Rheumatoid Arthritis
1. What is it ?
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule, resulting in swelling and inflammation at the joint, and eventually joint damage.
It most often starts in the small joints of the hands and feet, and usually affects the same joints on both sides of the body.
2. Causes
The underlying cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) remains unknown, as current scientific evidence has not yet identified a specific trigger or mechanism responsible for the condition
3. Signs and Symptoms
- Pain, swelling, tenderness of affected joint
- Joint stiffness that takes a while to settle in the morning
- Unlike osteoarthritis, which typically affects one specific joint, symptoms of RA usually appear in both feet, affecting the same joints on each foot.
- Development of nodules in the feet - rheumatoid nodules
- Prominent forefoot bones leading to toe deformities and/or bunions
- Thickening of skin on the bottom of the forefoot
- Flat feet
4. Treatment
Although there is no cure for RA, there are many treatment options available to help manage pain, stay active, and maintain your quality of life.
- Rest
- Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Medication: for pain management
- Orthotic therapy and offloading devices: to redistribute pressure away from the painful sites.
- Footwear modification: Finding supportive footwear that are wide and deep enough to accommodate prominent joints
- Regular screening of changes of the foot, biomechanics, skin condition, and neurovascular function of the foot.
