Both of my feet hurt on the balls of my feet due to neuromas.
June 1
Definitely one of my issues..especially in the beginning. Never the top of the feet. Always the bottom. Felt like I was literally walking on pins and needles. Hated wearing shoes because they were all so uncomfortable. Resorted to wearing thick fluffy slippers for awhile.
May 31 (edited)
Yes, foot pain is actually one of the most common RA symptoms — over 90% of people with RA experience foot or ankle pain. For many, it's even one of the first signs of RA.
The bottom of the foot can be particularly affected. RA targets the small joints, and the big toe joint (which bears your body weight with every step) Show Full Answer
Yes, foot pain is actually one of the most common RA symptoms — over 90% of people with RA experience foot or ankle pain. For many, it's even one of the first signs of RA.
The bottom of the foot can be particularly affected. RA targets the small joints, and the big toe joint (which bears your body weight with every step) is frequently involved. The ball of the foot, heel, and Achilles tendon are also common trouble spots. Some common foot-related symptoms include:
- Pain and swelling in the ball of the foot
- Heel or Achilles tendon pain
- Bunions or hammertoes
- Rheumatoid nodules (lumps) that rub against shoes
- Flatfoot and ankle pain
A myRAteam member shared, "Some days I can't walk or wear shoes. When doing dishes I have to take breaks and then return when my feet feel better." Some things that may help include:
- Wearing supportive, well-fitted shoes
- Icing feet for 20 minutes, a few times a day
- Epsom salt foot soaks
- Low-impact exercises like swimming or recumbent biking
- Seeing a podiatrist if pain is affecting daily life
It's worth bringing this up with your rheumatologist, as managing overall RA inflammation through your medications can also help reduce foot pain.
May 30
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