The human foot is a shock-absorbing structure created by nature. To perform its main function, it consists of many small bones united into joints. The mobility of the joints of the foot is important for the formation of arches (longitudinal and transverse), which are supported by the tendon-ligamentous apparatus. The vaults, in fact, act as springs.
Osteoarthritis can lead to foot deformities
Any pathological process in the joints of the feet ends in arthrosis of the foot, which leads to its deformation and significantly limits a person’s ability to move independently.
The foot includes one medium-sized joint (ankle, which provides a movable connection between the foot and the lower leg) and many small ones that connect the bones of the tarsus, metatarsus and phalanges of the fingers.
Arthrosis is accompanied by pain
The question of what arthrosis of the feet is becomes relevant after the onset of pain, accompanied by a change in the shape of the foot and difficulty in wearing previously familiar shoes.
Arthrosis is always degenerative (destructive) changes in the structural elements of the joint, which ultimately leads to stiffness and deformation of the joint.
The causes of deforming arthrosis of the foot can be:
During the course of the disease, there are three stages of the disease:
By the end of the working day, pain and some swelling of the foot appear.
Characterized by increased fatigue of the feet;
Osteoarthritis is the destruction of a joint
The general symptoms of arthrosis of the foot do not depend on the nature of the underlying pathological process, but each disease accompanied by damage to the joint apparatus of the feet has its own nuances. Often it is these details that make it possible to determine the underlying suffering and, based on its nature, prescribe the right treatment.
Pain in the foot joint is a nonspecific symptom of the disease, and therefore the fight against pain does not acquire any individual characteristics. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs come first in the medical treatment of arthrosis of the feet.
They stop the inflammatory process that accompanies any disease and ease the patient’s overall well-being by dulling (sometimes completely eliminating) pain.
But the main symptoms and treatment of arthrosis of the foot will depend on the disease that caused the development of the articular syndrome.
For example, with gout, using NSAIDs alone will not be enough. And since gout is a chronic disease, uncontrolled use of NSAIDs will certainly lead to severe adverse reactions from the kidneys, blood, gastrointestinal tract, and the joint tissue itself.
Therefore, the doctor must choose how to treat arthrosis of the foot joints after establishing the immediate cause of the disease. If the disease is autoimmune or metabolic in nature, the right prescription will be given by a rheumatologist. If the cause is incorrect placement of the feet or the disease is caused by a chronic (occupational) injury, the decision on the method of treatment will be made by an orthopedic traumatologist.
The doctor will choose the best treatment strategy for foot arthrosis
In the initial stages of flat feet, before the development of severe plano-valgus deformity, orthopedic insoles are successfully used for arthrosis of the foot, preferably made individually, taking into account all the features of the affected foot.
Due to the rigid fixation of the foot in the correct position, the insoles provide a therapeutic effect, often without any additional medical intervention.
For severe pain, taking NSAIDs is not the best solution. Instead of using painkillers, it is more advisable to resort to physiotherapeutic treatment of arthrosis of the foot joints as an additional method of therapeutic intervention.
The general principles of treatment of arthrosis of the feet also apply to the treatment of toe joints:
Read about how to eat properly with arthrosis here...
A toe separator for arthrosis will help return the joints to their correct position
If you follow all the principles of therapy, questions about how to treat arthrosis of the foot at home should not arise. All points are quite feasible on an outpatient basis. Today, even physiotherapeutic treatment can be provided for yourself by purchasing a portable physiotherapeutic device at a pharmacy. Laser therapy and magnetic therapy are in great demand, meeting the expectations of patients with articular syndrome.
Gymnastics for feet with arthrosis is also a kind of physiotherapeutic treatment. Properly selected and performed in the right mode, exercises help improve blood circulation and maintain the functional activity of the developed joints.
Improving blood circulation leads to optimization of metabolism, improvement of drainage function, and, consequently, to the removal of tissue edema and reduction of pain.
Arthrosis of the joints of the feet is characterized by a displacement of the articular axis of the fingers, due to which they overlap each other and aggravate the pathological manifestations of the disease. To prevent or reduce this phenomenon, orthopedic finger separators and gymnastic exercises are used to restore their separation.
This is achieved by spreading the fingers in a fan-shaped manner and holding them in this position for up to several minutes. In the first stages, a rubber elastic tape purchased at a pharmacy is used as an auxiliary element.
