Arthritis of the toes is a rheumatoid disease, an inflammatory process that leads to damage to the big toe, and if left untreated, to damage to all nearby toes.
This pathology is a consequence of other systemic diseases: rheumatism, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, metabolic disorders.
Arthritis affects one joint, or several at once, localizing all the toes. The early stage of the disease can be successfully treated.
If arthritis is not treated, the disease will begin to progress, joint mobility will be impaired, the feet will become deformed, and eventually disability will occur.
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Arthritis is not an independent disease. As a rule, this is a consequence of other existing diseases in the body.
Arthritis can develop:
The immune system reacts to the foreign body, leading to inflammation of the joint.
This interaction inevitably destroys and inflames the tissue.
A doctor can detect arthritis in the legs and make an intermediate diagnosis already during the first visual examination.
First, pain appears in the joints , intensifying in the evening before bed, when the joints relax, and also when they are at rest.
The very next day, the joint and thumb become edematous, swollen, reddened, and the temperature in the affected area rises.
1) Arthritis caused by gout is usually localized to the big toe.
Uric acid crystals accumulated in the joint lead to unbearable pain, intensifying while walking, and finger strain.
2) Arthritis caused by osteomyelitis, or the destruction of cartilage in the joints, causes pain when walking, swelling of the leg or big toe, leading to stiffness, usually after rest.
3) Arthritis against the background of rheumatism leads to damage to all joints.
Being constantly inflamed, over time the joints become deformed and hurt even at rest.
A growth in the form of a lump, an enlarged bone, or even a change in the axis of the joint may appear on the thumb, which indicates advanced disease, destruction of the joint at the base of the finger, and accumulation of uric acid salts in it.
It is not difficult to completely restore JOINTS! The most important thing is to rub this into the sore spot 2-3 times a day.
The method and method of treating arthritis is prescribed by the doctor. It is important to identify the true causes of the disease and direct treatment to eliminate them.
With arthritis, it is important to relieve inflammation and pain in the joint, so treatment of the disease usually begins with the prescription of medications. For any type of arthritis at any stage of its development, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of ointments, tablets, and intra-articular injections are prescribed to relieve inflammation and pain.
For arthritis caused by infection, antibiotics are prescribed , in the form of injections, tablets, but the drugs are selected individually, depending on the age, gender of the patient, and the pathogen that led to the disease.
Chondroprotectors are prescribed when the disease enters the acute phase, after the main inflammation has subsided. Taking medications is aimed at regeneration, restoration of cartilage tissue, reducing the ability to destroy tissue fibers.
Cytostatics - immunosuppressive drugs are prescribed only when the disease is active. They are used only in extreme cases when fighting inflammation, mainly in rheumatoid arthritis.
Physiotherapy is prescribed as a continuation of treatment, but after the inflammation and pain have been relieved. Treatment consists of warming up, massaging the affected joint, using mud, baths, exercise therapy, and special gymnastics.
Diet for arthritis of the thumb plays a significant role, since it is important to reduce acidity in the body to a minimum, which means you need to exclude foods that lead to increased acidity: sweets, candies, potatoes, also spicy, salty foods, alcohol, which increase swelling and inflammation.
Rheumatoid arthritis inevitably leads to osteoporosis, so calcium-rich foods should be included in your diet .
If the arthritis is degenerative, you need to strengthen the cartilage tissue, which means eating jellied meat, boiled cartilage, and ligaments.
It is healthy to eat fresh and stewed fruits, vegetables, salads boiled in a water bath, as well as apples, green beans, plums, sorrel, black currants, sea buckthorn, and rowan.
In severe cases of the disease, a diet is mandatory.
Consists of eating raw vegetables 3 times a day for 7 days.
It is possible to consume rice by soaking 1 cup in water overnight, then boiling until tender, rinsing from mucus and dividing into 4 portions. Rice is taken in portions 4 times a day. Before taking, drink 1 glass of water.
