ARTHRITIS

Arthritis both Rheumatoid, Osteo and even Psoriatic can effect the lower limb and feet in many ways.

OSTEOARTHRITIS

Articular cartilage is the tissue located at the end of bones. It can deteriorate over time. This causes a common condition called osteoarthritis. It becomes worse over time. It can be debilitating.

Normally, cartilage is the shock absorber in a joint. It absorbs energy from jarring movement, protecting the bone and other tissue in the area. Cartilage is naturally a very slippery material. It helps the joint glide smoothly. When the cartilage begins to show wear and tear, the lining of the joint becomes inflamed and painful. This makes the joint stiff.

Joints Affected by Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is an extremely common ailment of aging. In fact, it’s the most common joint condition throughout the world. Researchers believe that there are more than 20 million people with osteoarthritis in the US alone. More than half of all people over the age of 65 have arthritis in at least one joint. Researchers think that nearly everyone over the age of 75 has some degree of osteoarthritis. If you’ve had an injury to a joint, you may develop osteoarthritis at a younger age.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the joints and certain other organs throughout the body. It is called an autoimmune disorder. It is believed that the body’s immune system accidentally mistakes its own tissues for foreign invaders. The immune system attacks the joints and organs, causing damage.

Researchers are not sure what causes the immune system to respond so destructively. It may be caused by a combination of factors, including:

Genes—People with rheumatoid arthritis may have a specific genetic defect that increases their risk for developing this condition.
Defects in the immune system may cause the immune cells to fail to recognize the body’s own tissues.
Infection with specific viruses or bacteria that kick off an abnormal immune response.
Chemical or hormonal imbalances in the body.

PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS

The specific cause of psoriatic arthritis is unknown. Its signs and symptoms result from excessive inflammation in and around the joints. Inflammation occurs when the immune system sends signaling molecules and white blood cells to a site of injury or disease to fight microbial invaders and facilitate tissue repair. When this has been accomplished, the body ordinarily stops the inflammatory response to prevent damage to its own cells and tissues. Mechanical stress on the joints, such as occurs in movement, may result in an excessive inflammatory response in people with psoriatic arthritis. The reasons for this excessive inflammatory response are unclear.

As podiatrist we deal with people suffering from the effects of Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis particularly in the feet knees and spine, either helping your mobility and easing the pressure on you joints by altering the way you walk or protecting the joints from further shock with soft shock adsorbing orthotics. As well as helping with footwear and other protective devices to prevent rubbing and pressure on areas of your feet which may have changed or deformed due to you arthritic condition.

We can also assist by maintaining your general foot hygiene and care as often due to arthritic condition of the spine and knees, including those who have had hip and knee replacements due to arthritis, bending down to attend to you feet needs to very difficult and sometimes painful. And often toes have becoming misshapen making them hard to cut and causing painful corns and callouses to form.

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