Hammer, Claw, and Mallet Toes-Explore the Differences Hammer, claw, and mallet toes can all be regarded as toe deformities whereby toes are bent into odd positions. […]
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a form of autoimmune disease that can cause major joint pains and damages in different parts of the body. Unlike some other forms of arthritis, the joint pains and damages caused by rheumatoid arthritis may affect both the sides of your body. Therefore if a particular joint gets affected in either of your legs or arms, the same joint of the other leg or arm will probably get affected as well. It is one of the ways in which doctors tend to distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from the other types of arthritis like osteoarthritis.
If you have been affected by rheumatoid arthritis in your legs, you should immediately visit a specialist who is able to review and treat this. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic long term disease that is characterized by symptoms of pain and inflammation in the joints. These signs and symptoms often come and go in phases that are known as flare ups. There can also be times of complete dissipation when the symptoms disappear completely. The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include joint pains, joint stiffness, joint swelling and loss of the joint functions. The symptoms can vary strongly from being mild to severe. If you are having this form of arthritis, it is important that you do not ignore your symptoms under any circumstances.
It is not easy to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and your specialist may make use of different methods and techniques to see whether you are suffering from this condition. There can be a number of different conditions that are associated with rheumatoid arthritis in the feet, such as bunions, bursitis, hammer toe, Charcot arthropathy, rheumatoid nodules, Hallux valgus, plantar fasciitis and Valgus heel. Your specialist will also perform a detailed physical exam of the joints and look for redness and swelling, as well as test for muscle strength and reflexes. Blood tests may be carried out for detecting substances like antibodies and for checking levels of acute phase reactants, which can be quite high during inflammatory conditions. The blood tests that are usually advised include rheumatoid factor test, antinuclear antibody test, anti citrullinated protein antibody test, C-reactive protein test and erythrocyte sedimentation rate test. Imaging tests like x-ray exams, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can help in detecting the extent of the damage caused by the inflammations.
While there are no definitive cures for rheumatoid arthritis, specialists can recommend medications, dietary changes and specific forms of exercise to manage the condition. Some of the classes of drugs that are used for this condition include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids and acetaminophen. It is to be remembered that being affected by rheumatoid arthritis does not mean that your day to day normal life has to come to a standstill. You can still manage to participate in most of the activities that you love.
Thoughts and advice on foot health care from the Podogo team.
Hammer, Claw, and Mallet Toes-Explore the Differences Hammer, claw, and mallet toes can all be regarded as toe deformities whereby toes are bent into odd positions. […]
Ingrown Toenails and Footwear: Tips for Choosing the Right Shoes An ingrown toenail can be a cause some discomfort and pain. They can become tiresome when […]
Top Reasons to Visit a Podiatry Clinic: Caring for Your Feet One of the advantages of getting checked by a podiatrist is that they can examine […]
Performance Boosters: Maximising Potential with Sports Orthotics Individuals who are active in sports aim to work towards maximising their potential and overall performance. Dexterity, endurance, and strength are […]
How to Choose the Right Verruca Treatment for You? A verruca, also referred to as plantar warts, can be a persistent problem. Theyappear as growths triggered by […]
What You Need to Know About Flat Feet Treatment & Effectiveness of Orthotics Flat feet, also referred to as fallen arches, is a condition where the arches […]
Transform Your Foot Health with Orthopaedic Insoles Many people suffer from foot pain and discomfort, it is possible to alleviate some of these issues by using the appropriate support for […]
Shockwave Therapy and Heel Pain ESWT (Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy) is a non-invasive surgical procedure that involves sound waves. The sound waves are utilised to stimulate the […]
When Is Surgery Needed for Heel Pain? Heel pain is a common issue that can cause pain whilst standing or walking. There are many cases where […]
