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Arthritis

Foot Arthritis Specialist Questions and Answers

Do you think you may have arthritis in your feet? Or have you already been diagnosed with it? Either way, we can help here at Bay Area Foot and Ankle Associates. Connect with our clinic today to learn more or to book a consultation with us. For more information, call us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Walnut Creek CA, Brentwood CA, Concord CA, Pleasant Hill CA, Pittsburg CA, Antioch CA, Alamo CA, Danville CA, and Oakley CA.

Foot Arthritis Specialists Near Me in Walnut Creek CA and Brentwood CA
Foot Arthritis Specialists Near Me in Walnut Creek CA and Brentwood CA

Table of Contents:

What does arthritis in the foot feel like?
What causes arthritis in feet?
Is walking good for arthritis in the feet? How is foot arthritis treated?
Do you have a foot arthritis specialist in Walnut Creek, CA?

What does arthritis in the foot feel like?


The symptoms of foot or ankle arthritis tend to be tenderness or pain in the area, stiffness in the joint, swelling in the joint, and a reduced ability to move or walk. If you have those symptoms, the issue may be arthritis, so you should seek professional diagnosis and treatment. If you have the condition, because arthritis is a chronic condition, it doesn’t go away on its own and it requires professional care.

The condition typically affects the following joints: the joint where the ankle and shinbone meet; the joint of the big toe and foot bone; and the three joints of the foot involving the heel bone, the inner mid-foot bone, and the outer mid-foot bone. Sometimes other areas of the body are affected by arthritis in the foot or ankle, like the knees, because arthritis affects gait (walking) and movement in general, and this can compromise other areas of the body.

What causes arthritis in feet?


The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, is usually associated with aging, but there can be other factors involved too, like joint injury, genetics, obesity, and even anatomic factors like joint shape and alignment. Rheumatoid arthritis is also somewhat common, but it usually affects both feet, not just one like with osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis can happen if a person’s immune system attacks the lining of the membranes that surround joints.

Here at Bay Area Foot and Ankle Associates, we’re very familiar with arthritis, how it affects a patient, its causes, and its treatments, and we commonly see and treat patients with arthritis caused by the issues we’ve mentioned above, like injury and joint alignment. One of our podiatrists may refer you to a rheumatologist if they suspect rheumatoid arthritis.

Is walking good for arthritis in the feet? How is foot arthritis treated?


Yes, walking certainly can be good for arthritis in the feet, but there may be other exercises you can do that will be even better for arthritic feet. Strength training, water-based exercise, balance therapy, and biking can be good exercises for arthritic feet, and may be very therapeutic for a patient, reducing pain and improving function.

There are lots of other ways to manage arthritis, like with physical therapy. Here at Bay Area Foot and Ankle Associates, we may recommend one or more of the following treatments, therapies, or other methods if you have arthritic feet:

Custom-made orthotics/shoes
Inserts to support the foot/ankle
Bracing to support a joint
Physical therapy
Weight control
Anti-inflammatory medication to reduce joint swelling
Pain relief medication when necessary
Steroid medication that can be injected into an affected joint
A cane or walker if necessary

Sometimes surgery can help a lot with foot arthritis, and the type of surgery may be simple like arthroscopic surgery. However, our specialists want to provide conservative treatment before we consider anything like surgery, so we’ll do that first here at Bay Area Foot and Ankle Associates!

Do you have a foot arthritis specialist in Walnut Creek, CA?


Our clinic has two fully capable podiatrists/foot arthritis specialists in Dr. John W. Scivally DPM FACFAS and Dr. Robin K. Lie DPM. Either of the doctors would be happy to see you for an evaluation, treatment, or another service.

Our clinic has multiple locations in the Walnut Creek CA area, so we ask that you see our Locations page for the location nearest you. Call us at that location to book a consultation with us, whether it be for diagnosis, treatment, or anything else. We’re open for you Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

We look forward to helping you here at Bay Area Foot and Ankle Associates!