Often this pathology is accompanied by severe swelling of the soft tissues, especially after exercise, which worsens the course of the disease and the general well-being of the patient. The question of how to relieve swelling of the foot due to arthrosis can be answered by folk recipes, in which a large role is given to the use of decoctions of birch branches or hay dust for foot baths.
Baths with a decoction of birch branches will relieve swelling due to arthrosis of the feet
For a bath with hay dust, you need to brew several full bags of hay dust with boiling water and let it brew until it cools. As soon as the infusion reaches body temperature, it’s time to lower your tired legs into the basin. The procedure takes no more than 30 minutes.
For a birch bath, it is good to buy a birch broom and steam it in a basin with boiling water. As soon as the water temperature drops to a comfortable level, you should lower your feet into a basin with birch infusion.
Some adherents of Ayurveda recommend consuming ginger and garlic daily to combat arthrosis.
This mixture has a strong irritating effect, so it is better for people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract to refrain from such treatment.
In addition to complex herbal infusions, in the treatment of arthrosis, a decoction of bay leaves is in great demand. Which is prepared based on the calculation of 5g bay leaf per glass of boiling water. Further boiling is carried out over low heat, no more than 5 minutes. After this, the broth is infused in a warm place for 40 minutes and taken several sips throughout the day. Drink bay decoction for 4 days with two-day breaks. The course of treatment is 20 days of taking the drug.
For the treatment of arthrosis, a tincture of lilac is also recommended. You will learn how to prepare it from the video:
Rarely does anyone think about the consequences of the day they live.
Health does not allow you to be careful and only illness systematizes your life routine, forcing you to monitor your diet, routine and stress.
And if you treat the disease with respect and follow therapeutic instructions without irritation, the disease will recede. Be healthy.
The foot, being a complex combination of many bones, performs no less complex functions. Taking each next step every day, a person does not even think that in this small part the work is performed by more than 20 different structures: ligaments, bones, tendons, muscles and joints. But if even one of them makes a mistake, the process of destruction begins - arthrosis of the foot joints, the treatment of which is carried out throughout life.
Arthrosis primarily and most often appears in the talocaleonavicular, metacarpophalangeal and ankle joints of the foot. Localization of the process in one of them, or in several at once, over a long period of existence leads to the gradual involvement of an increasing number of joints in the process. A combined lesion of the foot develops. Treatment is carried out with medications, through exercises, and in advanced cases they resort to surgical intervention.
Arthrosis of the foot joints most often develops due to overloading of the feet by frequently repeated significant (weightlifters, weightlifters, loaders) or prolonged static stress (hairdressers, dentists, salespeople, waiters). May occur as a consequence of injury.
It is known that displaced ankle fractures, regardless of the quality of reposition of the fragments and proper treatment, over time in 90-100% of cases cause complaints characteristic of arthrosis. A fracture of the posterior edge of the tibia always results in arthrosis. Fractures of the tibia above the location of the ankle, especially with significant displacement of the fragments, also lead to the development of degenerative diseases of the joints of the foot.
Inflammatory processes and congenital or acquired deformations of the bones that make up the foot lead to arthrosis in 60-80% of cases. Characteristic changes often form with rheumatoid arthritis, gout, hypermobility of the first ray (1st metatarsal and medial cuneiform).
Arthrosis of the metatarsophalangeal joint often develops with an elongated first metatarsal bone, which has been proven by observations.
Deformities and fractures of the knee and hip can cause arthrosis if improperly repositioned. Fracture of the calcaneus, even with ideal comparison of fragments, always ends in arthrosis.
Excess weight significantly increases the likelihood of developing the disease and contributes to the development of manifest forms with tangible clinical manifestations. Diagnosis in this case does not cause difficulties.
Although the foot manages to absorb and compensate for the load of the entire body, its components are connected both firmly and precariously at the same time. Strength is due to powerful ligaments and tendons, with which the foot is intertwined like cables. At the same time, to realize its purpose, the foot also requires a certain mobility that can effectively absorb the influence of impact-functional loads.
