More than 58.5 million adults in the U.S. have some type of arthritis, or just under 25 percent of the adult population.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis, and the location, type, and severity of symptoms can vary significantly from person to person.
While all of the joints in your body can experience arthritis, there are a few hotspots that are at a much higher risk. The back, hips, knees, wrist, and fingers all most commonly experience arthritis symptoms, but the joints in your feet are a common location as well.
What Causes Arthritis in Your Feet?
There are 33 joints, 26 bones, and more than a hundred muscles, tendons, and ligaments in each of your feet.
These body parts bear the entirety of your body weight any time that you stand, walk, run, or jump. They’re responsible for providing support, stability, and shock absorption for your entire body.
Eventually, the repeat and consistent strain and regular movement on joints can cause the tissues in joints to wear down, and your chances of developing arthritis increase.
What Areas of the Foot Experience Arthritis Symptoms?
Arthritis can affect any of the 33 joints in your foot; however, there are four primary areas where arthritis is most common:
- Big toe. The first metatarsophalangeal joint is located at the base of your big toe and connects it to your foot. This joint bears your body weight every time that you take a step and can wear down fairly quickly.
- Midfoot. The tarsometatarsal joints are located halfway between your ankle and toes. These joints connect your arch-forming bones to the front of your ankle. The arches in your feet help provide balance and must be strong enough to withstand the pressure of your body weight.
- Hindfoot. There are three joints located above your heel and below your ankle: the calcaneocuboid joint, the subtalar joint, and the talonavicular joint. These joints are what allow your foot to endure side-to-side motions.
- Ankle. The ankle joint is a hinged synovial joint that connects your foot to the lower part of your leg. It allows your foot to create up-and-down motions.
What Are the Symptoms of Arthritis in Your Feet?
The symptoms of arthritis largely depend on the type of arthritis that you have. Remember, there are more than 100 different diagnosable types of arthritis!
These are the three most common types of arthritis and how they can affect your feet:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease and is the most common form of arthritis. This condition causes the cartilage in your joints to wear down over time.
Cartilage is a rubbery protective tissue that acts as a cushion where two bones come together. When a joint starts to lose cartilage, the connected bones can start to grind together. The joint can experience increased inflammation and you’ll start to experience pain.
The effects of osteoarthritis are typically slow and gradually get worse over time. Different joints break down at different speeds, so you might only experience symptoms in one joint on one foot, multiple joints in one foot, or multiple joints on both feet.
These are some of the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis:
- Tenderness and swelling in the affected joint
- Pain when you touch or move the affected joint
- Stiffness or loss of flexibility in the affected joint.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is technically an autoimmune disease and is among the most serious forms of arthritis. It essentially causes your immune system to attack your body and especially targets your joints.
The main consequence of rheumatoid arthritis is that it causes your immune system to incorrectly perceive the lining of your joints, called synovium, as a threat. Your immune system responds by flooding the area with immune cells, causing inflammation and serious damage to the joint. This immune response eventually causes damaged bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles which can lead to deformity and disability.
Rheumatoid arthritis can appear suddenly with no warning. The feet and ankle joints are usually where it starts before it spreads to the rest of your body.
These are some of the most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis:
- Constant pain, aching, or soreness in the affected joints
- Abnormal warmth in your feet
- Tenderness and swelling in the affected joints
- Stiffness and a loss of flexibility in the affected joints
Gout
Gout is an inflammatory type of arthritis that is known for long-lasting and highly painful flare-ups. Gout is caused when excessive amounts of uric acid builds in your joints. The feet and ankles are some of the most common destinations for these buildups, but they can occur anywhere.
Uric acid is naturally produced by your liver and plays a role in several essential bodily functions. In most cases, your body removes uric acid via urination. However, uric acid build-ups are possible if your body produces too much uric acid, has trouble breaking down uric acid, or you’re eating foods that elevate your uric acid levels.
The excess uric acid that builds up in your joints can crystallize and cause attacks that last anywhere from three to 10 days. The attacks can be infrequent during the early stages of gout but can become more frequent as the condition worsens.
Eventually, these attacks can start to seriously damage your joints. These are some of the most common symptoms of gout:
- Intense swelling and pain in the affected joint
- Redness and inflammation in the affected joint
- Stiffness and loss of flexibility in the affected joint
- Lingering discomfort in the area after an attack
How Do You Treat Arthritis in Your Foot?
The first step in treating arthritis of the foot is generally to determine what type of arthritis you have.
A doctor or rheumatologist can help. They’ll be able to properly diagnose your condition, recommend treatment options, and prescribe necessary medications.
These are a few of the most common treatment methods for arthritis in your feet:
Medications for Arthritis
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally oral medications such as diclofenac, naproxen, ketoprofen, and ibuprofen can help reduce swelling in your joints.
- Menthol or capsaicin topical creams can help interfere with the transmission of pain signals from your joints to your brain and provide a relieving cooling or heating sensation.
- Steroids such as prednisone are available as injections, pills, or topical creams and can help reduce inflammation and slow down joint damage.
- Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine can slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes can reduce the stress on your feet and help alleviate some of the symptoms.
- Losing weight provides several health benefits and will reduce the extra stress being placed on the joints in your foot.
- Eating a healthier diet can reduce the inflammation in your body and help regulate your uric acid more efficiently.
- Lifting weights can strengthen the muscles around your joints.
Surgery
In severe cases, doctors might recommend surgery as a last resort. There are a few types of surgery for arthritis, and the severity of your joint damage will dictate if or which is appropriate for you;
- Repair. Small incisions are made over the joint and various tissues can be realigned to reduce pain and improve function.
- Fusion. The ends of bones are removed and replaced with rods, pins, screws, or plates. The bones will join together when they heal.
- Replacement. All or parts of the joint will be removed and replaced with an artificial joint.
The Takeaway
Arthritis is a common experience among older adults, and while it can affect any joint in your body, your feet and hand joints are especially susceptible.
Unfortunately, there is no singular cure for arthritis – partly depending on the root cause – outside of joint replacement, and living with arthritis is often about managing symptoms effectively.
A quality diet and gentle exercise can be a good place to start strengthening joints and losing weight, but depending on the extent of your joint damage these may not be able to help. Prescription arthritis medications and non-prescription options can help, including anti-inflammatory meds, pain-blocking creams/gels, and more.
When in doubt, consult a healthcare provider for help diagnose and treat your arthritis.
