Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, as opposed to the traditional ‘wear and tear’ arthritis (osteoarthritis). It occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own cells at the lining of the joints. This causes pain, swelling and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis isn’t limited to just the lower limbs but affects the whole body, primarily the small joints in the hands and feet.
In
an RA flare, the body’s immune system attacks the joint capsule lining, called the synovial membrane. As the lining becomes
inflamed, it is no longer able to produce the synovial fluid which works to lubricate joints and nourish the cartilage and bone ends. This
means the joints stiffen and mobility becomes harder. With repetitive inflammation during flares, the cartilage and connective tissues
become damaged and the joint capsule can lose its ability to stabilise the joints. While the exact reason for the body getting
confused and attacking its own cells at the joints is not well understood, it has been thought that hereditary factors may increase
your chance of developing it. Other contributing factors include smoking and the female gender. Flares often occur without an
identifiable cause, though some causes have been attributed to stress, illness and injury. Some of those affected report that cold
temperatures and weather affect their symptoms.
Rheumatoid Arthritis typically presents symmetrically. These flares come and go unpredictably and can affect many joints at once. The effects of RA progressively worsen and the joints incur more damage, until the joints are left with very little movement. This is why management has a big focus on slowing down the progression of symptoms and maintaining as much mobility as possible. Generally, symptoms include:
Your GP may be able to provide medication and other therapies to help manage the symptoms of RA and slow its progression. These will likely involve anti-inflammatory medications. As Podiatrists, we look at ways to reduce pain in the joints of your feet and legs, improving your comfort and general quality of life. Custom-prescribed orthotics are often used to increase comfort, absorb shock, and decrease the load through high-pressure areas and joints at the feet. Keeping you comfortable and mobile allows you to continue to carry out your daily activities. Exercises can also help you maintain your muscle strength and range of motion at the joints, slowing down the progression of symptoms.
If you’re unsure whether you should wear walking or running shoes when exercising, this article is for you.
We explain the differences between walking and running shoes and how to determine which one is best for your feet. When it comes to buying a new pair of shoes, most people walk into a store expecting to just “find something comfy.” Then, suddenly, you’re asked: Are you looking for
walking shoes or running shoes? And that’s where the confusion begins. Because for many people, the answer isn’t that simple.
You could walk a lot – to work, around the block, chasing after the kids, or while catching up with friends. You could have also just joined
a gym or registered for the Couch to 5km. Or you could be a walker who just wants the option to go for a run if the mood strikes. So, which
shoe do you pick?
Discover why foot health is so important as we age and how Perform Podiatry supports seniors in staying mobile, independent, and pain-free. From diabetic care to personalised treatment plans, we’re here to help keep your feet happy and healthy, every step of the way.
Discover how Class IV Laser Therapy at Perform Podiatry offers powerful, drug-free relief for foot and ankle pain. Backed by science, this advanced treatment helps you heal faster and move better, without the need for surgery or medication.
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This Mother’s Day, consider a practical, medically safe, and confidence-boosting gift: a professional KeryFlex nail restoration treatment. It’s a simple, effective, and medically safe way to instantly transform the appearance of toenails.
Tingling or numbness in your feet and legs during or after exercise can be an odd sensation. If you’re prone to experiencing it, the most common reasons are related to pressure on nerves or problems with your circulation.
It’s important to not only use an evidence-based treatment plan to help you get the best outcomes for your foot and leg pain, but to help you see the best results in the shortest time. That’s the reason we’ve invested in shockwave.
We treat a lot of ingrown toenails here at the Auckland Ingrown Toenail Clinic. So, with approximately 10% or more of the adult population harbouring a fungal nail infection, it’s not uncommon that we see many ingrown toenails where a stubborn nail fungus has also infiltrated the nail. So how can you tell, what can […]
While many of the cases we see here at the Auckland Ingrown Toenail Clinic are fairly standard, there are a few that vary greatly from the ‘norm’, and could have resulted devastating consequences if they had been left untreated under the hopes that the ingrown nail would “go away on its own”, something many people […]
They may be small, but verrucas, also known as plantar (foot) warts, are much more than just a minor annoyance. They can be painful to walk on and extremely persistent, making your day to day life a lot less pleasant or comfortable. As one of Auckland’s leading podiatry clinics that specialise in ingrown toenails, we […]
Ingrown toenails can be painful and uncomfortable, so identifying the ‘red flags’ of ingrown nails early on can be helpful in getting prompt treatment and reducing the risk of complications. So what are the top red flags you should be looking out for? One: Persistent Pain and Discomfort One of the most significant red flags […]
Dealing with an ingrown toenail can be a painful and frustrating experience, with many people opting to have ingrown toenail surgery to find lasting relief. But is ingrown toenail surgery painful? And if it is, is it really worth the discomfort? Do You Really Need Ingrown Toenail Surgery? The first thing you must consider when […]
For many Kiwis, ingrown toenails are a persistent and painful condition that significantly impacts their daily life. While some cases can be managed with conservative measures like trimming back the nail carefully, either at home or with the help of your podiatrist (recommended) there are instances where a more permanent solution is required. The Partial […]
Engaging in sports and physical activities can bring joy and numerous health benefits. However, just because you’re staying active, regardless of whether you’re doing it at a professional level or recreationally, does not mean that you’re immune to foot conditions like ingrown toenails. Ingrown toenails can be particularly bothersome when you live an active lifestyle, […]
Ingrown toenails are a painful and frustrating condition, and while this holds true for everyone, this is particularly applicable to the elderly population. As we grow older, the risk of developing ingrown toenails increases due to various factors such as changes in nail growth, foot structure, and reduced flexibility which leaves us unable to reach […]
