What Are the Symptoms of Midfoot Arthritis?

Pain around the top and middle part of the foot is normally the first complaint when an individual develops midfoot arthritis. This pain may be described as sharp or burning and is typically worse when standing or walking. Patients often describe the worst pain as being first thing in the morning, or the first steps after sitting or lying for some time.

Physical examination may reveal swelling and there may be general tenderness in the midfoot area. Over time, it is common for a bony prominence called a tarsal boss to develop, which can cause irritation with shoe wear and difficulty finding comfortable footwear. Without treatment, midfoot arthritis can lead to flattening of the foot arches and cause the midfoot to turn outwards.

The term arthritis is used to describe the loss of the cartilage which lines and cushions the surface of the joint. Normal, healthy cartilage allows the joints to move smoothly. If the cartilage becomes damaged, its surface becomes rough, causing pain and stiffness within the joint. It can affect any joints within the body and is commonly found in those that receive the most usage, including hands and wrists as well as knees and ankles.

Midfoot arthritis can develop following a major injury, such as a foot or ankle fracture, causing the cartilage to wear out with greater speed than it might do in normal conditions. More commonly, the condition develops due to daily wear and tear that our bodies undergo during a lifetime. This sort of problem is called osteoarthritis and may be linked to different factors such as heavy manual work, sport, being overweight and family history. However, for many people, the cause will not be known. Like all forms of osteoarthritis, or 'wear and tear', the condition becomes more common in the middle-aged and elderly.

The cause of midfoot arthritis can also be a different type of arthritis, called Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Your immune system, which usually fights infection, attacks the lining of your joints, causing them to become inflamed and painful. The joints of the hands and the feet are the first to be affected.

Midfoot arthritis is sometimes overlooked by doctors who are not specialists in the foot and ankle because there are so many small joints in the midfoot. A careful clinical assessment needs to be combined with special x-ray views of the joints. Scans may be required as well to identify exactly which joints are involved. By being thorough in these initial stages arthritis is easier to diagnose and treatment can commence quicker; this of course will ensure that you don't suffer any more pain or discomfort than is strictly necessary.

Treatment options include supportive orthotic devices, physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medicines and selective X-ray guided joint injections. If these treatments are unsuccessful, surgical fusion of midfoot joints can provide good, long-term pain relief. Midfoot fusion results in a relatively small degree of mobility loss, however the majority of patients report much improved pain relief and overall foot function.