This “mobility” is ensured by the elasticity of the very ligaments that provide the strength of the connection. And this is where unreliability comes into play. The fact is that the extensibility of the ligaments during a long-term passive stay of a person in an upright position increases with each episode of overload, which over time leads to a change, first only in the shape of the foot, and then in its function. As a result of overextension, after injuries or with constitutional weakness of the ligamentous-muscular apparatus of the foot, its muscles, unable to bear the load, become convulsively tense, leading to the development of muscle contracture and contracture of the ligaments and joint capsule. This causes inflammatory, or stiff, flat feet.
After some time, the foot loses the ability to bear external loads, but trying to resist them, the ligaments, muscles of the foot and its joint capsule react with tonic tension. In the end, this measure is not enough to prevent the bones of the foot from shifting relative to each other. The talus and heel bones slide forward and down under loads, and the scaphoid bone moves down and out.
Next, a typical pathogenetic cascade develops: overload of cartilage, its degradation, involvement of bone in the process, accompanying inflammation and acceleration of joint destruction under its influence. As a result, deformation of the foot occurs as a result of arthrosis.
Arthrosis of the foot in the photo (picture) demonstrates characteristic changes in the left talocaleonavicular joint.
In case of tibia fractures, especially open ones, repositioning the fragments does not always allow maintaining the axis of load transfer from the tibia to the foot. Even a millimeter displacement of this axis loads the foot incorrectly and leads to overload of the articular joints and the development of arthrosis in them. Depending on which direction the load is shifted, changes will affect certain joints.
Degenerative-dystrophic changes in the first metacarpophalangeal joint have a development mechanism somewhat different from that in other joints of the foot. There are two main conditions associated with arthrosis of this localization: Hallux rigidis and Hallux vagus.
Hallux rigidis, or rigid toe, is a limitation of the mobility of the big toe. This condition develops due to various biomechanical and functional disorders in the functioning of the foot and at the same time causes arthrosis and is supported by it. With this location and type of arthrosis of the joints of the foot, the ICD-10 code is M20.2
The tendon of the peroneal muscle, passing from the side of the cuboid bone to the sole, and lying there in a groove, crosses the foot obliquely, attaching to the first metatarsal bone. This tendon plays the role of a stabilizer when walking when the leg pushes away from the support. When the foot overpronates, the tendon loses support on the cuboid bone and no longer supports the metatarsus. This leads to the fact that when walking, the metacarpal bone moves excessively to the dorsal side (in the direction opposite to the sole), and the base of the phalanx of the first finger begins to press into its head.
Gradually, repeated episodes of stress and injury lead to the formation of an osteochondral defect. In an attempt to restore it, the body begins to produce bone tissue in the area of injury. This forms an osteophyte, which over time leads to a significant limitation in the dorsiflexion of the finger. Normal steps become impossible due to pain. The patient’s quality of life decreases; such changes cannot be completely cured.
A similar mechanism for the development of arthrosis of the metacarpophalangeal joint during inflammatory processes in the structures of the foot, during prolonged standing.
Hallus valgus, according to the ICD-10 classification, is a deformity. However, radiological signs of arthrosis are detected.
During walking, the load from the body weight is distributed approximately equally on the heads of the metatarsal bones of the foot. The 1st and 5th receive the maximum load. Under the influence of various reasons (flat feet, static load, congenital or acquired weakness of the muscular-ligamentous complex of the foot), pressure begins to be distributed predominantly to the first metatarsal bone, displacing it outward of the foot. The thumb, on the contrary, moves towards the other fingers. As a result, a protrusion is formed in the area of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which is the head of the metatarsal bone. Improper load and the action of external factors lead to the formation of osteophytes, narrowing of the joint space and destruction of cartilage tissue.
The pathogenesis of ankle arthrosis in most cases is based on trauma: the ankle itself, the knee, the hip joint, or open injuries to the limb. The development mechanism is overload resulting from improper weight distribution. As with arthrosis of other localizations, there are: destruction of cartilage and bone tissue, inflammation of the synovial membrane.
The interphalangeal joints of the foot are affected much less frequently by the disease, since they bear less load compared to the ankle, metacarpophalangeal and other joints. Treatment of arthrosis of small joints of the foot is more complex and often ends unsuccessfully. The reason is the small volume of joint capsules and the rapid destruction of cartilage and articular bones. Although endoprosthetics of such joints is carried out, it also has a controversial effect.
There are 3 degrees:
The degree of arthrosis will largely determine how and how to treat arthrosis of the foot.
