Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle

Prevention

Reduce your risk.

The best way to prevent arthritis is by consistently taking care of your feet and ankles, which involves:

• Wear shoes that are properly fitted and shaped to your foot
• Wear shoes with rubber soles for elite foot and ankle cushioning
• Regularly exercise and stretch your feet and ankles

Symptoms

Pinpoint your pain.

Symptoms of arthritis may develop gradually over time or onset suddenly.Common symptoms include:

• Flare-ups of pain in the affected joint when engaging in vigorous activity
• Tenderness in the joint when pressure is applied
• Swelling, warmth or redness in the affected joint
• Increased pain and swelling when first trying to walk either in the morning or after extended periods of sitting or resting
• Experience a difficulty in walking due to the aforementioned symptoms

Diagnosis

Get the answers you need.

The physicians at Kayal Orthopaedic Center provide expert treatment for arthritis. Our specialists diagnose the condition through thorough examination of a patient’s medical history and an evaluation of the patient’s symptoms. Gait analysis, which observes the way that the patient walks, will allow our physicians to better determine the severity and location of the condition, while diagnostic testing, including X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and blood tests, will further confirm the presence of the condition.

Treatment

Life’s too short to put up with pain.

Non-surgical techniques can slow the progression of the disease and lessen symptoms. Non-surgical treatment may include anti-inflammatory medication, wearing an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), or undergoing viscosupplementation. During this procedure, lubrication fluid is injected into the joint, enabling it to move more smoothly.When debilitating arthritis pain still exists after conservative measures, Kayal Orthopaedic Center’s foot and ankle surgeons may recommend minimally invasive ankle arthroscopy, ankle arthrodesis or total ankle replacement. These surgical treatments can return patient’s to their normal daily activities and allow patients to remain active.