If you consider ingrown toenails to be the most debilitatingly painful problem given that it involves such a seemingly small nail, you’re not alone. These are the exact same thoughts shared by most people who come into our ingrown toenail clinic to have their ingrown nails professionally cared for – and often to get rid […]
For those undergoing ingrown toenail surgery, it can feel like a massive weight has been lifted off of your shoulders (or toes), finally giving you much-needed relief from the pain and discomfort. And as with any minor surgical procedure, having proper care after your procedure is essential for a smooth and speedy recovery. To ensure […]
With winter well and truly here, we find ourselves bidding farewell to sandals and embracing cosy merino socks. However, for podiatrists like us, the arrival of winter also means an increase in patients seeking help for specific foot problems that arise due to the colder temperatures. To help, here are our valuable podiatry insights into […]
Pregnancy is an incredibly exciting time, but also one that is full of the unexpected – and that includes all sorts of pregnancy aches and pains. And due to the body undergoing significant changes, such as hormonal and weight changes, included in those pains is the increased risk of developing ingrown toenails. Here are the […]
Ingrown toenails are undoubtedly painful and frustrating, especially if you continue to get them over and over. While there are many causes of ingrown toenails, such as picking or pulling at the nails, or trimming the toenails too far down the sides of the nail to give them a curved appearance, one causative factor that […]
Blisters: they’re an enemy that most of us are far too familiar with – often accompanied by a fantastic new pair of shoes that we were initially very excited about. Instead, we’re left in pain and uncomfortable, searching for anything we can place over the blisters to cover them up and stop the stinging. Blisters […]
Noticed an area of red, swollen skin at the side of your baby’s toenail and wondering if it’s possible that they’ve developed an ingrown toenail? It absolutely is – we’ve treated ingrown nails in infants as young as three months old – and it can happen earlier than that, too. Signs Your Baby Has An […]
You call it having smelly or stinky feet, we call it bromodosis. Unpleasant foot odour is a relatively common, albeit often embarrassing, problem that affects approximately one in five people. It occurs when sweat and bacteria accumulate on the feet, creating an unpleasant odour. While foot odour is not usually a serious medical condition given […]
Just like you’re reading this article now, for many people with an ingrown toenail, particularly if it’s their first time with one, they’ll also head online to seek out the best way to treat an ingrown toenail. And after hearing some interesting feedback from our patients in terms of their online search results, we decided […]
Heel spurs are a hot topic in our clinic – particularly around whether they’re the underlying cause of a person’s ongoing or recurring heel pain. There’s a lot of confusion and misconceptions around heel spurs, especially in relation to plantar fasciitis heel pain. Here’s what you should know about heel spurs from the heel pain […]
As a clinic specialising in ingrown nail care and treatment, we often see patients who have been battling with an ingrown toenail for many weeks and come to us to finally get rid of the problem. During the appointment, it’s surprisingly common to hear: “but I went to my doctor and got antibiotics – I’m […]
Getting spontaneous waves of burning feelings in your feet? Burning feet are keeping you awake at night? It can be quite alarming to feel unusual sensations moving through your feet, especially when you can’t pinpoint a specific cause or trigger. This is a concern for many of our patients, who aside from feeling burning through […]
While most of the time our patients are confident about an ingrown toenail diagnosis, we thought we’d share the case of a recent patient who thought she had a very painful ingrown toenail – only to discover that she actually had a corn in the area where an ingrown toenail would normally be found. The […]
Summer is here and many of our patients have launched into summer workouts, meeting their fitness goals – and just generally enjoying their time outdoors and getting out in nature. But while working out feels like the most important (and often most difficult) part of getting started, did you know that your recovery after exercise […]
There’s a lot that comes to mind when we think of diabetes, and for most people, the risks to their feet and ingrown toenails are not one of them. Yet as podiatrists that specialise in treating ingrown nails, seeing a diabetic with ingrown nails, particularly if they’ve had more than one in the past, rings […]
We all know the feeling of having a knot somewhere in our muscles, whether that’s in our calves, legs or elsewhere in our body. It’s that tender spot that you push down on and feel instant pain that often radiates around. Most people will try to massage it, or have a spouse help, but what […]
Having thick toenails can be frustrating, disheartening and painful for several reasons. They can be extremely difficult to cut through, can lessen the room in the toe box of your shoe and become painful – and can make wearing open sandals that show off the toes unappealing. Thickened toenails often become discoloured and can look […]
Learning that you have fragile bones can be concerning, and for many, leave them with a lot of questions: Why have I got fragile bones? What does having fragile bones mean? What are my risks? What can I be doing to improve my bone health? With many of the patients we see and treat being […]
We recently had a patient come in who was experiencing her very first ingrown toenail – and initially, the cause of it was a bit of a mystery. She had relatively flat nails (compared to the typical excessively curved nails we often see with ingrown toenails), her shoes were roomy and spacious at the toe […]
If you have ever seen a child on a Jolly Jumper (also known as baby bouncers or jumperoos), you might know the look of delight on their face whilst they bounce away. In recent years, however, Jolly Jumpers have come under scrutiny as to whether they may do more harm than good when it comes […]
Noticing some slight redness, irritation or swelling on the side of your toenail, especially if it’s still mild and in its early stages, may seem like no big deal. Some people presume that when the nail grows in by itself, it can grow right out. Unfortunately, ingrown toenails rarely get better on their own – […]
Keeping your family on their feet and helping them to walk, run, play and exceed their goals is why we love getting up in the morning.
Ground Floor, One Health Building
122 Remuera Rd, Remuera
Auckland 1050, New Zealand
| MON - FRI | 7:30am – 6:30pm |
| SAT | 8:30am – 4:30pm |
| SUN | Some availability |
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