locally shown electrophoresis with drugs, applications with bile and healing mud.
Additionally, therapeutic gymnastics and massage are recommended, which the patient may well perform on his own. If the disease is severe, then the doctor may recommend surgery.
Main types
There are several reasons for the development of foot arthritis, the photo of which clearly indicates the features of the course of the disease. It is worth noting that the disease does not occur on its own, and other diseases serve as prerequisites. Doctors distinguish such forms of foot damage as:
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- reactive;
- post-traumatic;
- metabolic origin;
- secondary osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by the fact that an autoimmune reaction provokes its development. After a previous infection, the immune system weakens significantly, which takes healthy cells for pathogens and begins to attack them. It is worth noting that this type of disease is not too common, is accompanied by certain signs and requires complex treatment.
Arthritis of metabolic origin is characterized by the fact that its development is based on metabolic disorders. Gouty foot arthritis is most common and occurs due to the deposition of uric acid. The smallest salt crystals begin to be deposited in the joint cavities, provoking a certain immune response. As a result of this, pain, deformation and discomfort are observed.
Reactive or infectious arthritis occurs due to an infectious lesion. Open wounds that affect the joint can be dangerous. As a result of this, pathogens gain access to cartilage and articular bag. Foci of chronic inflammation and infection can be no less dangerous.
Post-traumatic arthritis is not always infectious. After a previous injury, closed joint damage is also possible. Violation of their anatomical integrity leads to inflammation. Secondary osteoarthritis develops in patients suffering from chronic arthrosis. As the course of degenerative processes in the tissues of the joints worsens, deformation and inflammation occur.
Causes of occurrence
There are many different factors that trigger the development of foot arthritis. Among the most common reasons, it is necessary to highlight such as:
- injuries
- autoimmune inflammation;
- infections
- genetic predisposition.
Various injuries provoke the risk of inflammation. Incorrect and inconveniently selected shoes lead to permanent trauma to the foot. Physical stresses also have a similar effect.
Penetrated into the body pathogenic E. coli, acute forms of tonsillitis, pneumonia, and also sexually transmitted diseases have a destructive effect on the joints. With the occurrence of autoimmune inflammation in the body, an immune defense is triggered on the course of inflammation of the cartilage tissue, which it perceives as pathological.
Specific provoking factors appear purely individually against the background of various diseases that occur in the body. For example, in psoriasis, salt deposits in the joints occur. The occurrence of the disease is also affected by a number of other factors, in particular, such as:
- metabolic disease;
- bad habits;
- weak immunity;
- overweight;
- age-related changes.
Depending on the cause of the arthritis of the joints of the foot, the doctor selects a methodology for treatment that will quickly eliminate the pathology.
The main symptoms
Symptoms of foot arthritis, a photo of which shows the features of the course of the disease, may have general symptoms, which is expressed as:
- local temperature increase;
- painful sensations;
- redness;
- puffiness;
- impaired function of the affected joints.
It is worth noting that each type of arthritis is characterized by its own symptomatology. When a rheumatoid lesion occurs, which affects the connective tissues of the body, signs such as:
- swelling and redness in the affected area;
- a feeling of stiffness in the joints in the morning;
- fatigue;
- the occurrence of pain when walking.
It is worth noting that the general well-being is significantly deteriorating, and there are signs similar to the course of the flu and the common cold, as well as a fever. It is necessary to take a blood test, since a high content of uric acid in it can indicate that a person develops a gouty form of arthritis.
Diagnostics
If you experience pain and difficulty walking, you should definitely contact an orthopedist or rheumatologist. The doctor initially conducts a visual examination. If arthritis of the joints of the foot is of a traumatic origin, then a consultation of a traumatologist is certainly required. Diagnosing the course of the disease is quite simple.
Among the main examination methods, it is necessary to highlight such as ultrasound of the joints, tomography, x-ray of the foot. To determine the cause of arthritis, a biochemical blood test is performed, also to determine the amount of sugar. Sometimes puncture of small joints is required in order to study synovial fluid. When conducting differential diagnosis, it is necessary to exclude other pathologies of the foot.
Treatment features
Before treating foot arthritis, it is necessary to determine the cause of the disease, which will have to be fought. The course of therapy is prescribed only by the attending doctor, since each person needs an individual approach. The basic means of treatment include:
- medications;
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- physiotherapy.
Helper methods include folk therapy, as well as mud therapy. Medications include:
- non-steroidal;
- painkillers;
- antibiotics
- chondroprotectors.
