I have been feeling pretty good, but even a short walk a couple times a week makes the joints in my feet swell. I have large hard bumps near my big and small toes now that never go away. Is this from the arthritis? Should I give up on walking any more than necessary? Probably sort of a dumb question but I am pretty new to the whole arthritis thing.
Laker
There are no dumb questions, ever, okay?Never is there a stupid question. could you maybe have nodules? I have a couple and they feel like a pebble in my joints I also have severe plantar fascitis. Every few months, my rheumy does injections in the joints. Hurts like the dickens, but sooo worth it afterwards. I always ask him to use the "freezey stuff first" which he does while laughing at my description. I lay on my stomach so he can do the heels and I tell him, "now don't be stingy with that stuff" my favorite shoes are my croc's.
You might benefit from some custom orthotics and really good shoes (I likeAh Ha! They are bunions. I looked up some pix of bunions and that's what they are. Seems kind of funny that I would develop these so quickly near both small and large toes on both feet. My feet always hurt so I am careful to wear shoes with plenty of room in the toes. When I go to the dr next time I'll have her look at them. I thought only really, really, really old people got bunions!
Laker
I've had a bunion since I was about 20.
LOL at Laker I have bunions and mine are from wearing flip flops all summer. Dr Scholl's makes stuff for them. I clip the dead skin with clippers and then use a drimmel like tool to smoothe them out.
If you need extra room for your toes, men's shoes are made wider in the toe box. I wear a 7.5-8 in women's which translates to a size 5.5 (in boys) or a 6 in men's. Let me tell you, I've gotten some pretty cool athletic shoes and nike sandals in boys and they are half the price of womens!Laker, I got bunions within three months that I too think are due to the flip flops. Sucks!Hi I am new here and even though I have arthritis in my back and knee, I am mainly here because of my stubborn mother in law. She refuses to leave the house because of the ugly pair of shoes she bought a hundred years ago that she had to cut a whole in to wear. There must be places to get shoes. So far I hear from you guys that Keens, Crocs, Orthotics?? But we dont have alot of money, are there places to buy these or mailny online? Help, I cants stand that she is sitting in her house all the time going stir crazy!It just goes to show how different countries deal with different symptoms.
I have a huge bunion on my right toe joint its big enough that it forces my toe at an angle. My only option is to have it (the bunion not the toe!
Which brings me onto another subject... I bought a pair of 'FitFlops' they are like MBT's but in the flip flop style. I took my hip/thigh/bum measurements, wore them relentlessly for a month then took my measurements again. Toned up one whole inch off the hips, 1/2 an inch of each thigh and most importantly my back (which has titanium rods in it), has been absolutely fantastic for the last 3 months.... the FitFlops are incredibly supportive (they feel bouncy) and great for the posture.... I have no idea whether or not they're good for my bunion I just thought I'd share.
I hope I am explaining them right. You can be born with a congenital defect to develop bunions and you can also get them due to RA. Bad shoes will make them worse, but not totally cause them. At least this is what both my RD and podiatrist say?
Anna, I'm sure you know more about these feet problems than most, maybe you could answer these questions?
You might want to have the toes x rayed if you haven't done that recently. Arthritis in the toes can cause bone spurs to form in the joints and you can get to the point where you are unable to bend the toe at all (I am there with my right toe and its not fun!). I have had cortisone injections in one of them and it does help a little for a few months, but the only permenent solution is going to be joint replacement surgery. If you are in the earlier stages of this (if it is indeed what I am talking about) you can get orthotics made which many people said have helped with the pain and the progress of the joint degeneration.