MD Podiatrist Discusses Arthritis and Foot Pain

Daniel Michaels, DPM sees a wide variety of foot and ankle pathology during his patient care visits. “We see a lot of overuse injuries, like plantar fasciitis and tendinitis, as well as chronic conditions, like bunions and arthritic joints,” he said.
 
“Several types of arthritis also can cause swelling, pain, and stiffness in the small joints of your foot and ankle. The most common types are osteoarthritis (or “wear-and-tear” arthritis), rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis which happens after an injury. In addition to pain, arthritis in the feet can cause loss of strength, flexibility, and exercise ability. Simple daily tasks, such as walking, can be painful and, eventually, become nearly impossible,” says Dr. Michaels.