Pain that is generally felt near the top as well as in the middle foot parts is the 1st symptom when a person starts suffering from midfoot arthritis. The pain is generally sharp and burning. The pain worsens when you stand and walk. People often indicate that the worst pain is in the morning, and also during first steps taken after being seated and after lying for a long time.
Examination might detect swelling and there might be tenderness in the area of the midfoot. If not treated, midfoot arthritis may result in foot arches flattening and make the midfoot turn outwards as well.
Arthritis is when the cartilage loss occurs. This cartilage cushions the joint surface. Normal cartilage makes the body joints move freely and smoothly. When the cartilage is damaged, the surface is rough and it provokes stiffness and pain inside the joint. Any joints can be affected and generally arthritis is present in the joints which are mostly so to say used. These are wrists, hands, also ankles and knees.
Midfoot arthritis often develops after an injury like an ankle and foot fracture that wears out the cartilage very quickly. The disorder also can develop as a result of every day tear and wear the body undergoes in life. This disorder (osteoarthritis) is linked to such conditions as sport, manual work, family history and overweight.
Midfoot arthritis may be caused by some other arthritis type, named rheumatoid arthritis which is actually an autoimmune illness. The immune system begins to attack the joints’ lining, thus making them painful and inflamed. Most often hand and feet joints are affected.
Doctors often overlook midfoot arthritis as there are many little joints found in the midfoot. An examination should be done carefully and x-ray joints views are necessary. Also scans are required to detect which joints are affected. In the first stages arthritis is much easier to diagnose. The treatment commences quicker in the 1st stages of the disorder.
Treatments are represented by physiotherapy, supportive orthotic techniques, anti inflammatory medications, X-ray guided injections. In case the treatments fail, surgical fusion provides effective, long-term relief of pain. Generally midfoot fusion can lead to a small rate of mobility loss, though most patients usually report improved relief of pain and also general foot function.