I have had rhumatroid arthritus for over eight years now. 2021 I had an ultrasound scan of my feet and it showed signs of rhumatroid arthritus and so my meds was increased. This year I started having a painful inflamed heal. Had a routine telephone appointment with the rhumatroid nurse and i told her about this and sent her photo. Saw a physio at doctor and showed him my photo and he said that i need a scan as sometime rhumatroid can cause plantar fasciitis. And the rhumatroid nurse phoned me up the next day and said they they would give me an ultra scan to look at my sheath.
When I had my scan he only did the top part and part of my ankle
I then asked him to scan the bottom half of my feet. He did not want to. I managed to persuade him in the end.
Also I told him that the rhumatroid nurse had said that they would look at the sheath. He said that was not written down on the letter. My experience last time was so much better.
The good news was that there is no active rhumatroid arthritus in my feet but there is inflammation on the bottom of my feet which he say is functional. And I have bursitis on my right foot.And now have planta fistula in my left foot. I have cut down walking. I am not longer going on ramble with my walking group.
Also when I move my toes or circle my feet I can feel something moving. I do not know what is going on with my feet.
I also have arthritus in my toes.
I have booked an appointment with a private podiatrist. Its next Tuesday.
Sorry this post is long.
Written by
Cheesechurch
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Feet can be unbelievably painful and I sympathise. There’s often threads on here about them and they seem to be the forgotten bit of us that cause so much pain but are disregarded on examination. Bonkers.
My feet have always hurt - the ‘walking on pebbles’ feeling present when barefoot which is excruciating - but although my rheumatology team is excellent, caring and thorough my feet are not a bit of me they’re ever particularly concerned about and you do have to wonder why when the little bones in hands are minutely examined and treated………..
At present, I am making a fuss as I also now have painful neuropathy plus very little padding on the balls of my feet so am booked into the ultrasound clinic with the prospect of having intra-articular injections. Bring them on!
Hope you get a solution - make a fuss. All best to you.
It sounds as if you have neuromas in your feet….ask you rheumy for a referral to a foot surgeon. If necessary …You will probably be offered either ultra sound guided injections, or surgery. Unfortunately neither seem particularly effective…..I had them removed, but they regrew…then I had the injections which didn’t cure them, but eventually they became bearable.
It makes you wonder ….if only our clinicians actually really listened to what we say rather than making up their minds what suits them on the day doesn’t it?
Hi I also have feet problems so I sympathise. I love to walk & this is the problem. I have to rest my walking for few days then do shorter walks - with padded walking boots. It’s always worse in winter that’s when all the problems resurface. If you’ve walked too much you can do other forms of excercise until it calms down. I know it’s not a solution but hope you improve x
So much empathy. I dread getting out of bed these days as my feet are so stiff and painful. I swear penguins walk better than me at the moment. I'm seeing the lovely rheumatoid podiatrist on Tuesday and I'm hoping she'll have something to ease things.
TBH on the whole I think hoping to get treatment from a rheumatologist with rheumy drugs these days for painful feet, is not going to be too successful …so seeing a Podiatrist seems a good move.
See this from the Royal College of Podiatrist's
“To talk to a podiatrist (also known as a chiropodist) about the options available regarding treatment, you can contact an NHS podiatrist or a private practice podiatrist. In both cases, always ensure that any practitioners you visit are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HPC) and describe themselves as a podiatrist (or chiropodist).”
A great many people actually have Osteoarthritis not RA in their feet ,& people might do better to stop asking their rheumy for RA drugs & see if treatment & advice from podiatry may help their pain. I don’t know…..but maybe appointments maybe easier to come by too?
Both types of arthritis hurt - a lot- but as we all know RA has lots of nasty little add ons…so finding out we have osteo arthritis which can be treated…..may lead to quicker treatment & less pain?
I'm already on MTX and Rituximab so my horrible feet are a mostly mechanical problem plus corns and oedema from the blood pressure tabs. The joy never ceases does it?
I was already on methotrexate when i developed painful swelling and stiffness in my left ankle then further problems in both feet and all my blood test were normal. And the scan showed the ra was effecting my feet.
Before then i had been pretty stable with my ra but in the pandemic my med were reduced.
If you have swelling with stiffness. i would ask for a scan. Going to a podarist would help you. They would be able to sort the corns out and give you orthodontic which should help with mechanic problem.
You can book a appointment on the nhs with a podiatrist.
Thanks for your reply. I know that I will not get treatment this time for my feet as the scan showed no inflammation from the ra but last time I had a scan it showed that I have ra in my feet and my drug were increased and my feet started to improve and I got back to walking with the ramble until I developed planta fistula. The physio at the doctor said ra can cause planta fishua and rhumatrory nurse rang me to say they would look at sheath. I think that is to see whether the ra is causing g the planta fishua but that did not happen. The doctor giving the scan only had instruction to look for inflammation. No instruction to look at sheath. So I not any wiser whether the ra is causing my problem. I have appointment with private podiatrist.
I am sorry to read how distressed you are with your feet but please try and keep walking because if you don’t they will cease up and get worse. I DO KNOW. I am riddled with bad arthritis in my feet, have swellings and cannot get shoes easily tried all the makes, Skechers are about the best but canvas isn’t great in the winter. I have had feet trouble all my life and visit a podiatrist regularly. I force myself to walk . I have two poodles to walk. I am 71 now and my arthritis is getting worse , back, feet, and thumb joints .
Please keep up your social life and your rambles sound very good.
Sorry Reiker and Van Dal make flat thick soled comfortable shoes and ankle boots that suit my painful arthritic damaged feet, they are well established and trustworthy and true to size but expensive .
understand exactly. My feet hurt 24/7 and all physical activity is planned around how much my feet can tolerate. Throw in tendinitis, Enthesitis and pain from a chronic leg injury and call me limpy. I can only offer empathy and a tip….. I pad my feet with sponge powder puffs from boots. Washable , breathable, affordable and adaptable. Not a solution but helps. Hope you get new feet for Christmas. X
I have had RAfor nearly 30 years which has meant walking has been my best exercise and I love it. My feet are affected and have recently deteriorated, an XRay reveals I have degenerative decay! I am still walking thanks to a wonderful podiatrist. Whenever I feel the need, or very couple if years I visit and have new orthotics made which I wear all the time, even in my slippers. It has been a life saver. Good luck, really hope it helps.
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