Rheumatoid Foot
A rheumatoid foot is a foot that has joint damage that is often irreparable from rheumatoid arthritis. The joints affected may be in the toes, the midfoot or the ankles. A rheumatoid foot may also be the term used for a deformed foot resulting from rheumatoid arthritis. Cause The cause of the deformity and joint destruction in a rheumatoid foot is the disease itself. Rheumatoid arthritis may be caused by an overactive immune system, a genetic disorder, or it may have an infectious origin. Treatment and Prevention The only treatment for a rheumatoid foot – to prevent the deformity from occurring – is to eliminate the rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, there are very few cases reported in medical literature where this happened. One case occurred in John Christopher, a resident in Utah, who used consecutive series of internal organ cleansing with herbs for more than five years to eliminate the disease. Prevention of the deformity from worsening may occur with the proper use of orthotic arch supports, insoles, cushioning, metatarsal pads, heel cups and pads, and other devices.