[Closed] Arthritis in my feet help please

I occasionally get gout in the base of my big toes (may be related as I believe it's a form of arthritis?). I think red meat and wine are the main food triggers.

Had my first gout attack when I was about 24 years old and a fit cyclist, so not exactly the portly old man as generally expected when thinking about gout sufferers.

TJ - as you know I had the same and had a toe joint fusion, probably 10 years ago now. It has been an ideal solution for me, no real issues and not aware of it much now at all. I did develop a Morton's Neuroma on the back of it, due to a slight gait pressure change, and that needed surgery too.

I had issues with my big toes at the end of my rugby playing days and found acupuncture to work pretty well. Went for some insoles for a dodgy Achilles and while I was there had some acupuncture on it and my toes. The next morning I could barely walk, but it eased during the day and was much better for a couple of months. The acupuncturist was a podiatrist not a incense burning hippy and did say it might not help, but wouldn't make it any worse. I understand that it doesn't really have much medical backing but I was in bits and so was happy to try pretty much anything. Had originally been told to quit and played for another 3 years.
Sadly I moved away and everyone down here now seems to be holistic Chinese medicine types and that is not my thing!

Still on the lookout...

I occasionally get gout in the base of my big toes (may be related as I believe it’s a form of arthritis?). I think red meat and wine are the main food triggers.

+1 - have you excluded this? Seems oddly specific to have both big toe joints affected the same way. Did they both hurt the same during the latest episode?

Its certainly osteoarthritis - I have seen the xrays. I have it in both thumbs as well

left foot is much more painful than the right

I had forgotton that Iain - good to know the nuclear option is there and works

Acupuncture is about the only alternative medicine with an proper evidence base

I tried acupuncture, steroid injections, diet changes, over a few years - none of them worked for me. Mine was related to a teenage injury though and just in the right foot. I do now have lesser arthritis in loads of other joints now too, thumbs also in particular. getting old sucks !

I struggle with many dropper remotes and found that the Wolftooth Light Action was pretty good. I have however now got as reverb AXS so its just a button and much easier 🙂

My dad's got pretty bad osteo arthritis in his hands and feet, has done for years (like since his forties or before, he's nearly eighty now). He's on pretty strong medication for it, I think it took a while to get it dialled though, if you know what I mean.

They tried all the diet type stuff, but it never really had an effect. A recent-ish revelation for him though has been he's discovered Skechers shoes, which are really light and have a memory-foam kinda insole. He absolutely loves them, has a few pairs and also has a pair he wears as slippers in the house.

Had a motorbike accident when I was 19 (30+ years ago) nearly lost my left foot, they saved it but they had to fuse the metatarsals and my big toe, its not a pretty sight to this day, anyhow I have suffered over the years, its at its worst at this time of year and spring time. I found that the thing that helps most is being as active as possible and a warm dry climate... (thats not going to work at the moment unfortunately), other than that maybe CBD oil?

I'm in the same boat although I think mine is limitus rather than rigidus (stage 2 arthritis, the surgeon told me).

He offered me a cheilectomy - which I think is just taking a chunk of bone out where the arthritis is, creating more space for the toe to bend again. I think the recovery is about a month or so.

Or a joint fusion in the other option....

Now I am really confused. Yesterday I took ibuprofen. Made no difference. today I took some, waited half an hour and put my hiking boots on to go out. Putting the boots on really hurt. Now the pain is down to 1/10. WTF?

Time for more xrays maybe. I wonder if there is a bony spur.

I wonder if there is a bony spur.

Could come in useful if you want to dodge service in the England/Scotland wars of 2022.

Now I am really confused. Yesterday I took ibuprofen. Made no difference. today I took some, waited half an hour and put my hiking boots on to go out. Putting the boots on really hurt. Now the pain is down to 1/10. WTF?

Probably the fact that you were moving, rather than the ibuprofen, that is what I have found with my osteoarthritis in the knee. I was in severe pain for 3 months earlier in the year after snowboarding, thought I had strained a tenden so rested up, when it didn't go away got an mri and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. No painkillers even cortisol injections did anything until I started a bit of light cycling again and then it began to improve fairly quickly.

Harder to articulate and get blood pumping to the toe though. But I would suggest not standing still if you can help it, either move around or sit down (I find stationary pressure the worst for my knee). Also try some zero drop shoes so they don't shift your weight forward onto the balls of the feet and toes.

Try contrast foot-baths. Massive relief for joint pain/inflammation IME

I achieved remission of (rheumatoid) arthritis via a militant elimination diet, the ‘cider vinegar cure’ and a lot of physical therapy. It was hard work and total commitment but it began paying off quite dramatically after six weeks (in my case)

Prior acupuncture didn't help. At the time I refused disease-modifying drugs because of horror stories/visual deterrent from co-patients in the ward I shared. Then I read a book recommended by Ranulph Fiennes, and took a leap.

