There are several different types of Arthritis. The most common type is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the wearing down of joints over time. This is usually due to a significant amount of walking or other activities that over time have caused destruction of the joints. In some cases osteoarthritis is actually caused by trauma i.e. broken bones or dislocated joints. In osteoarthritis the smooth cartilage over the ends of the bones which helped the bones slide next to one another become broken down leaving large areas of bone exposed. When bone rubs on bone it is not a smooth or fluid motion. Bone on bone motion presents as pain. It also causes inflammation fluid to build up into the joints. This fluid can be affected by air pressure. This is why people with arthritis often times say they can tell when the weather is going to change.       
            Another form of arthritis is gouty arthritis. Gout is a disorder caused by an increased level of uric acid in the system. This uric acid forms crystals which are deposited into the joints. These crystal deposits cause extreme inflammation and pain. Usually the onset of this pain is very sudden and the majority of the time at night. The uric acid levels are increased due to a high number of purines in the system. Certain people are predisposed to gout due to their overproduction of purines or inability to clear the purines from their system. Purines are a type of protein which we get from different foods. Certain types of foods and drinks which are high in purines can cause a sudden gout attack.
      When a gout attack occurs it often affects the big toe joint. The patient will present to the podiatrist office relating extreme pain, redness, swelling in the big toe. This will have to be differentiated from other disorders which have similar symptoms. However, it is not difficult to diagnose a patient undergoing a gout attack. Once the diagnosis has been made significant, often total, relief can be achieved through anti-inflammatories. In severe cases more aggressive treatment may be needed.
            A third common form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis often experience a significant amount of problems with their feet. The arthritis affects the majority of the bones in the ends of the feet. This causes migration of the toes and pain in the forefoot.
            Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body's own immune system attacks the joints and causes them to break down. Over time this breaking down of the joints causes significant arthritis and deformities. Bunions and hammer toes are often associated with rheumatoid arthritis. This makes the metatarsal heads extremely prominent in the ball of the foot. The rheumatoid process also breaks down the fat pad under the ball of the foot which is your body's natural cushion when walking.
            With each different kind of arthritis there is a different treatment regimen. If you are experiencing pain in the joints you should be evaluated by one of the doctors in our office to see what the best long-term treatment plan would be.