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Best Knee replacement doctor in koramangala |Dr. Rewat Laxman is the Best Orthopedic Surgeon in Koramangala, Bangalore. He specializes in joint replacement, custom fit knee surgery,and other expert orthopedic treatments. <br>To Know More<br>Click here,<br>http://boneandjointconsult.com/<br>
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5 Questions about Foot and Ankle Arthritis Answered by Foot and Ankle Specialist By Dr. Rewat Laxman
Support and balance while standing. Mobility for walking. Shock absorption for running and jumping. These are some of the very important roles that the feet and ankles play in our everyday lives. Behind these important jobs are the many bones and joints that make up the feet and ankles. In one foot alone, there are almost 30 bones and 30 joints working together to give your foot its wide range of motion.
Questions on Foot and Ankle Arthritis Answered by Dr. REWAT LAXMAN
Due to the complexity of the feet and ankles, sometimes treating injuries and conditions in this area is more challenging. That’s why we are excited to introduce Dr. Rewat Laxman. We sat down with Dr. Rewat to discuss his area of expertise, specifically in the treatment of foot and ankle arthritis.
Q1: What areas of the foot and ankle are most commonly affected by arthritis? Dr. Rewat Laxman: While virtually any joint in this area can be affected by arthritis, two of the most common are the ankle joint and the big toe joint. Arthritis in either of these joints can be primary – what you might think of as normal degenerative arthritis like osteoarthritis – or it can be related to other causes. For example, a past ankle fracture or foot deformity like flat foot or excessively high arches could cause the breakdown of a joint. Rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory form of arthritis, could also affect the feet and ankles.
Q2: How is arthritis of the foot and ankle diagnosed? Dr. Rewat Laxman: It is very important for an orthopedic physician to evaluate all of a person’s symptoms and also rule out any deformities or structural changes that may be causing symptoms Symptoms to diagnose arthritis in the foot and ankle include: ⦁ Pain and stiffness, especially if it’s worse right after waking up or after resting for a prolonged period of time. The pain may improve after “warming up” the joint, but then may get worse again after signficant weight-bearing or use of the joint.
⦁ Clicking or locking of the joint. ⦁ Feelings of instability. ⦁ Swelling. Warmth or redness of the joint is NOT a common arthritis symptom in the feet and ankles. It could be a sign of another condtion.
Q3: What are the treatment options? Dr. Rewat Laxman: Similar to arthritis in other joints of the body, foot and ankle arthritis can sometimes be managed through nonsurgical methods such as: ⦁ Oral anti-inflammatory medications. ⦁ Activity modifications. ⦁ Weight loss, if determined by your physician. ⦁ Off-the-shelf or custom molded braces or shoe inserts. If these methods don’t provide the relief a patient needs to avail any of the 2 surgical options available i.e.; fusion and joint replacement.
Q4: What is a fusion? Dr. Rewat Laxman: In a surgical fusion, I remove damaged cartilage in the arthritic joint and then prepare the bone surfaces to grow, or fuse together. This typically requires some type of permanent hardware such as plates or screws. Fusions are able to provide very good pain relief; however, motion across the joint is lost.
Q5: How does joint replacement work in the foot and ankle? Dr. Rewat Laxman: It’s very similar to a joint replacement in the hip, knee, or shoulder. I enter the arthritic joint through an incision and remove the damaged cartilage and bone surface. A prosthesis is implanted to replace the damaged tissue and bone. Typically, the implant is made of two metal components with a specialized plastic component. A newer implant for big toe joint replacements uses a material similar to contact lenses.
The one major difference with a big toe or ankle joint replacement is that they require a period of non-weight bearing immediately after surgery. This differs from a knee, hip or shoulder replacement where immediate physical therapy is used to help maximize movement after surgery. Physical therapy for big toe and ankle replacements starts after a patient goes through the recommended progression to full weight-bearing.
