Osteoarthritis

Justin, I know you wrote this long ago but I've been thinking about my own arthritis lately, started looking through discussions. I had bilateral spontaneous Achilles tendon ruptures in December from the antibiotic Levofloxacin. I've been wearing boots since the first of 2024, doctor doing the non surgical treatment before moving to surgery. I'm due to have a right knee replacement and a left sub talar joint fusion when I recover from my current catastrophe. At the same time as the ruptures I found I had a DVT in my left leg, so I had to stop Meloxicam to start Elequis. Now the OA in numerous joints is hurting, especially my hands.

All that to ask about custom ankle braces. Do they completely immobilize the ankle so an Achilles tendon can heal? A few years ago I had an internal brace put in my left ankle because I kept rolling it. Everything was torn up. Unfortunately the surgeon didn't notice the sub talar joint, so it went untreated. I get cortisone injections to get me through until I can have surgery. But a good brace might reduce the frequency of the shots in the meantime.

With severe burning neuropathy pain in my feet and ankles anything that has contact with my skin makes the pain worse. A soft OTC ankle brace is out of the question.

And then there's the question of footwear. Have you heard of anything that protects arthritic ankles? And one more thing, have you heard of or found anything that treats arthritis in hands? I put Diclofenac cream on them, which is a short term help. I hope not to have to take Elequis for more than 3 months, so I can get back to Meloxicam (which my doctor prescribed reluctantly because I had bleeding stomach ulcers ten years ago).

I know - a lot of questions. Sorry.

Jim Dickinson

Hi Jim,

Sorry for all you're going through. I'm 69 y/o and have arthritis in my hands (well, everywhere.....). While large joints can be replaced (I've had both knees replaced and my big toes fused), hands are a different story. The space is too small to do any kind of joint replacement that works and fusion isn't practical. Cortisone shots can help.

I have found that by accepting this situation for my hands, they seem better. I realize that's nothing more than a head game, but it helps. I did see a hand specialist and she told me the same thing. As long as it's osteoarthritis and not rheumatoid arthritis, you may be able to live with it. Not a good answer, but better than hoping for something that isn't currently possible.

Be well.

@jimhd - These are all good questions. I wish I had more recent experience to pull from. The braces I used all of those years ago were custom molded braces made of leather. They did a great job of immobilizing my ankle joints, but I would definitely not say there were comfortable. But, that was 20+ years ago already (time sure does fly when you put things in perspective).

I am slightly ashamed to admit that I have had a new script to go to a local custom orthotics maker for almost a year now and have not done so. I wish I would have now so I could at least know what is available out there. I know the technology has come a long, long way. To answer your question, there are braces that completely immobilize your ankles - this is what my braces did all of those years ago. They basically mimicked an ankle fusion. I wonder if you could ask your provider to write you a script or give you a referral for a custom brace? There are manufacturers all over.

As far as shoes go, I am not sure of specific shoes that protect an arthritic ankle. But, I have become very picky with what types of shoes I wear over the years. I search for stability-rated shoes. I have landed on Asics as the main brand of shoe that I buy. They seem to have good support and have really helped me be on my feet longer when I need to be. If you are pairing them with a brace though - you need to account for the extra "width" of your foot and may need to upgrade to Wides in any shoe you get. In my experience if you have an ankle brace on and then try to squeeze into your normal shoe, it becomes so tight that you have foot pain from the tightness that negates any benefit of your ankle support.

I hope this helps shed some light. I think exploring an ankle brace script with your provider is worth discussing. I am quite confident the technology has improved drastically since I got mine in the early 2000s. This is a good reminder for me to get on my own brace again.

Hi Jim,

Sorry for all you're going through. I'm 69 y/o and have arthritis in my hands (well, everywhere.....). While large joints can be replaced (I've had both knees replaced and my big toes fused), hands are a different story. The space is too small to do any kind of joint replacement that works and fusion isn't practical. Cortisone shots can help.

I have found that by accepting this situation for my hands, they seem better. I realize that's nothing more than a head game, but it helps. I did see a hand specialist and she told me the same thing. As long as it's osteoarthritis and not rheumatoid arthritis, you may be able to live with it. Not a good answer, but better than hoping for something that isn't currently possible.

Be well.

I had a very painful cortisone injection in my thumb several years ago that stopped the pain for a long time. Meloxicam does help. I'm a pianist and it hurts some to play, but I think the exercise helps as well. Like other chronic pain I live with, when I'm busy I notice it less, and focusing on other things distracts the mind.

Jim

Hi Jim,

I had a cortisone shot at the base of my right ring finger. I guess it helped some. As you say, focusing on other things can help, and for whatever reason, the pain in my hands is not constant. I also have arthritis at the base of one thumb.

I don't think there's a lot more that can be done beyond what we've discussed. Major joint replacements are possible and successful most times. Hands and feet? Not so much. They haven't figured out how to replace any of the small joints in the hands or feet.

I did have surgery on my big toes due to osteoarthritis/bunions. That was a fusion of the joint and removal of the bony growth. It feels fine, but it's not perfect. And I've never heard of fusing any joint in the hand.

All the best.

I've read that fingers can be fused, but they lose some of their function. That's not an option I would consider except in a dire situation, because I'm a pianist.

Jim