I know RA can affect your feet, but I have previously had no issues in this area. Yes, everywhere else, but not the feet !
I currently have severe pains in the Achilles area of both feet, and am wondering is this a normal area to become affected.
Have any other members suffered this condition, and if so have you any reccomendations ?
Staying at home with my feet would be a perfect solution, but as I work full time, I'm afraid this is not an option.
Jackie

Hello Jackie,
Hmm, feet. I have pain in the left one on the outside and just underneath the toes, the right one in the instep, ball of the foot and ankle. It seems to move around as and when it feels like it and lots of very sudden severe pain just to catch you out when you least expect it especially on rough ground, cobbles, ploughed fields and sand are particularly troublesome. Apparently I've got some rather nasty bone erosion which is 'going to cause me a bit of trouble later on' Not sure what that means and not sure I want to! Both achilles sounds about par for the course but could be the tendons giving you jip because of the RA elsewhere in your feet? I should get it checked out if I were you, I've got a friend who's achilles snapped a couple of times and its not funny. Well I found it funny he didn't! Good luck
Sara

Hi Jackie,

I`m a veteran as far as Achilles trouble goes - had surgery on both of mine after rupturing them years ago, but pre-RA, so not related. However, one of the meds - sorry, I can`t remember which one - can affect your Achilles apparently, strange though it sounds, as I remember asking my rheumy about it, not wanting any more trouble with mine. You might like to look at your drug leaflets.

In the short term. if your Achilles is painful and feels tight, it will help if you can raise your heel - even something as simple as some felt or foam or thick card underneath your heel. Gentle stretching can help too - stand a little way away from the wall, place both palms flat against it at shoulder height, keep both feet firmly on the ground then lean your knees forward. I have to do this every day of life as my tendons are shortened after being repaired.

Physio might help, and also the orthotist.

Kathleen x

Hi Jackie

I can sympathise, I have RA in the toes and ankles. I have tight achilles too. Doing stretching exercises help (see Kathleen_C) I even manage to do this after say a long car journey and my feet are all stiff and the achilles right hopefully without people noticing! It really is annoying and feels like walking on pebbles.. keep thinking there is something in my wellie as it feels all lumpy under the balls of my feet. A podiatrist will help with exercises and insoles if you can get referred. Would recommend it.

Good Luck

Julie