RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition that causes inflammation in many joints of the body but particularly affects the hands, feet, wrists, ankles and knees – and tends to occur symmetrically. For example, if your right big toe is swollen and painful, chances are your left big toe will be too. In addition, as well as joint pain and stiffness, symptoms include muscle aches, anaemia (a low blood count leaving you feeling tired), and fever. The stiffness tends to be worse in the morning and after rest.

Symptoms

• Stiffness and pain in the front of foot, midfoot and/ or back of foot. You may also get rheumatoid nodules – fleshy bumps that usually occur below the elbows but can appear on the hands and feet too. They may form over bony areas such as the heels and occur in 30% to 40% of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatments

• Orthoses, shoes, surgery, protective shields

Sources 10-12: https://cop.org.uk/foot-health/common-foot-problems/