Rheumatoid Arthritis in Matawan NJ

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common kind of inflammatory arthritis. Most rheumatoid arthritis sufferers experience foot and ankle issues, and in fact, your feet might be the first part of your body to show symptoms of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis has an intense onset, while other forms of arthritis like osteoarthritis develop more gradually.

This type of arthritis occurs in bouts. You might have severe symptoms for anywhere from hours to months at a time, and then have a remission period where symptoms subside. Flare-ups can be unpredictable, which makes living with rheumatoid arthritis difficult if you don't have a symptom management plan in place.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis in the feet and ankles, you might experience chronic soreness or pain. Often, rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling, redness, and warmth around the affected joints. If rheumatoid arthritis isn't treated or properly managed, you could suffer joint erosion and instability.

If rheumatoid arthritis causes joint changes, it alters the whole structure and balance of your foot. This can cause pressure on new parts of the foot, leading to problems like corns and calluses. You could even develop foot wounds or ulcers, so it's important to monitor your feet carefully at home every day to watch for changes.

Eventually, rheumatoid arthritis can rob you of your mobility and independence if you don't get help, so it's best to reach out to your Central Jersey Ankle & Foot Care Specialists podiatrist for evaluation as soon as possible.

The experienced podiatrists at Central Jersey Ankle & Foot Care Specialists treat rheumatoid arthritis on a case-by-case basis because every patient has different symptoms and needs.

Relieving pressure on irritated and inflamed areas is often the first goal. Specialized shoes, such as Vionic® shoes with Orthaheel® technology, can give you optimal foot and ankle support while relieving pressure from painful joints.

If you’re suffering from other foot problems like corns and calluses or foot wounds, your podiatrist can remove the dead tissue and restore your healthy skin. Your podiatrist will review all the treatment choices with you so you can decide the best way to manage your rheumatoid arthritis long term.