Ask the experts! Everything you need to know about foot and hand surgery for RA

[Aribah-NRAS]

Hands and feet are often the first things to be affected when diagnosed with RA. There are many joints in both hands and feet and surgery is sometimes necessary, despite improvements in drug treatments in the last 25 years, particularly for those diagnosed prior to the advent of biologics.

Join our NRAS Live on 29th May at 7pm hosted by Ailsa Bosworth MBE and our expert surgical panel- Mr James Davis (Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in foot and ankle surgery) and Mr Mahendra Kulkarni (Plastic Surgeon specialising in the management of Hand and Wrist related problems). They will be discussing common and not so common surgical procedures on hands, wrists, feet and ankles People with RA and Health Professionals, you are all welcome.

Submit your questions to be answered on the live here: bit.ly/49MRUSb

For more information and to watch the live event at the time of broadcast, please visit nras.org.uk/event/nras-live...

[medway-lady]

A good idea my left foot was distorted and painful, I was given insole which made it worse and more painful, but surgery 4 years ago was great. It should be offerred if a person is suitable much earlier to prevent more damage, pain and impact on fitness. People can’t walk if in pain yet told to do so.

[BoneyC]

Unfortunately my disease is too severe for a foot surgeon to replace my ankles. He said I was too young at 56 (few years ago) and, by replacing ankle joints, they would wear out in 10 years, then I would need fusions and all of this would just upset all my other deformed joints. Happy days!

[beeckey in reply to BoneyC]

I have been offered to have knuckle replacements on both hands not sure what to do but my hands are are getting so deformed.

[BoneyC in reply to beeckey]

I would only go for surgery when the pain gets too much. Surgery always has risks. I have lots of deformities but they're not all painful. If you do decide to go down the surgery route, check out the surgeon first, see how many cuts they have done and their success rates.