Osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle is a degenerative disease, which means over time, symptoms get worse, and the condition can be managed initially with painkillers and physiotherapy initially but later as it increases, will need surgery.
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a debilitating condition that affects the joints causing stiffness and loss of mobility. It usually affects the joints in the hands, feet, and knees.
This condition occurs when cartilage breaks down due to wear and tear on the joints, causing friction in the joint as it moves. This results in inflammation, swelling, and pain. Osteoarthritis often affects people over 50 years old. It can also occur in people if they have a previous history of an injury or a fracture.
Several factors can cause Osteoarthritis. Here are five causes of Osteoarthritis:
- Heredity
- Aging
- Repetitive Overuse Injuries
- Obesity
- Trauma
Diagnosis of Osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle
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Foot examination
The doctor will examine your feet and ankles, checking for tenderness, swelling, redness, and deformity. They may also look at your gait (the way you walk).
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X-rays
X-rays can help your doctor see how much joint space is lost due to Osteoarthritis. This makes it easier to diagnose Osteoarthritis and stage it into various stages depending upon the X-ray picture.
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CT scan
A CT allows your doctor to see the joint destruction in minute detail, especially in early cases, and also helps in planning their surgery.
Osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle is a gradually progressive condition that affects daily activities of your life. If it progresses to a severe problem, you might have to have your foot or ankle surgically treated. You can contact Dr. Chetan Oswal at Orthowin Clinic, Pune.
Dr. Chetan Oswal is an Orthopedic surgeon with exclusive expertise in the foot and ankle area. He has had his advanced surgical fellowship from the United kingdom. Complicated foot and ankle surgery are his forte. Dr. Chetan Oswal with his specialized training in foot and ankle reconstruction offers minimally invasive keyhole surgery for foot and ankle problems which enables patients to recover quickly & resume work/duties/sports at the earliest. Dr. Chetan Oswal assures them to treat his patients with all his medical knowledge and skills.