Drinking rose hips brewed with boiling water is beneficial. On day 3 of the diet, in addition to rice, it is useful to eat apples and boiled beets.
Orthoses for the treatment of arthritis
These special devices can relieve stress on inflamed joints.
For each toe, clamps, inter-toe inserts, and shoe insoles are selected.
Thanks to orthoses, curvatures in the toes are eliminated over time, and the weight load on the lower part of the leg is distributed more evenly.
At the initial stage of the disease, the process can be corrected by wearing orthopedic shoes.
The drugs have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on sore joints, but may have side effects.
They are used only in severe cases of the disease. If arthritis progresses, your doctor may prescribe intra-articular injections.
Surgical intervention is prescribed when it is no longer possible to eliminate the source of inflammation with medications.
The tendons are divided and the curvature of the thumb is corrected.
At the same time, antibiotics and painkillers are prescribed. If the foot is severely deformed, then osteotomy or arthrodesis may be used. In both cases, surgery significantly solves the problem of advanced arthritis, and with proper therapy, many patients regain their former quality.
arthritis of the toes treatment with folk remedies
As a rule, the disease affects the big toe, so it is important to prevent the development of inflammation and its spread to nearby areas. You can make your own anti-inflammatory remedies at home.
If the composition is strong, then it can be diluted with boiled water.
Pour boiling water (1 glass) over the herb (50 g), let it brew for half an hour. Drink 0.5 glasses 4 times a day for 1 month.
Treatment of the disease will be more effective if the infusions are combined with compresses.
To do this, take herbs:
- Alternately, creeping thyme, wormwood, marsh wild rosemary and St. John's wort. 3 tbsp. l. Brew the collection with boiling water (1 cup), put on fire and bring to a boil. Cool and strain.
Wrap the mixture in gauze and apply to sore areas, securing the compress with a bandage. Periodically wet the bandage in the solution and apply up to 3 times a day.
- Mix vodka (100 g), turpentine (100 g), unrefined sunflower oil (4 tbsp), apply an even layer on a napkin, then apply to the affected area.
Wrap the area with a woolen cloth, leave overnight, repeat the procedure every day for 1 week.
- Wipe regular chalk into powder, mix with kefir, make compresses at night. This works well and quickly restores the cartilage tissue of the joints.
— Beef or pork bile applied to the inflamed areas for 3-4 days will help.
— Blue clay, diluted with warm water, is wrapped in cloth and applied to the affected areas, left for up to 3 hours. You need to perform the procedure once a day until the condition improves, but each time change the clay to a new one.
- Mix equal amounts of honey with vegetable oil and mustard powder. Bring the mixture to a boil and, placing it on a thick cloth, apply to the affected area for 2-3 hours, then remove and wipe with a dry cloth.
Mix vodka (100 g), turpentine (100 g) and unrefined sunflower oil (3-4 tbsp), make a compress, apply to the affected areas, fix with a gauze bandage
It is useful to rub sore spots with apple cider vinegar, potato juice, wild rosemary, aloe, and celery.
Herbs are also used to prepare ointments:
Take St. John's wort, sweet clover, hop cones (2 tbsp each). Grind, mix with unsalted butter (50 g). Place the mixture on a cloth and apply to the affected areas. Cover the top with polyethylene, insulate with woolen cloth and leave the bandage overnight.
Mix vodka (100 g) with radish juice (150 g), add table salt (15 g) and natural honey (150 g). Mix the ingredients and apply to the affected areas until the condition noticeably improves.
Treatment for arthritis is long-term, so it is wise to stockpile ointments for future use.
Take homemade unsalted butter (800 g), dry camphor powder (1 pinch), fresh birch buds (200 g). Mix birch buds with oil and place in a warm place for a day. Then grind the mixture in a meat grinder, add camphor. Use the ointment as needed and store in the refrigerator.