Symptoms of arthrosis of the foot are typical:
Drug treatment involves a classic therapy regimen. Symptoms and treatment of arthrosis of the foot are closely related: the absence of manifestations of the disease requires the use of basic drugs (chondroprotectors, hyaluronic acid, alflutop, piaxledin); in case of severe manifestations, NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, and paracetamol are used. Is it possible to treat arthrosis of the feet with medication, exercise or surgical methods? It depends on the degree of the disease:
In some cases, treatment of arthrosis of the feet is carried out surgically: using endoprosthetics or arthrodesis (more often used on small joints).
Treatment of arthrosis of the foot joints with folk remedies, having a theoretical basis, cannot be compared in effectiveness with the use of high-tech drugs. Recommendations to use crushed chicken cartilage or jellied meat as a replacement for chondroprotectors in the treatment of arthrosis of small joints of the foot are theoretically justified: chicken cartilage contains chondroitin. But how much chondroitin will “survive” heat treatment and hydrochloric acid of the stomach is unknown. Therefore, it makes sense to use all kinds of folk recipes in combination with full-fledged drug treatment.
I have arthrosis. All the signs are obvious, she’s still young, but just take it and sign it. I'll go to the doctor for a treatment regimen. I will, like my grandmother once did, rub myself with ointments.
Everything is written correctly about the fracture. I once broke my leg at the shin, but not even two years had passed before my foot began to ache from time to time. Now they have diagnosed arthrosis and prescribed expensive treatment.
Arthrosis of the foot joints is a disease of the degenerative-dystrophic type, which manifests itself in the form of destruction of intra-articular cartilage with subsequent deformations of the bone fragments of the joints of the foot. Damage to the joints of the foot often leads to loss of natural ability to move, and subsequently to disability.
In this article we will look at what arthrosis of the foot is and how to treat it with conservative and non-traditional methods.
Arthrosis of the foot leads to the formation of pathological processes inside the affected joint, for example, to impaired blood circulation, synovial fluid synthesis, or a metabolic disorder of joint tissue at the cellular level.
When the disease occurs, arthrosis of the foot can be localized in the area of the following joints:
Most often, arthrosis affects the ankle, first metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints of the 2nd and 3rd toes. Every day, the feet are exposed to high dynamic loads when a person moves and moves, as well as static loads when holding the weight of one’s own body.
The reasons for the development of arthrosis of the foot, as well as other types of similar diseases, are not fully understood. There are only specialist assumptions that certain factors of the human body or environmental influences may play a role in the formation of this disease.
However, the following factors are noted that contribute to the development of arthrosis of the foot:
Experts have found that age-related changes in the human body are of great importance in the development of arthrosis, since almost 80% of people over 60 years of age had arthrosis in various forms and degrees of its manifestation.
Osteoarthritis of the foot develops with a characteristic sequence of increasing symptoms and intensity of clinical manifestations.
The following stages of the disease are determined:
With arthrosis of the foot, the following symptoms appear:
The listed symptoms develop sequentially, which helps to establish the degree of development of the disease and the progression of the destructive process. Arthrosis of the foot, symptoms and treatment should be determined by a rheumatologist who first conducts a diagnostic examination.
The diagnosis of arthrosis of the foot is established using the following research methods:
When diagnosed with arthrosis of the feet, complex treatment is prescribed, including medicinal and non-medicinal methods.
As a rule, treatment of arthrosis of the foot at stage 3 involves surgical intervention, which will eliminate pain and maintain foot mobility.
At stage 1 of the development of the disease, arthrosis of the foot, treatment includes the following points:
To eliminate the symptoms of foot arthrosis, treatment should include medications of the class of non-steroidal or hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs.
The following medications are also used to treat the disease:
The course of physiotherapeutic procedures is determined by a qualified physiotherapist. The duration of the course and the frequency of sessions are determined depending on the degree of destruction of articular tissues by arthrosis.
The following procedural methods are used:
Physiotherapeutic treatment refers to a conservative intervention technique that effectively restores nutrition to the cells of the diseased joint, activates synthesis processes and improves the regeneration of cartilage tissue.
Today, orthopedic practice often resorts to surgical treatment of arthrosis of the joints of the feet. In some cases, surgery is the only way to get rid of persistent pain and eliminate degenerative processes caused by the disease.
