Our podiatrist, Adam Mucinskas, D.P.M., has many years of experience with treating arthritic foot and ankle conditions at Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC, located in Cromwell, CT. Please call our offices at (860) 632-5499 or visit the Patient Education section of our website to find out more about this condition.

Arthritis results in inflammation of joints and the adjacent tissues. The cartilage, which acts to cushion the joints, is lost and results in bones rubbing directly against each other. This rubbing of the bones causes severe pain and leads to a reduction in mobility and function as well as foot or ankle deformities. There are three types of arthritis: Osteoarthritis (wear and tear arthritis that occurs in the middle aged and gets worse over time), Rheumatoid Arthritis (where the immune system attacks itself, including joints) and Post-Traumatic Arthritis (develops after a severe injury to the foot or ankle and may progress after years after a severe injury). Symptoms of this condition vary by type, but generally include pain, stiffness, swelling and a reduction in mobility.

Proper arthritic foot and ankle care involves either conservative or surgical methods. Anti-inflammatories are useful to reduce swelling. Medications are utilized to relieve pain and orthotics are helpful. Specially made shoes that have a comfortable fit allow for swollen feet to have more space to move. Other non-invasive treatments include padding, braces, physical therapy and weight loss to help reduce pressure on the injured joints. If the arthritic condition in the foot or ankle does not respond to the non-invasive methods previously discussed, surgical options will likely be needed for a fusion of the joints or joint replacement.

Since arthritic conditions in the feet and ankles can progress over time, they gradually get worse and bring severe pain and loss of mobility as the condition evolves. Don't wait until it’s too late to treat your foot or ankle arthritis - please contact our office today so that we can help to diagnose the extent of your arthritis and decide whether conservative or surgical treatments will be necessary to reduce your pain and increase mobility.