Rheumatoid arthritis can often affect the foot as well as the ankle, causing pain in the area. There are ways of managing this pain, some of which involve surgery and some of which don’t.
Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis Ankle Pain
Sometimes, the only way for some patients to relieve arthritic pain is through surgery. Having foot surgery may involve the patient’s bone structure to be reset or it may mean fusing the joints into the correct positions.
Another treatment for rheumatoid arthritis ankle pain is local steroid injections. Local steroid injections also help with inflamed joints. However, they should not be considered for long-term use, as this may cause more damage.
Both surgery and steroid injections should be considered last. Before trying either of these options, patients are recommended to try less invasive treatments. These might include ankle braces or simply adjusting the footwear a patient uses.
The best shoes to wear would have a low heel, a wide toe, and a high ceiling. They should provide good arch support to help distribute the weight evenly across the foot. Some patients may want to consider orthotics. They can work with a podiatrist to find the best ones for their shoes. Wearing the right kind of footwear often helps to alleviate pain in the ankle caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
If a patient is considering getting new footwear, with or without special orthotics, they should ensure that they buy shoes they actually like. Liking the style means a patient is more likely to actually wear the shoes, which means the shoes will actually help their feet, instead of just sitting in the back of the patient’s closet.
Other things that may help with the ankle pain include losing weight, changing an exercise routine, not standing up all the time, having a foot bath, getting a foot massage, and taking care of blisters or minor scrapes as soon as they happen.
Featured image: Freepik @ Wiroj Sidhisoradej