Surgical treatment of arthrosis of the foot involves the following types of operations:
Traditional medicine specialists tell how to treat arthrosis of the foot at home. Therapy for arthrosis of the foot joints does not replace conservative medication, but is a good auxiliary method of complex treatment.
Traditional medicine offers the following types of remedies:
To relieve pain due to arthrosis of the foot joints, you can prepare the following medications:
Information about the development of arthrosis of the joints of the feet can be found in the video presented:
Therapy for arthrosis of the foot joints does not require any special diet, however, if the patient is overweight, this increases the load on the joints of the lower extremities. Therefore, in some cases, patients with foot lesions are recommended to go on a weight loss diet. Take care of your health!
Currently, a huge number of people complain about joints. This may be due to various injuries, poor lifestyle, or a complete lack of strength training. As practice shows, one of the most common diseases today is arthrosis or osteoarthritis of the foot. It should be noted that it mainly affects people of working age.
Appearance of foot arthrosis
This disease significantly worsens the quality of life, and accordingly, a person feels uncomfortable and tries to find out how to cure arthrosis of the foot. As a rule, this type of arthrosis develops most in the area of the big toes. It is almost impossible not to notice or not feel this disease. Therefore, if you think that you have osteoarthritis of the foot, you urgently need to see a doctor, of course, if you really have good reason to think so.
I would like to note that currently there are a huge number of causes of this disease. Each person is individual, but it is still possible to identify common reasons, that is, the most common:
X-ray with arthrosis of the foot
excess weight, because the load is mainly on the legs, and the feet are the most important element; flat feet. which in itself is a serious disease, so you should not allow another disease to develop; wearing uncomfortable shoes or high heels; staying on your feet for a long time; rachiocampsis; poor nutrition; genetic predisposition.
As you can see, there are quite a lot of reasons, so we should not forget that the disease can affect every person.
Signs of arthrosis vary depending on the severity of the disease.
Photo of the foot of a patient with arthrosis
With first degree arthrosis of the foot, a person feels discomfort in the legs. Periodic pain appears, which most often occurs in the forefoot.
This symptom manifests itself especially strongly after various physical activities or simply after a long and difficult day on your feet.
In other words, foot pain is the first sign that it’s time to sound the alarm.
Characterized by more severe pain. A person increasingly feels uncomfortable even if he has been lying on the couch all day and has not put any strain on his legs and feet. Also at this stage, flattening of the head of the metatarsal bone appears. This leads to more limited and stiff movements.
My legs hurt after a long walk
When walking, a person feels discomfort; it is quite painful for him to fully step on his foot. Also, in many cases the pain is constant. The photo shows changes in the appearance of the feet.
The last and most difficult. At this stage, the foot begins to deform (deforming arthrosis), and movement is almost impossible. In this case, only a doctor will help you, who will prescribe medication or surgery.
At this stage, you cannot self-medicate, as you can harm yourself even more.
Treatment for foot arthrosis, which is prescribed by a doctor, will not be effective if you do not adhere to the following simple tips:
First of all, you need to choose soft and comfortable shoes that do not rub anywhere. When walking, you should not feel stiff, as if you are in shackles. It is also advisable for your leg to “breathe.” Women should completely eliminate high-heeled shoes from their wardrobe or leave them until better times. If you are overweight, then you urgently need to get rid of it. Of course, no one is talking about strict diets or intense physical activity. All you need to do is eat right and exercise your body regularly. If you constantly follow the regime, you can be sure that you will lose weight very quickly.
High heels help arthrosis
Most often, this disease is treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, ibuprofen or ortofen. They are very effective in reducing joint pain and also relieve inflammation. Especially when it comes to a type such as arthrosis of the big toe, treatment will help restore mobility. There is also a high chance that you will be prescribed various analgesics, which also help relieve pain.
If standard drug treatment turns out to be useless, then be prepared for the fact that you will be prescribed intra-articular steroid drugs. Undoubtedly, they are more effective, and therefore will help you get rid of this disease faster.
You may also be prescribed chondroprotectors. They prevent and stop joint deformation and cartilage destruction. In addition, they greatly strengthen the joint, so they are quite useful.