Arthritis affects the toes in most cases due to poor personal hygiene, wearing uncomfortable and tight shoes, injury, or hitting the big toe. These causes can be eliminated, thereby preventing the development of inflammation.
- Use anti-inflammatory, relaxing foot baths with the addition of herbs, such as chamomile, St. John's wort and string
- Do a foot massage
— Try not to wear narrow shoes with narrow toes
— Avoid damage to the thumb, its injury
— Wash your feet more often, keep them clean.
As a preventative measure, it is recommended to wear shoes with arch supports, combat flat feet, and promptly treat any infectious processes in the body. You need to take care of the health of your feet independently and daily; the occurrence and development of inflammation of the joints and toes can be completely avoided.
It is important to know and follow simple preventive measures. If, however, the disease affects the big toe, it is better to consult a doctor; the treatment method will be selected more effectively and correctly.
Self-medication can only cause harm and worsen the disease, and this must always be remembered.
Arthritis is a deforming disease, the impetus for which is given by the inflammatory process. Therefore, during therapy it is necessary not only to treat arthritis of the big toe, but also the causes of the development of this pathology.
In the early stages, the prognosis for therapy is favorable. In most cases, the patient’s motor functions are completely restored, swelling is relieved and pain disappears.
It is impossible to independently diagnose and begin effective treatment for arthritis of the big toe. Consultation with a rheumatologist is required. The doctor’s task is not only to diagnose pathology based on the clinical picture and symptoms, but also to determine the causes and nature of inflammation. If this is not done, a relapse of the disease can be expected. Drug treatment of arthritis and toe joints, in this case, may be ineffective and require more time.
Since the cause of inflammation is in one way or another related to problems in the human immune system, the disease often spreads to other joints. Arthritis of 1 toe progresses over time and spreads to adjacent phalanges. In this case, the patient is diagnosed with polyarthritis. Arthritis of the 2nd and 3rd toes is added to the existing pathology.
Changes may also affect other joints: ankle, knee, etc. Arthritis deformans is observed in an advanced stage of pathology. Constant inflammation and uneven load lead to changes in the cartilage tissues of the fingers.
Arthritis in the toes can be cured only after determining the etiology of the disease. During the examination of the patient, the rheumatologist tries to find out what became the main catalyst for the inflammatory process. Medicines are prescribed only after diagnostic studies.
The most striking signs of the presence of the disease are:
You can only get rid of arthritis in your toes with the help of professional medicine, so if you have all these symptoms, you should consult a rheumatologist. The specialist will diagnose the disease and find out the causes of its occurrence, which may include the following factors:
It is possible to cure arthritis in the big toe without surgery. Using traditional therapy methods, mobility and other functions are completely restored.
Initial arthritis is the most favorable time for therapy. Before the appointment, an x-ray of the finger joint is taken. After receiving all clinical and other tests, the following treatment is prescribed:
The spacer allows you to fix the damaged joint in the anatomically correct position. With prolonged use of the pad, you can straighten a toe that is bent by arthritis.
Additionally, during this period it is recommended to prescribe chondroprotectors. Chondroprotectors are offered to the patient in the form of tablets, ointments and injections and allow the structure of cartilage tissue to be restored.
Treatment of inflammatory arthritis of the phalanx of the 1st finger is not always successful, because the patient consults a doctor already at an advanced stage of the disease. Old injuries often complicate therapy. Relapses of rheumatoid arthritis after a broken toe are not uncommon. If traditional methods of therapy are unsuccessful and constant progression of the disease is observed, the patient is indicated for surgical treatment.
Surgical measures are a last resort; in world practice, surgery is rarely resorted to, mainly if surgical correction of fingers after arthritis is necessary. The initial signs of deformity can be corrected with the help of the recommendations of an orthopedist. If the second toe is deformed, procedures may be less successful.
