How to Relieve Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Pain

Blogger Cathy Kramer, now 55, found out she had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2004. Painful feet have been a hallmark of RA for her from the start.

“The joints in my feet were among the first to be affected — X-rays have shown some [joint] erosion. Even during my best days, my feet have always been a sore point,” Kramer says. Erosion refers to the wearing away of cartilage and bone in the joint. It's caused by inflammation within the joint lining.

Kramer is not alone. About 90 percent of people with RA have some kind of foot pain, according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, which makes walking difficult and restricts daily activities.

Symptoms of RA-Related Foot and Ankle Problems: Pain, Burning or Tingling, and More

For about 20 percent of people with RA, foot and ankle issues are the first symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Foot pain often occurs in the joints or ball of the foot, but rheumatoid arthritis can attack any of the foot's joints. For some people, the ankles hurt the most and might appear swollen.

“Patients complain of pain in the toe joints, ligaments, or ankles mainly upon arising from bed. It is associated with joint swelling, redness, and warmth. Rheumatoid nodules can also develop. This can lead to joint deformities and widening of the forefoot, necessitating an increase in shoe size,” explains Maya Mattar, MD, a rheumatologist at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Ohio. Dr. Mattar adds that the pain and stiffness may be worse in the morning, forcing you to get up an hour or more early in order to prepare yourself for the day.

According to a study published in October 2022 in Rheumatology International the most prevalent self-reported foot problems among patients with a rheumatic condition were: pain (73 percent), dry soles (68 percent), thickened toenails (58 percent), and cold feet (57 percent).

Another foot problem experienced by people with RA is nerve pain, or rheumatoid neuropathy. Peripheral nerve pain in the foot can cause burning or tingling, that can start gradually, moving up from the feet to the legs, according to an overview overview of research published in the journal Cureus in January 2023. Continued pressure on the foot can result in nerve entrapment (compression), or tarsal tunnel syndrome.

RELATED: 5 Joints Affected by Rheumatoid Arthritis and How to Care for Them

How Inflammation Leads to RA-Related Foot Pain

Just as with joints in other parts of the body, rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation of the lining (the synovium) of the joints in the foot. Inflammation can cause joint bone erosions and other damage, which leads to foot deformities, notes the AAOS.

One of the targets of this inflammation is the joint capsule, which normally acts like a sleeve, protecting the joint by adding stability to it.

Some of the deformities related to rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Bunions (Hallux Valgus) This is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big or little toe.
• Hammertoe Hammertoes and claw toes occur when the toes are permanently bent under.
• Bursitis Fluid-filled sacs (called bursae) develop under the ball of the foot and may become inflamed and swollen. They commonly occur along with bunions.
• Charcot Arthropathy, Also Called Charcot Foot and Ankle If one or more joints in the ankle or foot become severely damaged, the foot may collapse, resulting in a deformity called Charcot arthropathy.
• Plantar Fasciitis Inflammation of the plantar fascia in the sole of the foot causes pain under the heel.
• Rheumatoid Nodules These firm lumps, which are the size of a pea, occur where pressure is put on the foot, like the soles and the big toe joints.
• Valgus Heel Joint damage may cause the heel to push outward, which results in valgus heel.

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Pain

Depending on the specific foot issues, treatments include medication, exercise therapy, a variety of shoes, braces, and orthotics, or surgery, according to research published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research.

Surgery is often needed to alleviate the pain associated with bunions, hammertoes, and nodules, according to AAOS. Foot surgery may involve resetting the bones or fusing joints to correct the position of bones and joints.

Local steroid injections are particularly beneficial for inflamed joints and plantar fasciitis. But before you schedule surgery or an office visit for injections, you might try noninvasive approaches such as braces, or choose shoes or inserts designed to support your feet, AAOS recommends.

To reduce foot pain caused by inflammation, it’s necessary to treat and control your RA. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can control the inflammation and prevent joint damage, notes Mattar.

If the foot pain is due to neuropathy, DMARDs are also recommended, as are other medications, including pain relievers and certain antidepressants, as well as physiotherapy and a device known as a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit.

The Best Shoes to Wear When You Have RA

Narrow-toed or pointy-toed shoes, as well as heels, are bad for the foot as they cause the wearer to put pressure on the ball of the foot, which can lead to deformities, notes the Arthritis Foundation.

Good arch support will help distribute the weight evenly on the entire foot, and orthotics — special inserts placed between the insole of your shoe and the bottom of your foot — can alleviate foot pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis and possibly prevent deformities in the foot, according to a review of research published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research.

A survey conducted among healthcare professionals, published in PLoS One, recommends buying shoes that have removable insoles, a wide, roomy toe box, easily adjustable fastenings, and midfoot support when you have RA.

RELATED: 10 Common Foot Problems and How to Manage Them

More Tips to Relieve or Avoid Foot Pain

In addition to the right footwear, medications, and (potentially) surgery, there are things you can do to reduce foot pain from rheumatoid arthritis:

• Change your exercise of choice. It's important to exercise to keep your joints mobile, but choosing exercises like swimming that don’t put more pressure on your feet can help avoid additional foot pain. Kramer says she enjoys bicycling when she can.
• Work with a podiatrist. A foot specialist might be able to help you find the best orthotics for your shoes, and also help your feet feel more comfortable by caring for calluses and other irritations.
• Buy shoes you will actually wear. People don't always wear the special shoes they've been prescribed, for reasons such as dissatisfaction with fit, comfort, or style, Mattar says. Try out new shoes by wearing them in a variety of situations and at a variety of times, recommends Kramer, who orders her shoes online and returns them if they don’t meet her standards.
• Listen to your feet. Kramer says she has learned to choose what shoes she'll wear each day by being better in tune with her feet. “I don't have a ton of shoes, but what [shoes] I have are quality and allow me to listen to what my feet have to say,” she explains. For example, on some days her feet need lots of support, while on others, they need room to breathe.
• Take the load off. Avoid standing all day. Try to alternate the activities you do so that you're sitting part of the day, and standing at other times.
• Aim for a healthy body weight. In a study published in June 2023 in Current Rheumatology Reviews, high body mass index “was significantly correlated with foot pain and foot-related activity limitations” in people with RA. It was also correlated with foot deformities and problems with footwear.
• Check your feet daily for problems. Cover blisters or minor cuts and scrapes as soon as you get them; see your doctor if they haven’t healed in two or three days.
• Take a warm foot bath or get a massage. Try hot or cold therapies as needed to ease aching joints. Kramer swears by a daily foot massage that she gives herself with coconut oil.

The best way to manage your foot pain is by keeping your rheumatoid arthritis under control. If you do, you can keep your feet happy.

Additional reporting by Madeline Vann, MPH.