Physiotherapy methods include the following:
Medium wave ultraviolet irradiation (SUV). The method involves exposure to ultraviolet light to reduce pain. Procedures are carried out with a frequency of 1 time per day or 1 time per 2 days. Infrared laser therapy. Laser irradiation affects nerve endings, improves blood circulation and has a calming effect on the patient. Low-intensity ultrawave therapy. This method helps reduce swelling and pain in the joint.
Also, depending on the complexity of the disease, magnetic therapy, ultrasound therapy are used, radon and hydrogen sulfide baths are prescribed, etc.
It is possible to treat arthrosis at home and in some cases it is quite effective. The main thing is to consult your doctor before using any means. Here are some simple recipes:
Foot massage for arthrosis
Suitable herbs for foot baths include oregano, tricolor violet, thyme, wild rosemary, and juniper. The herb is brewed and added to water at a comfortable temperature. Our ancestors used compresses made from alcohol, honey and salt. Apply this product to the joints and leave overnight. You can make a tincture from 100 g of eucalyptus and half a liter of vodka. Leave for a week in a dark place. Every evening before going to bed, rub the tincture into your feet. A real healer for arthrosis is burdock. Its sheet is applied to the joint, after having been crumpled and sprayed with triple cologne, wrapped in cellophane and wrapped. This needs to be done at night. Traditional healers recommend adding honey to the cologne on the second day, and garlic pulp on the third. On the fourth day, apply burdock leaf using Vishnevsky ointment. Such an unusual treatment for us as hirudotherapy (with the help of leeches) also gives good results.
Treatment of arthrosis with folk remedies can reduce pain and stop destructive processes in the joints.
Share Treatment of arthrosis of the foot with medications and folk remedies
Osteoarthritis of the foot is one of the most common diseases, which is more common in women and affects the area of the big toes. There are many causes of this disease, among which are the following:
wearing uncomfortable shoes; excessive physical activity; excess weight; various chronic pathologies.
Do arthrosis need to be treated?
It is difficult not to notice the onset of arthrosis, although many simply ignore its first symptoms, which do not yet cause significant inconvenience (periodic pain in the joints of the foot, tingling, swelling).
Timely treatment of arthrosis at an early stage helps stop the pathological process and prevent serious consequences. To do this, at the first symptoms, you should consult a doctor who will carry out diagnostic measures, determine the extent of the damage and prescribe appropriate treatment. As a rule, untreated arthrosis of the foot can be treated at home, with periodic observation by a specialist.
When considering how to cure arthrosis of the foot at home, first of all, you should pay attention to general recommendations that help stop the effects of adverse factors. So, women suffering from arthrosis of the foot should:
Reduce physical stress on your feet and stop wearing tight, high-heeled shoes. Preference should be given to soft shoes that provide normal access to oxygen and do not compress blood vessels. It is best to purchase special orthopedic shoes or orthopedic inserts. If you are overweight. You should follow a diet to reduce it, which will reduce the load on your joints. It is recommended to include more vegetables and fruits in the diet, avoid fatty, fried foods, smoked foods and sweets. Dishes containing gelatin are beneficial. To improve joint mobility, activate trophic processes, and normalize muscle tissue, special massage and therapeutic exercises are recommended. These procedures can be carried out independently after consultation with an experienced specialist. It is effective for arthrosis of the foot to take warm baths with a decoction of pine needles, burdock, cinquefoil, bay leaves, etc. You can also apply compresses at night from a crushed burdock leaf, smeared with honey. This helps reduce inflammation and normalize metabolism.
Arthrosis cannot be treated without taking medications, the main ones of which are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. which are more convenient to use at home in tablet form, as well as in the form of gels and ointments. Let's look at how to treat arthritis and arthrosis of the foot (names of the most common medications):
Osteoarthritis of the foot is a rather complex disease that requires competent and timely treatment. This form can lead to serious complications. Therefore, at the first signs, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe competent treatment for foot arthrosis and tell you how to prevent further complications. The most effective treatment method is physical therapy and medication.
In the early stages of arthrosis of the foot, health can be quickly restored, but treatment must be carried out immediately. It should be aimed at restoring joint mobility and eliminating any disorders that have arisen.
Osteoarthritis of the foot today is treated at home mainly with folk remedies. Most importantly, at the first signs of the disease, you should reduce the load on the affected leg to the maximum and begin treatment. However, you should not neglect professional help and therefore, first of all, you need to visit a doctor for consultation. The most detailed information about treatment methods for foot arthrosis can be found by following this link.