Arthritis of the big toe ends with complete immobilization of the joint. Although the patient can move, it causes him serious pain. Severe hammertoe deformity occurs after arthritis of the bone and joint.
Unresolved problems can affect other limbs. Arthritis of the phalanx of the toes can easily become the root cause of damage to the knee or ankle joint. All this can be avoided if you consult a doctor for help in a timely manner.
At the initial stage, arthritis responds well to drug therapy. Using special corsets, you can remove a tumor on your finger. The most important thing is that by turning to specialists for help, it is possible to prevent a relapse of the disease and achieve sustainable remission.
There is a lot you can do at home to prevent relapse of the disease. Some doctors, in addition to drug therapy, recommend treating arthritis of the toe joints with folk remedies.
Often, unconventional methods are justified for many reasons. The very principle of the influence of traditional methods is based on activating the body’s immunity. Arthritis can be treated by:
Neither proper nutrition nor the use of herbs and roots can completely relieve arthritis. Folk remedies serve only as a complement to traditional therapy. A timely visit to a rheumatologist is the key to healthy joints!
Depending on the type of disease (what caused its development), symptoms may also vary. But doctors call the classic picture of arthritis of the joints:
1. stiffness of finger movements;
2. pain that increases with exertion, and in advanced cases, at rest;
3. swelling, swelling, redness of the skin, increased local body temperature;
4. deformation of the thumb - it moves towards the other phalanges, and the joint protrudes outward;
5. weather dependence – symptoms worsen on days when the weather changes;
6. crunching and other extraneous sounds when the joint is working.
There are 4 degrees of arthritis:
Therapeutic measures are determined by the doctor taking into account factors such as the cause of the disease, stage, age of the patient, individual characteristics of the course, and the presence of other chronic diseases.
Treatment will be aimed at eliminating the underlying disease, the secondary phenomenon of which is arthritis. Along with this, the patient will be prescribed a number of drugs that slow down joint destruction, promote tissue regeneration, and relieve pain:
1. Chondroprotectors – Alfutop, Artradol, Artra, Glucosamine. They perfectly restore cells and maintain an optimal level of intra-articular fluid.
2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for external and internal use.
3. If an infection occurs, the patient is prescribed a course of antibiotics to destroy it (penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides). After this, the patient’s condition improves significantly, but such drugs should be taken in strict consultation with the attending physician. Unauthorized reduction or extension of the course is fraught with serious consequences for the body.
4. Cytostatics. They are used quite rarely, only during the active phase of rheumatoid arthritis. They are designed to strengthen the body's protective functions in the fight against disease.
5. Ointments and creams help cope with pain, many have a cooling effect.
Doctors highlight changes in the patient’s lifestyle, physiotherapeutic procedures and diet as a separate point. Firstly, the patient must completely give up bad habits (drinking alcohol, smoking). The load on the affected joint must be minimized, use a cane when walking, and it is important to visit a physiotherapist who will suggest a number of exercises to perform at home. They will help speed up metabolic processes, improve blood circulation and muscle tone. Additional measures include:
If the above measures do not bring relief to the patient’s condition, the doctor prescribes treatment with hormonal drugs. Often in the form of injections directly into the joint cavity.
If these measures are not successful, doctors insist on performing an operation. They come in several types, depending on the stage of the lesion, but the most commonly used method is endoprosthetics - replacing the remnants of the original joint with a full-fledged artificial one.
Diet for arthritis
This is one of the main parts of treatment. Without compliance, the success of therapeutic measures can be reduced to zero. This is especially true for gouty arthritis of the toes, when the joint is destroyed due to metabolic disorders (excessive accumulation of uric acid in the body, the deposition of its crystals on the surface of the cartilage), and very often the big toe suffers.
Nutrition guidelines for arthritis include the following:
1. Limit the consumption of meat and fish dishes, offal, as they are rich in purines, which provoke the development of gout.