2 x daily contrast baths, support from a private clinic overseeing diet/therapy did. Don’t know how well it would work for osteoarthritis but it seemed to work for me and I was at wit’s end on the verge of elective amputation such was the pain and disability (wheelchair/bedbound). Feel free to PM me OP, happy to relate/share.

There may be wonder drugs that will do the job nowadays, as my case is going back decades. I’m not up to scratch on recent developments.

Thanks for the thoughts guys

i had been walking around barefoot all morning which obviously moved my foot more than riding a bike in flat pedal. I am utter confuzzeled why the pain disappeared once I had the boots on - it really hurt to put them on. At work i walk a lot and the pain builds thru the day

Weird

Last year I had big toe fusion and spurs removed to resolve my osteoarthritis foot problem and it worked a treat.I had multiple bone spurs that had developed all around my big toe as the cartilage had worn out and even to my untrained eyes they really stood out on the xray.Foot pain was 6+ and far worse after walking any distance and I was unable to wear shoes unless 2 sizes too big.Had a couple of football injuries in that area years ago which made me give up playing and take up MTBing.
Currently have my hand in a cast after thumb trapeziectomy and some tendon op thing as the arthritis and spurs had ,according to my surgeon practically fused my thumb into a semi dislocated position rendering it useless.Hoping that I will be able hold my handlebars again soon.
I take supplements and have a relatively healthy diet/lifestyle which my surgeon encouraged but was of the opinion that when you've got osteoarthritis there isn't much you can do.

I've got damaged feet and a big bunion on my right foot which is getting severe enough that I might consider surgery. I get very severe aching in my big toe joint and as the biomechanics of that foot get worse it brings on metatarsalgia as my sole takes more weight.

What works best is wearing very stiff footwear; reduces the amount and range of movement in that joint and lets it settle down.

I've not yet found an insole stiff enough to make a difference; custom carbon ones are about £200 the last time I asked.

This time of year tho I just wear B2 grade boots, I'm liking the Scarpa Ribelle range; lighter than old winter boots, rocker sole, very comfy but try them for size and go bigger if in doubt.

I am tempted to make my own Cf insoles

Cod liver oil good, salt and sugar bad.

Makes your socks all slippy.

I tried cod liver oil a few years ago. Made my pain worse. How much of that was in the head of course its hard to tell.

Crikey - another DIY puzzle for me then

I've been looking at rigid insoles; they are available for much less...
Hmmm, might have a go with some cheap ones and see.
If I do, I'll let you know!

Cheers. I think I shall get busy with the CF and see what I can come up with

OOh Ouch!
I developed gout about 15 years ago, possibly [probably] as a result of Beta blockers effing up my kidneys. I also had kidney stones at the same time. Never had either before, but while kidney stones elicited sympathy and oochy ouchy noises gout was a cause for mirth, yet it is the most painful thing I have ever experienced!
Having suffered with it for over ten years it finally went when I took up yoga. Whether it was the bending of toes or the twisting and internal massage of kidneys I don't know but I had three pain free years until this time last year...
On holiday in Venice I woke up with a very painful, swollen finger which got worse over the next couple of days while the pain spread to my foot. Over the next couple of months it did the rounds of my body spreading to feet and hands , just some or all, while repeated visits to the GP elicited opinions that having suffered from it long term Gout was again the culprit. Yet it felt totally different; with gout I had never been unable to walk!
A chance meeting with someone while out walking the dog resulted in me stumping up to see a rheumatologist privately. While X rays and scans revealed Gout had had it's effects on my joints he didn't think it was the culprit and suggested a change of diet avoiding the nightshade family of veg, peppers, chilis, spuds, aubergines etc. I avoided these to little or no effect, and started a course of heavy duty pills, Sulfursalazine early this year. As of April I have had a minimal amount of pain and can do everything I used to do.
Get yourself to a rheumatologist. Mine is fantastic but he's at the other end of the country to you. VersusArthritis is an excellent source of info...

Oh, and Cod liver oil can really exacerbate gout, especially in capsule form. Both fish and gelatine can really provoke it. Flax seed oil is a good substitute.

Although the dietary recommendations are helpful, I suspect what me and TJ have is actual mechanical damage which would not be likely to respond.
What we need is a way to move/exercise/mobilise without discomfort, or with less discomfort.

Maybe, maybe not... You never know 'til you try...
I have also had a bunion removed, which was painful, very painful. Mysteriously, that pain is gone too...

Forgot to say go and see a good sports podiatrist. I got help via the NHS via custom carbon insoles with metatarsal dome. Once in many years. They wore out and the replacements were inferior. I also saw a private podiatrist and the biomechanical assessment was much more thorough. ymmv

By the time I got the disease into remission it had unfortunately caused considerable joint damage. Deformation, metatarsalgia, atrophied and displaced ball of foot ‘pad’ (basically they’re gone, so is now like walking on pebbles)

For years I assumed that these injuries alone were giving me the residual pain and limp, but it turned out that years of pushing through and walking poorly had now also formed a number of Morton’s neuroma’s and very tight tendons and muscles in calves/ankles. These all have been a bugbear for getting on 18-20 years and surgery was contraindicated because of the number and severity.

