WALK EASIER
Get treatment for osteoarthritis
YOUR FEET AND ANKLES
support you every step of
the way, every day of your life.
Over time, all that use can wear away the joint’s carti-
lage, the connective tissue that protects bones where they
meet. (Injury, such as a break or serious sprain, can also
harm cartilage.)
Without that protection, the bones rub together,
which can cause pain and swelling—a condition called
osteoarthritis.
SORE AND STIFF
Osteoarthritis of any type is more
common with age, and that’s true with osteoarthritis of
the foot and ankle.
Symptoms of the disease usually come on gradually
and can include:
Joint pain, which may get better with rest.
Dull, throbbing pain at night.
Sti ness and swelling in the joint.
Di culty walking or bending the joint.
Osteoarthritis may also cause bone spurs—bony
growths at the joint—which hurt when pressure is applied.
To diagnose the condition, a doctor will ask questions
about your pain and health history. He or she may also
check your gait and order x-rays or other tests to deter-
mine the extent of the disease.
BACK ON YOUR FEET
Discomfort in your feet and ankles
isn’t just inconvenient. Over time, the pain from arthritis
can make it di cult to walk. But treatment—the earlier
it’s started the better—can help reduce pain and protect
joints from further harm.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons, treatment depends on the severity of your pain
or disability.
Some options are:
Medicine, such as pain relievers, anti-in ammatories
and injectable steroids.
Shoe inserts (orthotics), such as pads or arch supports.
Custom shoes, such as those with a sti sole and
rocker bottom.
A brace or cane.
Physical therapy and exercises.
In some cases, a doctor may recommend losing weight.
Being overweight can put additional strain on feet and
ankle bones. Exercise can help keep weight under control
and help ankles stay strong and exible.
If nonsurgical treatment isn’t e ective, then surgery,
including joint replacement, may be an option.
Additional sources: American Podiatric Medical Association; Arthritis Foundation
Know the risks of PAD
People with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at high
risk for heart attack, stroke and other problems. But
since PAD often develops without symptoms, it can go
undiagnosed and untreated.
That’s why it’s important to know if you’re at risk for
PAD—and to talk with your doctor if you think you are.
Two types of risk
With PAD, there are risk factors you can control and
those you can’t. The second group includes:
Older age.
About 1 in 20 Americans over 50 has PAD.
That risk grows with age.
Race.
PAD is more common among African Americans
than any other racial or ethnic group.
Family history.
A family history of cardiovascular
problems increases the risk for PAD.
Take control
There also are several risks you can control, including:
Smoking, the No. 1 risk factor for PAD. A history of
smoking boosts risk by up to four times. Quitting can
help. Talk with your doctor if you can’t quit by yourself.
Diabetes, which damages blood vessels. Controlling
blood sugar lowers PAD risk.
High blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol, both of
which harm blood vessels. Maintaining a healthy weight,
eating a healthy diet and exercising all help improve
blood vessel health.
Sources: American Heart Association; National Institutes of Health
WHEN BLOOD VESSELS FEEDING THE HEART
get
narrow or clogged, doctors call it coronary artery disease
(CAD). When the same thing happens to blood vessels
away from the heart, it’s called peripheral arterial disease
(PAD). It’s also known as peripheral vascular disease.
PAD and CAD are both caused by atherosclerosis, in
which fat, cholesterol and other substances slowly build
up inside arteries. at makes it harder for oxygen-rich
blood to feed the body’s tissues.
Both conditions pose similar dangers: increased risk
of heart attack and stroke. And since PAD usually oc-
curs in the lower body, it can also a ect legs and feet in
sometimes life-altering ways.
For example, leg muscles and other tissues starved for
blood can become painful, particularly during exertion.
at can turn everyday things like walking around the
block or climbing stairs into painful chores.
PAD-slowed circulation can also make infections more
likely and harder to heal. In the worst cases, PAD can
cause gangrene, leading to amputations.
Besides leg pain, other common signs and symptoms
of PAD include:
Numbness, weakness or heavy-feeling legs.
Burning, aching feet while resting.
Skin color changes or hair loss on the legs or feet.
Foot sores that don’t heal or heal slowly.
O en, though, people with PAD have no signs or
symptoms.
IS IT PAD?
To see if you have PAD, your doctor will ask
about your medical history, discuss any symptoms and
do an exam.
He or she may take your pulse at your legs and feet
and compare blood pressure readings from your arms to
readings from your ankles—known as an ankle-brachial
index test.
Make an appointment with one
of the providers at Samaritan Family
Medicine. ey will be glad to discuss
your leg pain. Call
-
.
If these results point to PAD, your doctor may do
tests to nd a blockage. Ultrasound, magnetic resonance
imaging or computed tomography scans are o en used.
WAYS TO FEEL BETTER
If you have PAD, treatment
usually involves changing some daily habits and taking
medicine.
Changes may include recommendations to:
Stop smoking, if you smoke. Smokers are more likely
to have pain with PAD. If you have trouble quitting, talk
with your doctor.
Manage blood pressure, cholesterol and—if you have
diabetes—blood glucose levels. Your doctor may suggest
medications to help.
Eat a healthy diet and exercise. Both help keep blood
vessels healthy.
Your doctor may also suggest medications to reduce
pain while walking and to lower your risk for blood clots.
If these measures aren’t enough, surgery to widen or
bypass narrowed or blocked blood vessels may be needed.
Sources: American Heart Association; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE
ACHY LEGS MAY SIGNAL ARTERY DISEASE
T H E
S A M A R I T A N
6
W I N T E R 2 0 1 3