2. Complete rejection of products with synthetic additives: canned food, sausages, smoked meats.
3. Significantly limiting the consumption of salt and foods high in salt.
4. During the treatment period, all liquids are harmful, except pure water and milk: soda (even non-sweet ones), tea, coffee, alcohol.
6. Candies and other sweets.
As for recommended foods, these include:
The unconventional approach has several effective recipes in the fight against arthritis of the big toe. They are designed to relieve pain during attacks and help the body restore cartilage tissue.
1. Pour 4-5 cloves of garlic into a half-liter jar and fill them to the top with vodka or alcohol. After ten days of infusion, take a teaspoon three times a day.
2. Crush the chalk, mix it with kefir until the consistency of thick sour cream is obtained, apply a thick layer to the feet and toes, wrap in film overnight.
3. Two chicken eggs are thoroughly mixed with salt (4 tablespoons). Apply to the joints of the fingers and feet, wrap in gauze. This treatment is carried out several times a week.
Prevention of joint diseases
A set of measures will significantly reduce the risk of arthritis of the big toe joint. To do this you need:
It is important to recognize arthritis at an early stage, when the cartilage has not yet undergone significant destruction and the foot has not lost functionality. In this case, the disease can be cured quickly and effectively. Modern medications, physiotherapy and folk remedies taken together will come to the rescue. The first stages, as a rule, do not require surgical intervention, whereas if bone tissue is affected, arthritis of the toes can only be treated through surgery.
The main reason why arthritis of the toes develops is age-related changes in the body, which is why this pathology is found mainly in older people.
Receiving regular loads throughout life, joints inevitably wear out, cartilage tissue becomes thinner, and bone structure changes.
In addition, with age, metabolic processes slow down and the body's immune system weakens. All this negatively affects the condition and functionality of the joints. The following signs indicate that arthritis of the toes is developing:
All these symptoms cause serious discomfort to the patient - pain in the legs does not allow him to move independently and work fully.
In the later stages of the disease, the symptoms become more pronounced and the joints begin to deform. The toes are constantly in a half-bent state and seem to creep one on top of the other (the photo shows feet deformed by arthritis). In this case, the supporting function of the foot is lost to one degree or another.
Arthritis in the area of the big toe and periarthritis of the foot are especially unpleasant. A patient with such a lesion cannot put on shoes due to severe swelling of the foot. Due to the pain syndrome, it is difficult for him to concentrate on performing his usual household and professional duties.
All these symptoms significantly worsen the quality of life and can ultimately lead to complete loss of ability to work and disability.
If alarming symptoms are observed, you should consult a rheumatologist. He will conduct a competent diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment for arthritis of the toes. In order to make a diagnosis, the following studies are carried out:
The latter technique is used mainly when examining elderly patients.
Foot arthritis can be treated with medications and physical therapy. Folk remedies can be used as auxiliary ones. And only when treatment with such methods becomes ineffective is surgery performed.
Treatment with medications is based on a course of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen. They are usually supplemented with analgesics, if the pain is very severe, and chondroprotectors, which protect cartilage tissue from further destruction and promote their regeneration.
After the acute stage has passed, arthritis continues to be treated with various physical procedures. These are massage, laser or magnetic therapy, cryotherapy, phonophoresis.
Arthritis of the leg joints is not a death sentence; if it is treated correctly and in a timely manner, the patient does not have to give up his usual lifestyle, but some habits, daily routine and diet will have to be reconsidered.
Physical therapy plays an important role in the treatment of foot arthritis. Even during the period of remission in the morning, before the start of an active day, you will need to work out your joints. And this should be done with the help of a specially selected set of exercises.
Regular physical therapy exercises will help maintain the elasticity of cartilage and the functionality of joints, and additionally strengthen muscles and ligaments. This is the best prevention of relapse of acute arthritis and its transition to the next stage.