If a lot of fluid has accumulated in the joint cavity, a puncture is performed to eliminate it. Physiotherapy must be carried out in parallel with therapeutic exercises. These include paraffin therapy, magnetic procedures, and diadynamics. It is worth noting that such techniques can be effective only in the quiet phase. When conducting therapy to eliminate the symptoms of arthritis of the foot, treatment also implies a diet. In addition, wearing special shoes or orthopedic inserts is shown.
Drug therapy
Regardless of the symptoms of foot arthritis (pictured), treatment necessarily includes the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and chondroprotectors. Antibiotic therapy is required only if the pathology was provoked by bacteria and viruses. In particular, such as:
- penicillins;
- cephalosporins;
- macrolides.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are often used in rheumatology and orthopedics. They are used to stop the inflammatory process in the joints, help reduce swelling of adjacent soft tissues. The best drugs of this group are considered such as:
- Ibuprofen
- Diclofenac
- Ketoprofen.
The duration of the course of therapy largely depends on the stage of the course of the disease. For patients with peptic ulcers and gastritis, analgesics or antispasmodics are prescribed to reduce pain. With severe pain and the course of an acute inflammatory process, glucocorticosteroids are prescribed to the patient. However, it is worth remembering that they provoke many side effects and lead to thinning of tissues.
The defeat of the ligaments and joints can be quite pronounced, which is very clearly visible in the photo. Symptoms and treatment of foot arthritis can be very different, however, in any case, chondroprotectors are prescribed for the treatment. In particular, drugs such as:
- Teraflex
- Arthra
- "Don";
- Structum;
- Chondroitin.
To increase the regenerative effect, rheumatologists and orthopedists recommend combining systemic and local chondroprotectors. The duration of the course of therapy is several years. Particular attention should be paid to the treatment of gouty foot arthritis , since initially it is necessary to eliminate the provoking factor and reduce the level of uric acid in the body. This allows you to achieve a positive therapeutic effect.
Physiotherapeutic Techniques
To better and more effectively eliminate the symptoms of foot arthritis, treatment is carried out using physiotherapeutic techniques. They include amplipulse therapy, magnetotherapy, diadynamic therapy.
Paraffin therapy has a good effect. To do this, melt the paraffin in a water bath to a liquid state and cool slightly so that its temperature does not exceed 60 degrees. After that, you need to lower the feet in liquid paraffin ankle-deep, take out your legs and wait for it to harden. After that, put your feet in a bag and wrap it up warmly.
It is worth noting that paraffin therapy is contraindicated in hypertension, varicose veins and diabetes.
The use of folk remedies
Many are interested in how to treat foot arthritis with folk remedies, however, it is worth remembering that they need to be combined with medications and physiotherapy. The use of herbs helps to reduce inflammation, eliminate pain and normalize mobility. As folk methods, you can use such tools as:
- decoctions and infusions of plants for oral administration;
- baths;
- compresses;
- applications;
- grindings;
- ointments.
To eliminate painful sensations, you can apply inside a decoction of nettle, lingonberry leaves, calendula, rowan fruits. It is also recommended to use these funds as compresses. To reduce pain, warming with sand or sea salt is used.
Very effective home remedies are ointments and rubbing. You can simply wrap the heel with a fresh cabbage leaf and walk like this for some time. Inflamed joints can be lubricated with ointment, prepared on the basis of dry mustard, salt and paraffin. The finished product should have a creamy consistency.
The therapeutic effect is exerted by rubbing with the use of alcohol tinctures of medicinal herbs. The procedure should be carried out in courses for 7-10 days.
Dieting
When treating foot arthritis , a nutritionist consultation is required. A properly composed diet necessarily complements complex therapy. Fresh vegetable juices, as well as any vegetables other than rhubarb and sorrel, will be very useful. In addition, you need to consume a lot of foods rich in calcium.
With gouty arthritis, you need to limit the intake of foods containing purine, which promotes the formation of uric acid. These include smoked and salted lard and meat, salted vegetables. It is recommended to consume cereals from whole grains.
Physiotherapy
For a person with arthritis, the doctor prescribes therapeutic exercises to restore balance and coordinate movements. All exercises should be aimed at restoring normal flexion of the foot. It is very useful for the patient to go skiing, on which small weighting materials are suspended. A person must walk, raising his legs high with his skis.
Prevention and prognosis
Any disease is much easier to prevent than then treated for a long time. As preventive measures, you need to adhere to simple rules, namely:
- avoid foot injuries;
- choose comfortable shoes;
- avoid excessive loads;
- treat concomitant infectious diseases;
- monitor weight;
- avoid overcooling.
Damage to the foot with arthritis can be effectively eliminated only if timely treatment is carried out and the therapeutic complex used is effective. With the correct implementation of all the recommendations of the doctor, the mobility of the joints is restored, and the quality of life improves. Otherwise, the process of tissue destruction becomes irreversible.