The foot must receive the necessary nutrition and stable blood circulation. To do this, you should take care of your health and nutrition. Your daily diet should include more foods containing calcium, as well as vitamins E and B. The highest content of these substances is found in almonds, pasta and bread. During treatment, you should avoid wearing high-heeled shoes, as this puts stress on your legs and feet. The use of vasodilators improves blood circulation. For the same purposes, massage and manual therapy are prescribed.
The majority of treatment for foot arthrosis is carried out at home. It allows you to relieve inflammation and significantly reduce pain. Compresses using various products, purchased at pharmacies or made independently, have the greatest effect. They contain various components: sea buckthorn oil, pepper, celandine, aloe, yolk. For, for example, sea buckthorn oil to have its beneficial effect, it must be rubbed into the sore joint and foot, then covered with cellophane and wrapped in warm material. This compress is left overnight.
Tinctures and foot baths are especially popular. All of them have been tested and have good results in practice.
To avoid many health problems, you need to carry out prevention. To do this, you need, first of all, to choose the right shoes. Monitor not only your weight, but also what foods you eat. In summer, to prevent many diseases, it is useful to walk barefoot on the grass.
Zhukova Valentina, especially for the site Let's be healthy!
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Among all forms of arthrosis of the lower extremities, arthrosis of the joints of the foot is the most common. At one stage or another, the disease is diagnosed in 80-85% of the adult population of developed countries. Therefore, the question of what arthrosis of the foot is and how to treat it interests many. More often women complain about it. This is due to the incorrect position that the foot takes in women's favorite high-heeled shoes: the heel is strongly raised, the plantar part of the foot is curved, and a lot of stress is placed on the toe joints. If a woman who has been diagnosed with this disease does not dare to part with her stilettos, then neither traditional therapy nor treatment of arthrosis of the foot joints with folk remedies will bring the expected effect.
The cause of all forms of arthrosis, regardless of its location, is a metabolic disorder that causes degenerative phenomena in the area of the cartilaginous membrane and bone of the joint. Nutrient deficiency due to disruption of normal blood supply leads to a stop in the regeneration process, resulting in damage to articular tissues, ending in their destruction. The joints of the legs most often suffer from arthrosis, since it is the lower limbs that take on most of the load when moving the body and carrying heavy loads. Arthrosis of the joints of the foot can develop as a result of the loss of elasticity of the cartilage tissue, which leads to increased abrasion of the cartilage and the appearance of cracks on its surface.
If arthrosis of the foot, which develops in old age, is a consequence of the natural process of wear and tear and aging of joint tissue, then in young people it can be caused by several reasons:
In addition to the listed causes of arthrosis of the foot, the likelihood of developing pathology increases in people whose lives contain factors that contribute to increased load on the skeletal apparatus of the feet:
If the cause of arthrosis is inflammation of the joint, this form is called primary. Secondary arthrosis is one that manifests itself against the background of other diseases that play the role of a provoking factor.
People who are at risk should be attentive to the condition of their joints. If symptoms appear that indicate the onset of arthrosis of the foot, you must contact a specialist - an arthrologist and strictly follow his treatment recommendations.
The human foot has a complex structure and consists of many large and small articular joints. Deforming arthrosis of the foot most often begins with the interphalangeal joints of the toes, and the big toe is the first to be affected. It bends, deviating towards the second finger, and on the opposite side, at its base, a compaction, popularly called a bone or bump, begins to grow. This form can be single or pair-symmetrical in nature, when bones appear simultaneously on the left and right legs, and can also be part of polyarthrosis with simultaneous damage to several joints of the foot: metatarsocuneiform joints, subtalar joint, calcaneocuboid joint. At the site of degenerative processes, a gradual thinning of the cartilage occurs, and the adjacent surface of the joints becomes deformed. The load on the muscular-ligamentous apparatus increases, and the risk of injury – sprains and ligament tears – increases.
For the convenience of classification and simplification of diagnosis, the tenth version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) was created. The ICD 10 code for arthrosis of the foot joints is designated M19.17. This disease is classified as an independent subtype of the arthrosis group.