Excessive physical stress on the joint, hypothermia, and stress should be avoided. You definitely need to watch your diet. In the evening it is recommended to carry out a therapeutic massage. But with exacerbation of arthritis, manual therapy is strictly contraindicated.
You can perform exercises and massage on your own, but only after the doctor’s approval, since self-medication for acute arthritis can lead to serious complications.
Depending on the main provoking factor, arthritis of the joints of the fingers and toes can be infectious, post-traumatic, rheumatoid, reactive, etc.
The impetus for the development of the disease can be autoimmune, somatic, infectious and allergic diseases. Lesions of small joints often develop as a result of metabolic disorders in the body and malfunctions of the endocrine and immune systems, or arise as complications of such serious diseases as psoriasis or gout. In addition, symptoms of the disease can be caused by the following reasons:
Another common cause is various sports or household injuries (dislocation, bruise, ligament rupture, intra-articular fractures). In some cases, arthritis can develop after joint surgery.
The professional factor plays a big role. Thus, arthritis of the fingers often develops in representatives of certain professions whose work involves painstaking manual labor (tailors, hairdressers, jewelers, weavers, knitters). And arthritis of the joints of the toes is observed with flat feet or as a result of increased stress on the joints due to excess weight. In addition, manifestations of the disease plague dancers and ballet dancers, whose work is directly related to high stress on their legs.
A typical symptom of arthritis of any etiology is severe, debilitating pain in the joints of the arms and legs. At the initial stage of the disease, pain intensifies at night, then it becomes constant. With damage to the joints of the legs, the pain intensifies while walking, there is a change in gait, heaviness in the legs, and rapid onset of fatigue. In the morning hours, the pain syndrome reaches its peak, at this time the feeling of stiffness of the feet or hands is most clearly manifested and limitation of joint mobility is felt.
Symptoms of arthritis of the joints of the fingers of the hand manifest themselves with a feeling of aching and sharp, unbearable pain. There is a significant restriction of mobility, the fingers swell, the skin around the affected joints swells and turns red. Most often, the first manifestations of the disease and subsequent exacerbations begin in the autumn, when damp, windy weather sets in.
In the acute form of arthritis, against the background of the inflammatory process, the temperature rises and febrile conditions are noted. The pain manifests itself with particular force at night and in the morning, exhausting the patient and depriving him of sleep. This is characterized by symmetrical damage to the joints of the left and right hands.
Sore fingers become swollen, and patients compare morning stiffness to the feeling of tight gloves on their hands. Joint mobility decreases sharply, and patients have difficulty performing everyday professional and household duties. As a result of impaired circulatory processes, the skin on the hands looks thinner, dry, and muscle tissue atrophy gradually develops.
The long course of rheumatoid arthritis leads to the fact that the fingers are deformed, curved, knobby growths form on the phalanges, spindle-shaped swellings appear, and subluxations of the metacarpophalangeal joints may be observed.
In psoriatic arthritis, axial inflammation develops, which is characterized by swelling of all joints, causing the fingers to look thick and take on a sausage shape. In this case, the skin above the area of inflammation becomes bluish-purple. With this type of arthritis, the joints are usually affected asymmetrically, meaning the disease can affect only one limb. Another characteristic feature is the absence of stiffness in movements in the morning. Patients with psoriatic arthritis usually only experience difficulty bending their joints.
Gouty arthritis is characterized by acute, unexpected attacks of unbearable pain (In this case, we recommend a very effective drug for joint pain - Pantogor). In gout, the typical site of attack is the great palm of the hand or foot. Arthritis of the thumb joint is characterized by swelling and the skin in the affected area becoming inflamed and purplish-red.
Attacks of acute pain may continue for several days, after which they suddenly subside. But the period of remission is usually short and soon the pain returns. With gouty arthritis of the extremities, painless, yellowish nodules appear in the subcutaneous fat, which are nothing more than the deposition of uric acid salts. During an exacerbation of gout, a white cheesy mass may be released from such nodules.