I’ve nonetheless found help/a good measure of relief via a combination of trial and error, research, and happy accidents

1. A simple exercise I do twice a day (heel lifts, hand on wall. Stand straight. Raise self on two feet/ tiptoe. Hold a few seconds, then lower slowly back to floor using/weighting just one foot. Switch sides. x30 drops each side. I do 15 slow reps per side then switch. Do it while cleaning teeth as it takes about three minutes so is also good timer/discipline.

2. Singlespeed MTBing up various slopes/hills on wide flat pedals. Walking/pushing steeper bits using bike as a crutch. After three weeks since first getting a singlespeed I notice feet improving. It was very noticeable. The bowstring/locked/tender feeling was diminishing. Hurt like hell at first but then gradually got much better. I figured the constant mashing and twisting of metatarsal area against the pins and body of the pedal must have somehow been deep-massaging the sites of neuromas, helping disperse them? IANAD!

3. Wearing very slightly wider shoes even than I need. The first NHS podiatrist mismeasured my feet by -1.5 whole size. This meant for years I was making the neuromas worse/creating new ones. Also cost me a small fortune in useless footwear before fate had me moving house and seeing a different podiatrist who put me straight with correctly-sized shoes. Now since much wider shoes a good portion of relief is instantaneous. Curiously, I've fared better lately for pavement-bashing in light summer gauze trainers I bought from Lidl. 4 miles a night and very little pain. Offroad walking I use the Lowa Renegades. Clarks boots are also good. ymmv.

It's taking a long time but for decades I simply couldn't walk barefoot, I’d have to walk literally on the outer edges of feet to manage even a few steps without the cushioning effect of Crocs or rocker-soles or soft trainers.

This year since spring and and on account of 1-3 above I’ve been increasingly walking around the house barefoot, no painkillers, and also playing drums barefoot. Exciting times, as I was always big on walking and never gave up. So good luck try everything that is safe to try.

IANAD. Most of all go and see yr joint doc but also a good sports podiatrist it’s worth it.

Although the dietary recommendations are helpful, I suspect what me and TJ have is actual mechanical damage which would not be likely to respond.
What we need is a way to move/exercise/mobilise without discomfort, or with less discomfort.

This, osteoarthritis is mechanical damage to the cartilage/joint surfaces any inflammation and swelling is a secondary symptom. This is very different to rheumatoid arthritis and gout where diet could very well have dramatic affects.

And to continue my rants against shoe shapes, while not a very helpful comment for someone already suffering, these are exactly the kind of problems developed by shoes that are not foot shaped, squeezing feet into shoes that come to a point/round in the centre of the shoe and have heels is not healthy.

My father and brother both suffer badly from gout from time to time. Naproxen is my brother's go-to relief.
I sometimes get a bit of it, mostly in my left foot. At least I assume it's gout. It feels like 2 bones have got themselves crossed over. It helps if I do my boots up nice and tight, which is exactly the opposite of what you would expect.

No experience of these, whatsoever...

They say that blueberries are a way to alleviate gout, etc.

A wee update - reduced working hours ( phased retirement) has decreased the pain but clearly the damage is still there

As above I thought I would try making some carbon fibre insoles. I was not sure how CF reacts so bought a 1 mm sheet and a 3 mm sheet. Guess what - the 1 mm is too flexy and the 3 mm virtually rigid - should have gone for 2 mm!

CF sheets are cheap enough that I can try again

Can you not see a good podiatrist? Biomechanical assessment?

Have you tried wider shoe for a while?

Contrast foot-baths?

https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/EasysiteWeb/getresource.axd?AssetID=450489&type=full&servicetype=Attachment

Seen podiatrists. I now wear anti pronation insoles. shoes plenty wide enough

The wife had the same thing, it went away after about a year maybe slightly more
went to a private clinic to get more advice at the time ,
wearing the most rigid sole shoe helped . over compensating on the other foot can pose problems

Thats why i am trying to make some CF insoles that are not totally rigid but remove most of the flex!

I broke the navicular bone in my right foot badly 2 and a half years ago, resulting in surgery for repair (pins and plate).
15 months on, a screw broke and the plate dislodged (surgeon blamed it on my diabetes [charcot foot]).
After orthotic insoles I was still on maximum paracetamol and ibuprofen every day.
I got some turmeric capsules, after someone at work suggested them. The pain still comes and goes, but it's eased plenty.
I've been busy today, and all I've had is 2 paracetamol.
So, I'm sold on Turmeric.
Turmeric

the doctor we got told us the best foot wear was ski boots , but not really ideal for a school teacher ,
it went away over time and the pain is gone ,