Osteoarthritis is a condition characterized by the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage in one or more joints. Cartilage protects and cushions the bones during movement. When cartilage deteriorates or is lost, symptoms develop that can restrict one’s ability to easily perform daily activities.

Osteoarthritis is considered a wear-and-tear disease because the cartilage in the joint wears down with repeated stress and use over time. As the cartilage deteriorates and gets thinner, the bones lose their protective covering and eventually may rub together, causing pain and inflammation of the joint.

An injury may also lead to osteoarthritis, although it may take months or years after the injury for the condition to develop.

People with osteoarthritis in the foot or ankle experience, in varying degrees, one or more of the following:

• Pain and stiffness in the joint

• Swelling in or near the joint

• Difficulty walking or bending the joint
  

Some patients with osteoarthritis also develop a bone spur (a bony protrusion) at the affected joint. Shoe pressure may cause pain at the site of a bone spur, and in some cases, blisters or calluses may form over its surface. Bone spurs can also limit the movement of the joint.

To help relieve symptoms, your foot doctor may begin treating osteoarthritis non-surgically.

When osteoarthritis has progressed substantially or has failed to improve with nonsurgical treatment, surgery may be recommended. In advanced cases, surgery may be the only option. The goal of surgery is to decrease pain and improve function. Your foot doctor will consider a number of factors when selecting the procedure best suited to your condition and lifestyle.

Here at Dearborn Foot and Ankle, we are specialized in the treatment of a wide variety of foot and ankle conditions.

Come see us, we will be happy to go over your treatment options.

Contact us today for an appointment or to learn more.