Arthritis of the joints of the toes manifests itself with similar symptoms, while the joints of the ankle and knees are often involved in the pathological process. In advanced forms of rheumatoid arthritis, in addition to constant unbearable pain and characteristic stiffness, the toes become deformed and resemble claws in appearance, or acquire a hammer-like shape. If the metatarsal joints are involved in the inflammatory process, then valgus deformity of the foot develops. Severe pain haunts the patient at night, intensifying in the morning.
Pain, stiffness, and swelling of the joints do not allow you to put on your usual shoes and significantly complicate movement, reducing your ability to work and negatively affecting your quality of life. In the area of inflamed joints, the skin on the legs swells, becomes hyperemic, painful and hot to the touch. As a result of deformation of the toes, problems arise with the choice of shoes, and there is a need to use special insoles and orthopedic shoe models.
Rheumatoid or gouty arthritis of the feet may begin with lesions of the big toes, or polyarthritis may develop. The progression of the disease over time leads to the patient's disability and loss of ability to work.
In order to prevent the disease from progressing to a severe stage, you need to seek medical help in a timely manner, at the first alarm bells and discomfort in the joint area. After conducting an examination and clarifying the diagnosis, the doctor will individually select the optimal treatment regimen and tell you how to treat arthritis of the finger joints.
To cope with pain, Arthropant cream is perfect.
If any type of arthritis occurs, affecting large and small joints of the extremities, complex treatment is carried out, including both medication and physiotherapeutic methods. The following medications are used to treat arthritis of the fingers and toes:
The progression of the disease is associated with impaired blood circulation in the joints of the extremities, so the course of treatment includes drugs that eliminate vascular spasm, normalize blood circulation and help lower blood pressure.
External agents (ointments, creams, gels, tinctures) with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects are widely used, Dimexide applications, hand and foot medicinal baths are used. Vitamin complexes containing vitamin B1 (thiamine), which acts as a metabolic catalyst, are prescribed.
The disease is accompanied by constant, intense pain, which exhausts the patient and causes insomnia and nervous breakdowns. Therefore, the course of treatment includes sedatives, sedatives, hypnotics or antidepressants.
In severe cases, with the development of severe deformities, the patient requires surgical intervention, during which joint replacement is performed or arthroplasty is performed.
At the remission stage, physiotherapeutic procedures are included:
Additionally, therapeutic massage sessions and a course of health-improving gymnastics are provided. Patients with arthritis are advised to undergo sanatorium-resort treatment with sea baths and healing mud, which will help reduce the frequency of exacerbations and improve the quality of life.
Traditional medicine is a good addition to the main treatment. However, be sure to consult your doctor before using them.
The use of folk recipes outside the acute stage will help prolong the state of remission and stop further progression of the disease.
In medicine, a huge number of different diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system have been studied. One of the inflammatory diseases that manifests itself in damage to the small joints of the foot is arthritis of the toes. It is often combined with pathology of internal organs and ends with the patient’s disability. The vast majority of all patients with arthritis are over 60 years of age. However, in exceptional cases, the disease occurs at a young age and even in childhood.
Arthritis of the toe joints includes a whole group of diseases that are inflammatory in nature and affect the joints of the bones in the legs. The most common types are rheumatoid, post-traumatic, gouty and infectious forms of arthritis. All of them can have an acute or chronic course.
Important! From most sources it is known that most often arthritis is not an independent disease. It acts as a secondary symptom in diseases of a rheumatic, infectious and metabolic nature: purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis, granulomatosis, and so on.
Basically, this pathology occurs as oligo- and polyarthritis. In rare cases, monoarthritis with local inflammation is also possible. The inflammatory process in arthritis of the fingers affects the interphalangeal, metatarsal and metatarsophalangeal joints on the foot.
