4 key answers to foot & ankle arthritis questions

Few things can stop you dead in your tracks like foot and ankle arthritis, but this painful affliction can be treated. These four questions can help you learn the basics, so you can get back to life as usual.

• Sometimes an injury can lead to this form of osteoarthritis, or it can simply develop from years of strain.
• Although it's common, it often goes unrecognized, partly because it may not show up on routine X-rays.
• Ankle arthritis can be caused by wear on the joint between the shinbone, or tibia, and the ankle bone.
• Ankle arthritis more often results from a prior fracture, infection or even multiple sprains.
• It can also be the result of rheumatoid arthritis, a more serious form of arthritis that can affect the entire body.

• Great-toe arthritis is a common form of arthritis. It's where cartilage in the joint of the big toe wears away, and a spur may develop on top of the toe bone.
• The result is stiffness and pain every time you take a step, which may discourage you from doing much walking.
• You may also notice swelling at the joint and a bump or callus on top of the toe at the joint.

• Your doctor will examine your foot, asking about when the pain occurs and about past foot injuries.
• They may X-ray the toe to assess the joint damage.
• They may also order a magnetic resonance image (MRI) or bone scan, two types of imaging tests that will show evidence of damage to the joints.
• From there, treatment options will be discussed.

• You can address arthritis with some simple steps, like changing your shoes and taking over-the-counter pain medications.
• Regular exercise for people with foot osteoarthritis may help
• If simple measures don't work, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Inexplicably, the top of your foot hurts. Or the joints of your ankle are achy. If you experience these annoying pains regularly, you may have arthritis in your feet and ankle. But there's some good news: knowledge is your first weapon in the fight for relief.