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Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Foot and Ankle

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease affecting the joints. While it occurs in multiple joints throughout the body, 9 out of 10 people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis have some foot and ankle symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease of unknown cause. It is not the only inflammatory disease of joints that can affect the foot and ankle; some other such diseases include gout, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis typically appear in multiple joints on both sides of the body. They include joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Walking may be impaired, and the toes may stiffen into unusual positions known as claw toe or hammer toe. Systemically, affected individuals may experience fevers, weakness, loss of appetite, and lumps around joints.

Definitive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is via a blood test. Your physician may suspect rheumatoid arthritis if multiple joint problems occur at the same time or on both sides. Anti-inflammatory medications are important to slow disease progression and may also help control pain. Proper exercise is another important element of rheumatoid arthritis treatment. In addition, your doctor may prescribe specific shoes or other aids. If extensive joint damage has occurred, surgery may be necessary.