When is Surgery needed for a Flat Foot Issue? Flat foot surgery is intended to correct the present alignment of your feet, ease any pain you […]
Understanding Hammer Toe Hammer toe affects your second, fourth, and third toes which causes them to bend at the middle joint, making them appear like a […]
How Does Cryotherapy Treat Verrucae? Verrucae, referred to as plantar warts, are rough and small growths that usually appear on the soles of your feet. These […]
Understanding Flat Feet Flat feet, also referred to as pes planus, indicate a condition where the arches of your feet have collapsed, this can become very […]
What is an ingrown toenail? An ingrown toenail develops when the sides of the toenail cut in to the skin. The body treats the nail as […]
Stepping with Comfort: A Guide to Common Foot Conditions There are 26 bones in a human foot, with 33 joints and a minimum of 100 muscles, […]
Returning to Sports After an Achilles Tendon Rupture An ATR (Achilles tendon rupture) is a rather common injury among individuals who tend to be physically active. […]
The Latest Advancements in Lapidus Hallux Valgus Surgery Correcting hallux valgus is one of the most common procedures undertaken by foot and ankle specialists. There have […]
What is a Podiatrist and their training [betterdocs_search_form placeholder=”Search”] When it comes to taking care of our bodies, our feet often get overlooked. Enter the podiatrist, […]
Understanding Steroid Injections: A Podiatrist’s Guide [betterdocs_search_form placeholder=”Search”] What are Steroid Injections? Steroid injections are commonly used in the field of podiatry to alleviate pain and […]
The Benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Podiatry Patients [betterdocs_search_form placeholder=”Search”] What is Shockwave Therapy? Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive and highly effective treatment method for various […]
Treating Sports Injuries: Shockwave Therapy vs. Steroid Injections [betterdocs_search_form placeholder=”Search”] Sports Injuries Sports injuries are a common occurrence among athletes, weekend footballers and beginner joggers. Sports […]
Ankle Sprains and Fractures [betterdocs_search_form placeholder=”Search”] Ankle sprains and fractures are common injuries that can effect both very active and sedentary people. At Podogo Foot Clinic, […]
Ingrown Toenail Remedies You Can Do at Home [betterdocs_search_form placeholder=”Search”] Ingrown nails whether on the fingers or toes develop when the side of the nail starts […]
Treatment for verrucae and warts [betterdocs_search_form placeholder=”Search”] Verrucas and warts are very common and are contagious so you should be careful when walking barefoot. They are […]
What is biomechanical gait assessment? [betterdocs_search_form placeholder=”Search”] A gait analysis and biomechanical assessment are two different types of assessment, they are both ways of examining how […]
Heel pain and plantar fasciitis exercises [betterdocs_search_form placeholder=”Search”] There are many causes of heel pain but one of the biggest causes is plantar fasciitis which affects […]
Common Questions About Plantar Fasciitis [betterdocs_search_form placeholder=”Search”] What is the main cause of plantar fasciitis? It is generally classed as an overuse injury that gradually worsens. […]
Common Question about Verrucae [betterdocs_search_form placeholder=”Search”] Do verruca go away on their own? They can go away on their own but there is no guarantee of […]
Ingrown Toenail Surgery | All You Need to Know About it What is an ingrown toenail? An ingrown toenail is when part of the toenail has broken or pierced the surrounding skin. What causes an ingrown toenail? They are often caused by malcutting, leaving a shard down the side of...
What causes pain in the ball of the foot when walking? There are a number of possible causes for this. The ‘balls’ of the feet are technically, the metatarsophalangeal joints (MTP joints). Pain in this area can mean that one of these joints, or the structures or surrounding structures of...
What is a Foot Corn? Appearance A corn is a bump of hard skin on the foot. They typically appear as a raised hard, yellowish patch of skin that is often tender to touch and painful when walking or wearing shoes. A corn is not normally a serious health condition....
What is the pain in the ball of my foot? It is quite common to feel pain and inflammation around the balls of the feet. Podiatrists refer to these symptoms as Metatarsalgia, although this is not a condition in itself. The balls of the feet are the slightly padded areas...
The Best Verruca Treatments What is a Verruca? A Verruca is a small lump of hard skin, also known as a plantar wart, that grows on the sole of the foot. Verrucae typically appear as a small black dot beneath the surface of the skin with hard skin growing on...
