Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease and is the most common types of arthritis .
What are Symptoms and Causes of Osteoarthritis and what joints are affected in the Foot?
Osteoarthritis results in very painful swollen joints and stiffness that occurs with activity. Usually there is no pain before activity or after. As a joints is mobilised you can feel or hear a grinding sound or sensation ( crepitus) .
Causes of osteoarthritis are normally long term trauma by repetitive stresses. This wear and tear may be due to joints not being aligned correctly form birth or from developmental problems like bunion or sudden traumas for example fractured bones.
If the cartilage that covers and protects the end of our bones in the joints is destroyed then osteoarthritis may begin. As the cartilage thins there is narrowing of the joint space and more bone on bone contact causing of pain. The capsule of the joint is affected too.
Areas of the foot that are commonly affected are large toe joints that develop bunions and stiff large toe joints know as Hallux Limitus and Hallux Rigidus. Smaller joints across the top of the mid foot are also affected.
The Balcombe Foot and Ankle Clinic will offer you a diagnosis, advice and various types of treatment to help relieve your pain.