Arthritis in the Foot and Ankle
Cleveland Clinic gives the plainest definition: "Foot and ankle arthritis is any type of arthritis that affects joints in your feet and ankles."
Because the definition is so broad, the timeline has more than one starting point. At the far end sits surgery such as ankle replacement, and HSS explains how ankle replacement works and what recovery time looks like for readers who want to see that stage early. For readers around Arlington Heights, the two articles below cover the stages that come before it.
The articles, in the order you meet them
- Easing Foot Arthritis Pain and Stiffness covers the early stage, when the question is how to live with the joint day to day.
- Treating Gout Flares in the Foot covers a branch of the timeline where flares set the pace, and the Arthritis Foundation outlines treatments for gout in general terms.
The sign to plan for the next step
The sign is that the routine you built stops covering the joint. Pain or stiffness that your usual care no longer eases marks a new stage, and that is the point to book a visit with a clinician.
What to settle before the next stage
Decide which activities you refuse to give up, since those decide how much joint trouble you will accept. Ask what each option would require of your time and your recovery. Write both lists before the appointment, so the next stage starts with your priorities on paper.