The mechanisms of arthritis development are diverse and complex. Due to their characteristics (a large number of nerve endings, good blood supply), the joints of the toes are able to quickly respond in response to various pathological influences from the outside. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis, the pathological changes are based on autoimmune disorders, which consist in problems with the regulation of the synthesis of rheumatoid factor.
Emerging immune complex processes initiate the development of synovitis. The characteristic deformation of the fingers in the rheumatoid form is caused by the proliferation of granulation fibers in the synovium of the affected joints. Over time, it destroys cartilage with subarachnoid bones and leads to sclerotic changes.
Depending on the form of arthritis, it is customary to single out one or more reasons for its development, which have been grouped into the following list:
The trigger for the development of arthritis in the toes can be regular stress, hypothermia and injury. Quite often ballet dancers suffer from this pathology.
Each form of arthritis in the toes has its own characteristics, but there are several symptoms that allow you to combine them into one group:
In almost all forms of arthritis, the skin over the affected joints becomes red and hot to the touch. Additional signs of most arthritis include: mild fever, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes (conjunctivitis), chills, insomnia, weakness, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Depending on the type of arthritis, clinical manifestations will vary slightly. The table shows, as an example, the manifestations of the most common forms of the disease, allowing you to clearly see the difference between them.
Regardless of the established form, any arthrosis in the toes requires early diagnosis and adequate treatment. This will bring the disease under strict control.
Only an experienced specialist can determine the causes of arthritis in the toes and determine its etiological form. This could be a rheumatologist or arthrologist.
Diagnosis of the disease is as follows:
Important! In case of arthritis of the toes, great importance is attached to the study of synovial fluid. It is obtained by percutaneous aspiration under mandatory ultrasound control.
In some cases, consultation with specialized specialists (rheumatologist, immunologist, etc.) is necessary. The listed studies help to carry out differential diagnosis and establish a final diagnosis.
Therapy for arthritis in the toe area includes a set of symptomatic and pathogenetic measures aimed at relieving the main manifestations of the disease.
To reduce the load on the affected area, it is recommended to wear orthopedic shoes or prescribe orthotics.
In advanced cases, if there are appropriate indications, treatment of arthritis of the toes through surgery is prescribed. It consists of arthroplasty, endoprosthetics of the metacarpophalangeal joints, or resection of milky deformity of the toes. In the future, a long recovery period will be required.
Proper nutrition for arthritis plays an important role, since in certain forms of the disease there is a clear relationship between the consumption of certain foods and exacerbations of inflammatory processes. Examples include gouty arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
In the first case, doctors recommend excluding meat and fish dishes, canned food, sausages and meat broths from the diet. Alcohol, chocolate and legumes are contraindicated. In the second case, you should avoid citrus fruits, corn, wheat and dairy products. Eating vegetables, fruits and buckwheat is beneficial.
Arthritis of the toes has a very mixed prognosis. This is due to the fact that with this disease it is necessary to determine the severity of local changes in the affected areas. It is also important to identify all the features of the primary pathology. As a result of the therapy, complete restoration of all joint functions is possible. But in severe cases, deformation and destructive processes in the joints of the toes are irreversible. This will eventually lead to ankylosis and the development of complete immobility.
To avoid such serious consequences, you need to promptly seek medical help if any symptoms of arthritis appear, as well as engage in its prevention:
It is useful to do gymnastics and get rid of bad habits. If possible, you should choose work that places little strain on your legs or give your legs rest more often. You need to strengthen your immune system and take care of your health.
Arthritis of the toes refers to a pathology that occurs with signs of inflammation, intense pain and deformation of the joints. Pathological processes in this disease involve all the constituent elements of the joint. Gradually, they lead to impaired mobility in the joints of the toes and problems with walking.
The number of patients with arthritis of the toes increases every year, which is a disappointing statistic. But with timely medical care, the disease responds well to treatment and stops progressing. As a result, movements in the fingers become painless, and lameness disappears from the gait. And you can again do your daily activities, go for walks and even dance.