Arthritis of the foot is a lesion of 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, there are difficulties when walking, choosing shoes, as well as psychological disorders.
The foot is used for balance when walking or standing, helps to push off when moving. In the presence of absolutely any deformity, including the occurrence of arthritis of the foot, it is not able to perform the required functions, as a result of which the load is transferred to the hip and knee joint, which is fraught with very dangerous consequences.
Features of the disease
Feet are made up of many joints and small bones. They have to endure considerable stress every day.
Arthritis of the foot can occur in people of any age, resulting in complex changes in the joints, their deformation and painful sensations. The disease must be treated promptly. The doctor must prescribe medications. Locally shown electrophoresis with medicinalmeans, applications with bile and healing mud.
Additionally, therapeutic exercises and massage are recommended, which the patient can do on his own. If the disease is severe, the doctor may recommend surgery.
Main species
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;
- of metabolic origin;
- secondary osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by the fact that it provokes the development of an autoimmune reaction. After a previous infection, the immune system is significantly weakened, which takes he althy cells for pathogens and begins to attack them. It is worth noting that this type of disease is not very 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 arthritis of the foot is the most common and occurs due to the deposition of uric acid. The smallest crystals of s alt begin to be deposited in the cavity of the joints, provoking a certain immune response. This results in pain, deformity and discomfort.
Reactive or infectious arthritis occurs due to an infectious lesion. Open wounds that affect the joint can be dangerous. As a result of this, pathogenic microorganisms gain access to cartilage tissue and the joint bag. No less dangerous can be foci of chronic inflammation and infection.
Post-traumatic arthritis is not always infectious. After a previous injury, a closed joint lesion is also possible. Violation of their anatomical integrity leads to inflammation. Secondary osteoarthritis develops in patients suffering from chronic arthrosis. As the course of dystrophic 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 foot injury. Physical surges also have a similar effect.
Pathogenic Escherichia coli that have entered the body, acute forms of tonsillitis, pneumonia, and venereal diseases have a devastating effect on the joints. During the course of autoimmune inflammation in the body, immune protection is triggered against the course of inflammation of the cartilage tissue, which itperceives as pathological.
Specific provoking factors appear purely individually against the background of various diseases occurring in the body. For example, with psoriasis, s alts are deposited in the joints. The occurrence of the disease is also influenced by a number of other factors, in particular, such as:
- metabolic disorder;
- bad habits;
- poor immunity;
- overweight;
- age-related changes.
Depending on the cause that provoked arthritis of the foot joints, the doctor selects a treatment method that will quickly eliminate the pathology.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of arthritis of the foot, the photo of which shows the features of the course of the disease, may have general symptoms, which are expressed as:
- local temperature increase;
- pain;
- blushing;
- puffiness;
- impaired function of affected joints.
It is worth noting that each type of arthritis has its own symptoms. With the course of a rheumatoid lesion that affects the connective tissues of the body, there are signs such as:
- swelling and redness in the affected area;
- feeling of stiffness in the joints in the morning;
- fatigue;
- pain when walking.
It is worth noting that the general state of he alth is significantly deteriorating, and there are signs similar to the flowflu and colds, as well as possible fever. It is imperative to take a blood test, since a high content of uric acid in it may 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 the arthritis of the joints of the foot is of a traumatic origin, then consultation with a traumatologist is certainly required. Diagnosing the course of the disease is quite simple.
Among the main methods of examination, 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 a puncture of small joints is required to examine the synovial fluid. When conducting a differential diagnosis, other pathologies of the foot should be excluded.
Features of treatment
Before treating foot arthritis, it is imperative to determine the cause of the disease that will have to be fought. The course of therapy is prescribed only by the attending doctor, since each person needs an individual approach. Basic treatment tools include:
- drugs;
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- physiotherapy exercises.
To auxiliarymethods should 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 treatment, magnetic procedures, diadynamics. It should be noted that such techniques can be effective only in the stage of fading. When conducting therapy to eliminate the symptoms of foot arthritis, treatment also involves 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 nearby soft tissues. The best drugs in this group are considered to be:
- "Ibuprofen";
- "Diclofenac";
- Ketoprofen.
Duration of therapylargely depends on the stage of the disease. Patients with peptic ulcers and gastritis are prescribed analgesics or antispasmodics to reduce pain. With severe pain and the course of an acute inflammatory process, the patient is prescribed glucocorticosteroids. However, it is worth remembering that they provoke many side effects and lead to tissue thinning.
The damage to 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 therapy. In particular, drugs such as:
- "Teraflex";
- "Artra";
- "Dona";
- Structum;
- Chondroitin.
To increase the restorative 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 arthritis of the foot, 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.
Physiotherapy techniques
To better and more effectively eliminate the symptoms of foot arthritis, treatment is carried out using physiotherapy 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 a little so that its temperature does not exceed 60 degrees. After that, you need to lower your feet into liquid paraffin to the ankles, take out your legs and wait for it to harden. After that, place the legs in a bag and wrap them warmly.
It is worth noting that paraffin therapy is contraindicated in hypertension, varicose veins and diabetes.
Use of folk remedies
Many are interested in how to treat foot arthritis with folk remedies, however, it is worth remembering that they must be combined with medications and physiotherapy. The use of medicinal herbs helps to reduce inflammation, eliminate pain and normalize mobility. As folk methods, you can use tools such as:
- decoctions and infusions of plants for oral administration;
- baths;
- compresses;
- applications;
- rubbing;
- ointments.
To eliminate pain, you can use inside a decoction of nettle, lingonberry leaves, calendula, rowan fruits. It is also recommended to use these funds as compresses. Warming with sand or sea s alt is used to reduce pain.
Ointments and rubs are very effective home remedies. You can simply wrap the heel with a fresh cabbage leaf and walk like this for some time. Inflamed joints can be lubricated with an ointment prepared on the basis of drymustard, s alt and paraffin. The finished product should have a creamy consistency.
The therapeutic effect is exerted by rubbing with alcohol tinctures of medicinal herbs. The procedure should be carried out in courses for 7-10 days.
Dieting
When treating arthritis of the foot, a consultation with a nutritionist is required. A properly formulated diet necessarily complements complex therapy. Fresh vegetable juices will be very useful, as well as any vegetables except rhubarb and sorrel. In addition, you need to consume plenty of foods rich in calcium.
With gouty arthritis, you need to limit the intake of foods containing purines, which contribute to the formation of uric acid. These include smoked and s alted lard and meat, s alted vegetables. Whole grain cereals are recommended.
Therapeutic gymnastics
A doctor prescribes therapeutic exercises to a person with arthritis to restore balance and coordination of movements. All exercises performed should be aimed at restoring normal flexion of the foot. It is very useful for the patient to walk on skis, on which small weights are hung. A person must walk, raising their legs high along with skis.
Prevention and prognosis
Any disease is much easier to prevent than to treat for a long time. As preventive measures, you need to follow simple rules, namely:
- avoid foot injury;
- choose comfortable shoes;
- avoid excessiveloads;
- treat comorbid infectious diseases;
- watch your weight;
- avoid hypothermia.
Arthritis of the foot can be effectively eliminated only if timely treatment and the effectiveness of the applied therapeutic complex are carried out. With the correct implementation of all the doctor's recommendations, joint mobility is restored, and the quality of life improves. Otherwise, the process of tissue destruction becomes irreversible.