Treating Ingrown Toenails What is an ingrown toenail Ingrown toenails occur when the nail starts to pierce the skin and soft flesh surrounding it. This is quite common and typically affects the big toes. Often this condition is caused by: Wearing tight shoes that push the toes together Cutting your...
Plantar Fasciitis The plantar fascia is a structure under the foot that connects the heel to the metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPJs) or commonly called the ‘balls of the feet’. Plantar fasciitis refers to inflammation of the fascia that produces symptoms. The typical location of symptoms are where the fascia inserts into...
What Is a Morton’s Neuroma? A Morton’s Neuroma is a thickened, damaged or irritated nerve between your toes. This can cause pain, discomfort or restriction in footwear and may require specialist treatment. A Morton’s neuroma is found between the third and fourth webbing space of the foot but neuromas can...
Preventing Callus and Corn formation Callus and corns are extremely common on our feet. A thin layer of flexible callus is a healthy protective barrier of the skin. Corns however do not have any benefit and can be immensely painful. Here is information and advice on these two common complaints....
Verrucae are warts on the foot and are caused by a virus. When present under the foot they can be very painful to walk on, particularly if under high pressure areas. The virus itself does not cause pain, but the hard skin it develops does. Verrucae are contagious and spread...
Orthotics Orthotics are commonly known as insoles and are worn inside shoes. They ultimately change forces on your foot and can be used for a variety of reasons. Thin flat cushioned insoles available from a number of high street shops can improve general comfort. However, for people with foot complaints...
National Bunion Day A bunion is a deformity of the foot involving the big toe joint. This is often painful and can cause a number of secondary problems. The medical term for bunion is ‘hallux valgus’, and it affects around 23% of adults – women more than men. The big...
Easter Walks After a period of cold and dark winter weather, the temperature is rising. Trees are sprouting fresh green leaves, and flowers begin to bloom and add colour to the landscape. This is a pleasant invitation to explore outside. You may be planning a city break away or trip...
Valentines Day and wearing heels As you may be planning to wear heels this Valentine’s Day, here is some advice to consider from a foot and ankle specialist. All feet and people are unique and will therefore be prone to different types of problems and symptoms. However, the main factors...
Preparing For The London Marathon Preparing for the London Marathon is different for each individual. For some, running the marathon will be the first time they run this distance. For others, it may be a frequent event alongside triathlons and ultramarathons. The closer you are to the later group, the...
New Year’s Resolutions Most people make New Year’s resolutions, and the classic one is ‘to keep fit and get in shape’. Based on clinical experience, I see many patients in late January and February due injuries as a direct result of their resolutions. This is not a good start to...
Common Foot Issues & Foot Treatment Athlete’s Foot: Athlete’s foot is one of the most common foot related issues that people may suffer from. The foot treatment for this particular issue is rather simple. You just keep his feet dry and clean at all times, as well as use a...
Planters Foot: An Inflammation of A Ligament In Your Foot In medical terminology planters foot is known as plantar fasciitis. It is basically an inflammation of a ligament in your foot named the plantar fascia.
What You Need to Know About Foot Injuries Each foot in your body has 26 bones, 33 joints, and at least 100 tendons, ligaments, and muscles. This is the reason why foot injuries are so common
Sore Feet: Pain & Discomfort in Your Feet The term sore feet means what it says – pain and discomfort in your feet. There are several symptoms of sore feet that may be mentioned as below: Hammer toe Discolored skin Bunions Corns Calluses Heel pain Arch pain If you have...
How To Find The Right Foot Care Centre Though we generally associate foot pain or injuries with athletes, we should not fail to acknowledge the fact that they can be experienced by anyone. A well equipped foot care centre should ideally provide all the following treatment options: Bunion Treatment Heel...
How to Protect Your Ankle from Sports Related Injuries If you are into sports and fitness activities, then you will be well aware of the fact that ankle injuries are quite common and you may know how to avoid them.