Arthritis is a common condition that affects many old people in Colorado Springs. Foot arthritis is an inflammatory condition that affects the joints in the body. This condition presents with the symptoms of inflammation that include pain in the joints, swelling of the joint, redness on the surrounding skin, and the affected joint feels warmer than the other joints. These symptoms develop gradually and they worsen as you advance in age. Different types of arthritis can affect the foot.
If you visit the hospital with these symptoms, the doctor will take a thorough medical history to find the cause of the symptoms. The doctor at Colorado Springs arthritic footcare will also examine your joints looking for symptoms of arthritis and other diseases. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may order some laboratory tests and imaging tests that will guide them in offering you the best treatment.
The foot can be affected by three types of arthritis that include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gouty arthritis. These are explained in more detail below.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is a type of autoimmune disorder that occurs when your immune system affects the inner lining of your joints. This causes inflammation of the synovium and with time, this layer thickens. The inflammation also extends to the cartilage and bone and causes stretching and weakening of the ligaments and tendons in this joint. The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known.
Some people with this condition have a genetic predisposition to autoimmune disorders. Environmental factors like viral infections also play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women than men and mostly starts in middle age. Smoking and exposure to toxins like asbestos also increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Obesity contributes to rheumatoid arthritis in persons who are younger than 55 years.
- Gouty Arthritis
Gouty arthritis is a type of arthritis in the foot that commonly affects men. This condition is caused by the accumulation of urate crystals in the joints when you have a lot of uric acid in your bloodstream. The inflammation that occurs in this condition causes pain and swelling of the foot. Some of the factors that increase the risk of gouty arthritis include eating a lot of red meat and alcohol. Having kidney disease, obesity, a family history of gout, and taking some medications like diuretics also causes gout.
- Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that occurs due to wear and tear of the cartilage that cushions the joints in the foot. The bones, connective tissues, and bone linings also deteriorate in persons who have osteoarthritis. Since these changes are common during old age, the condition appears as you advance in age.
Some people have a genetic predisposition to osteoarthritis. The risk of osteoarthritis is higher in women, obese people, people who have deformities in the bones, and can also increase if you have had trauma to the foot or diabetes.
In summary, arthritis is an inflammatory condition that causes inflammation of the joints and presents with pain, redness, swelling, and reduction in the function of these joints. Three types of arthritis can affect the foot which is; gouty arthritis that occurs due to the accumulation of urate crystals, rheumatoid arthritis which is an autoimmune disorder, and osteoarthritis due to wear and tear of the joint. If you develop symptoms of arthritis, seek medical attention.