How To Care For Your Feet With Inflammatory Arthritis

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Inflammatory arthritis can dramatically affect the feet. Additionally, many people with the condition find one of the first body parts they neglect is their feet, due to pain and physical limitations. There are ways you can minimize foot problems and make it easier to care for your feet.

Rely On Comfy Shoes

One challenge many people with inflammatory arthritis face is finding comfortable shoes, especially when they cannot exclusively rely on sneakers. Fortunately, loafers or similar slip-on shoes can be found in both casual and dressy styles, so they are much easier to wear than styles that involve laces. If you were recently diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis, you may find you need shoes larger and wider than normal to help accommodate swelling and other changes in your feet. Wait until later in the day to buy shoes since your feet are probably largest at the end of the day. Most shoes can be made more comfortable with inserts that cushion different parts of your foot where you have pressure points.

Make Foot Care Simple

The easiest way to take care of your feet is to buy a foot tub that you can use while sitting on the side of the bed or in a comfortable chair. Allow your feet to soak for a while in warm, soapy water at least once each week. Unless you have underlying medical problems that prohibit using tools on your feet, use a pumice stone or wash cloth to rub away softened, dead skin. This is the ideal time to trim your nails since any thick nails will be easier to trim. After you have rinsed and dried your feet, be sure to use a cream or Shea butter. Just do not use these products between your toes since you want to keep them dry. Lightweight moisturizers can work well for everyday use, but use thicker creams and butters on your specialty foot care days. This can keep dry skin to a minimum, which can be common in people with inflammatory arthritis.

Add A Podiatrist To Your Team

Managing inflammatory arthritis and the problems it causes over time is not just about seeing your rheumatologist. You likely need other members to be part of your care team, including a podiatrist. As soon as you have the opportunity to see a podiatrist, make an appointment. In addition to receiving specialized recommendations based on your current problems, your podiatrist might notice other issues that are not always identified by your rheumatologist. For example, changes in your nails and feet could be consistent with vascular problems. Several problems, such as vasculitis, are more likely to occur in people with autoimmune diseases. If your podiatrist notices these issues, they may want you to have additional testing and make different recommendations regarding the care of your feet and how to prevent ulcers or other significant problems.

Foot issues are a major concern with inflammatory arthritis and keeping an eye on changes in your feet can help you avoid some complications. Talking with a podiatrist as soon as you develop foot issues will make it easier to adapt to changes associated with inflammatory arthritis. You can also contact your local foot and ankle clinic for more information.

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12 October 2019

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