The 4 Causes of Arthritis in Your Feet

We at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists don’t just see grandparents coming in with joint inflammation. In the world of feet and ankles, arthritis is a massive, diverse beast that strikes people of all ages. But there are categories of arthritis that come from completely different sources. Understanding why the joints are aching is the first step to feeling better. Here is a breakdown of the usual suspects behind that deep, aching stiffness.

Osteoarthritis

This is the wear-and-tear type that most people are familiar with. Think of the cartilage in the ankle or big toe joint like the tread on a tire. Over decades of walking, running, and carrying weight, that tread slowly wears down. Once the cartilage is gone, the bones start rubbing directly against each other.

The cause here is usually simple mechanics and time. However, it’s often accelerated by biomechanics. If someone has flat feet or high arches, the joints don’t line up perfectly straight. This misalignment causes the tires to wear unevenly and faster than they should, which leads to painful bone-on-bone grinding earlier in life.

Post-Traumatic Arthritis

Ever sprain an ankle in high school or drop a heavy box on a toe years ago? That old injury is often the seed for today’s arthritis. This is called post-traumatic arthritis. Even if a broken bone or severe sprain seemed to heal fine at the time, it might have left the joint surface slightly uneven, like a pothole in a road.

Over the years, the joint grinding over that little imperfection wears down the cartilage rapidly.

It’s a delayed reaction. The injury happens at 20, but the arthritis flares up at 40.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Unlike the first two, Rheumatoid Arthritis isn’t caused by how the foot is used, but rather by the immune system going haywire. In this scenario, the body’s defense system gets confused and attacks the lining of the joints.

This causes massive inflammation, swelling, and eventually, the erosion of the bone itself. It usually hits both feet at the same time and feels like a hot, swollen ache rather than a grinding pain.

Gout

Technically, a form of arthritis, Gout is caused by chemistry, not mechanics. If the body produces too much uric acid, and the kidneys can’t filter it fast enough, that acid turns into sharp, needle-like crystals.

These crystals love to settle in the coolest parts of the body, like the big toe joint. The result is a sudden, explosive attack of arthritis that feels like the toe is on fire.

If you’re experiencing foot pain, discomfort, or changes in how you walk, come see the expert team at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. With locations in Tucson and Oro Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., are here for you. Call us at (520) 575-0800 or contact us online!