Three Types of Arthritis and How They Can Affect You

Did you know there are over 100 forms of arthritis? Many of these forms directly affect the ankle and foot. Because of this, it’s important to know all you can about arthritis and how this condition can affect your foot health. The main types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, posttraumatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Stay informed and learn more about these three types below.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis affects the cartilage in your joints. If your cartilage starts to wear away, it becomes tough, making the protective space between bones decrease. This causes your bones to rub together, often leading to uncomfortable bone spurs. Often your pain and stiffness worsen over time, as this condition develops slowly. Osteoarthritis is known as degenerative or wear-and-tear arthritis because of this. While it can affect younger people, too, it usually occurs in those over 50. It’s especially prominent in those who are obese or have osteoarthritis in their family history.

Posttraumatic Arthritis

The name suggests that posttraumatic arthritis develops after a foot or ankle injury. Fractures and dislocations that damage the joint surface often lead to this form of the disease. Posttraumatic arthritis may develop years after your injury. Similarly, to osteoarthritis, the cartilage between joints wears away over time. Seeking help after a foot or ankle injury is crucial, especially since injured joints are seven times more likely to develop arthritis than uninjured joints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that typically starts in the foot or ankle but can grow to affect other parts of the body. For this disease, the immune system attacks the synovium covering a joint, leading to swelling. As time goes on, this creates damage to the cartilage, bone, ligaments, and tendons. In more serious cases, it can cause joint deformity and disability. Rheumatoid arthritis is symmetrical. This means that the same joint on opposite sides of the body can get this condition. While the cause isn’t entirely known, experts believe people with rheumatoid arthritis affect those with certain genes.

If you suspect you have arthritis, it’s important you seek help from a podiatrist. Arthritis without treatment only gets worse.

Here at PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center, we specialize in custom orthotics, along with various other foot and ankle ailments. Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and the rest of our team are dedicated to helping our Hartford County patients. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.