In the initial stage, the symptoms of arthrosis of the foot are expressed by rapid fatigue when walking and slight pain that occurs after exercise, but quickly passes at rest. In this way, arthrosis differs from arthritis, in which the pain syndrome affects movement less, but intensifies in an immobilized state. Also among the symptoms of joint arthrosis is starting pain. It appears when joint movement resumes after a long period of rest. Its cause is detritus - a film consisting of components of destroyed cartilage and settling on the surface of the joint. As the movement continues, the detritus moves from the joint to the joint capsule, and as a result the pain stops. Pinching a piece of cartilage that breaks off from its surface and moves freely in the joint capsule leads to a blockade - a sudden sharp pain that completely deprives the joint of the ability to move.
Arthrologists distinguish three stages or degrees of arthrosis of the foot, each of which has its own symptomatic signs:
If you ignore the symptoms and do not begin treating arthrosis of the foot, its progression can have serious consequences, including disability. But with timely consultation with a doctor, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment, there is every chance, if not to cure the disease, then to achieve stable remission.
X-ray techniques play a decisive role in the diagnosis process. Russian medicine uses the classification of radiological stages of foot arthrosis, proposed in 1961 by N.S. Kosinskaya – Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, the largest Soviet specialist in the diagnosis of osteoarticular pathologies. It includes three stages:
Kosinskaya’s technique is still used in Russia when a person undergoes a medical and social examination to determine the disability group. There is another radiological classification of arthrosis according to Kellgren Lawrence, proposed in 1957, but it is rarely used in Russian medicine.
In addition to X-rays, modern methods of instrumental diagnosis of arthrosis of the foot are used. Ultrasound examination and computed tomography of the foot joints provide additional information about the condition of the bone, cartilage and periarticular tissue in the affected area.
When treating arthrosis of the feet, a complex of procedures is used, including conservative and surgical techniques. Conservative methods include:
A particular problem is the treatment of arthrosis of the small joints of the foot. Deformation and curvature of the toes with arthrosis of the foot develop very quickly, make it difficult to walk and contribute to the development of painful corns and calluses. To prevent such curvatures, experts recommend changing your shoes to more comfortable ones, and also contacting an orthopedist who will help you choose orthopedic insoles and special splints that hold your toes in the correct position.
At the third stage of deforming arthrosis of the foot, it is too late to take pills and use physiotherapy, since at this stage treatment of arthrosis of the foot with medication is no longer able to give a lasting positive result. There is a complete destruction of first the cartilage shell, and then the bone tissue of the joint. Also, one of the consequences of arthrosis of the foot is pathology of the spine (curvature, herniated intervertebral discs) due to persistent disturbances in posture and gait.
To restore normal motor functions of the joint, surgical treatment methods are used. This may be an operation to remove remnants of cartilage, artificial closure of the joint in order to immobilize it to prevent further bone destruction, or partial replacement of articular tissue with artificial one. A radical treatment method involves complete replacement of the joint with an endoprosthesis. But all these manipulations are carried out only with a large joint - the ankle.
Timely treatment of foot injuries and defects, such as flat feet, is of great importance for prevention. It is necessary to monitor your weight, not allowing it to increase excessively, spend less time on your feet, and wear comfortable shoes with medium heels.
Reviews from those who have been treated for arthrosis of the foot joints contain various recommendations on ways to combat the disease.
A bone in my foot began to grow at the age of 27, after the birth of my son. The treatment is as follows: I injected a chondroprotector, but the result was weak. I saw an advertisement on the Internet for special insoles with a thumb lock. Since I started wearing them, the curvature has stopped.
Anna, 35 years old, Astrakhan.
I remember that my grandmother treated arthrosis of the feet with iodine applications - she applied cotton wool soaked in iodine to her toes. This helped well against pain and inflammation of the joints, but it did not stop the curvature of the fingers - by the age of 70 she could only walk in soft slippers and no longer wore ordinary shoes.
Nadezhda Ivanovna, 48 years old, Rostov-on-Don.
But massage and physical therapy saved me - first I went to classes, then I studied at home. If you do special exercises that strengthen the muscles of the foot, the progression of arthrosis can be avoided. Well, you’ll have to give up stiletto heels forever.
Olga, 42 years old, Lipetsk.
The experience of patients who managed to achieve stable remission indicates that the main methods of treating arthrosis are not medications, but orthopedic ones. With their help, you can stop the development of arthrosis of the foot.