May is Arthritis Awareness Month
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For the moment, let’s skip over the technical, medical explanations. What is more important to people with arthritis is how it makes them feel – not the science behind it. Most would say arthritis is no joke.
Arthritis makes people feel pain and stiffness in their joints.
Arthritis also causes people to have difficulty moving and miss out on activities they love.
Foot or ankle arthritis can diminish your quality of life. In particular, when arthritis affects the feet or ankles, simple activities like standing and walking are challenging. And the sooner you get it treated, the better. The good news is that there’s help here at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center.
What’s going on with your aching joints?
Here’s the science part: foot or ankle arthritis is typically a result of cartilage loss. Cartilage is the substance in your joints that prevents bones from rubbing against each other. It provides a smooth surface for bones to glide past each other without hitting each other. When cartilage thins or disappears, bones bang into each other, and your joints ache.
Some folks are more prone to getting this type of arthritis, which is called osteoarthritis:
Athletes (even relatively young ones) can get osteoarthritis in their feet and ankles because they use their joints so much.
Senior citizens are prone to cartilage loss because their joints have had many years of use.
Anyone who’s sustained a joint injury, for example, an ankle sprain, can develop arthritis in the injured joint.
Our patients throughout Monmouth County can count on our board-certified podiatrists to help them overcome the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis.
Treatment Options
Effective treatments include physical therapy, custom orthotics, low-impact exercises such as swimming and walking, and prescription-strength inflammation-reducing medications. Foot surgery or total ankle replacement may also be an option to restore smooth gliding in your joints.
Arthritis pain will likely get worse as time goes on. For the best chance at lasting relief, let Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, and Dr. Joseph Saka help you. To discuss all your options, we invite you to schedule a consultation at our Howell or Jackson podiatry offices. Make an appointment online or call (732) 905-1110.