Although arthritis and its symptoms can be painful, it does not always require a visit to a podiatrist. However, if you start to experience one of the following six symptoms in your feet or ankle joints, you should make an appointment as soon as possible.
Swelling of The Joints
When there is an increase in the synovial fluid or the fluids in the surrounding tissues, you may find your joints swelling. This is a common symptom of arthritis that may limit your joint mobility. When this happens to your feet or ankles, it could lead to immobility. if you notice your feet or ankles swelling, especially around the joint areas, you should visit a podiatrist for treatment to reduce the effect on your mobility.
Changes in Skin Health Around The Area
One side effect of arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis, is skin problems. The most common are rashes, ulcers, and nodules. When the blood vessels in the area become inflamed, it can lead to sores or rashes. A more common skin problem are rheumatoid nodules, which can affect about 1 in 5 people who have rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid nodules are hard lumps of tissue that may be under the skin, on bony areas, or on organs, with varying size—up to as large as a ping-pong ball. Schedule an appointment with Kansas City Foot Specialists for treatment options today!
Recurring Joint Pain and Tenderness
The pain and tenderness associated with arthritis is a well-known symptom of the disorder. When you experience chronic pain in a joint area, it may be a sign that you have arthritis. When you experience this pain in your foot or ankle, schedule a visit with Kansas City Foot Specialists.
Redness or Heat Emanating from The Area
If you notice that the skin around your joints is red and/or hot to the touch, schedule an appointment with Kansas City Foot Specialists. When your joints become inflamed due to arthritis or other conditions, part of the inflammatory response causes redness and heat in the surrounding area, including the skin. Although most warm joints are not a cause for alarm, there are some infections that may also lead to redness or heat that need to be treated right away. If your redness or heat is combined with chills, a fever, broken skin, or intense pain, seek medical attention as soon as you’re able.
Limited Range of Motion or Mobility
Arthritis can eventually lead to a limited mobility of the joints. If you have yet to be diagnosed with arthritis and start to experience limited mobility in your feet and ankles, you should visit a podiatrist to see whether it is arthritis or something else.
Joint Stiffness or Tenderness During The Morning
Many people believe that feeling stiff in the morning is a regular part of the aging process. Although there is some truth to this, much of this stiffness is due to arthritis. If you start to notice that you feel stiff over a long period of time with no real reason, such as having exercised for a long time the day before, visit a doctor to discover and treat the root cause of the stiffness. If you’re still unsure whether or not your arthritis problems require a visit to a podiatrist, ask the experts at Kansas City Foot Specialists, or give us call today!
