Foot & Ankle Arthritis
Learn more about foot and ankle arthritis care at Wigley Feet in North Miami Beach.
Overview
What Is Foot & Ankle Arthritis?
Arthritis is inflammation and wearing of the cartilage inside a joint. The foot and ankle contain more than 30 joints, so arthritis here can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty walking. Common forms include osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear, sometimes years after an old injury), rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. While arthritis can't be reversed, the right combination of support, medication, and targeted treatment can significantly reduce pain and keep you moving.
Patient Education
Watch: Understanding Foot & Ankle Arthritis
A short educational video will help explain the condition, why it happens, and what treatment usually looks like.
Procedure education video coming soon
This video section is reserved for Wigley Feet educational content.
Transcript
Transcript coming soon.
Download patient education PDF
Printable 2-page handout on Wigley Feet letterhead.
The video content is for general education only and does not replace medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Procedure recommendations depend on examination, imaging, medical history, insurance requirements, procedural risk, and physician judgment.
Who May Benefit?
- Anyone with joint pain, stiffness, or swelling in the foot or ankle
- Patients with pain years after a fracture or bad sprain
- Those with morning stiffness that eases with movement
When to Seek Care
- Joint pain that limits walking or standing
- Swelling, warmth, or stiffness in a foot or ankle joint
- A sudden, intensely painful, red joint (possible gout — seek prompt care)
- Progressive deformity or loss of motion
How Wigley Feet Evaluates This Condition
- Examination of the affected joints and gait
- X-rays to assess joint spaces and alignment
- Lab work or advanced imaging when gout or inflammatory arthritis is suspected
Treatment Options
- Supportive footwear, orthotics, and bracing to offload painful joints
- Anti-inflammatory measures and activity modification
- Injections for targeted relief
- Surgical options — from joint clean-up to fusion — for advanced cases
Where Is This Procedure Performed?
Depending on the patient, procedure complexity, anesthesia needs, insurance requirements, and physician judgment, eligible procedures may be performed through one of two coordinated surgical pathways at Wigley Feet.
Wigley Feet Surgical Suite
In-house AAAASF-certified office-based surgical suite.
Select eligible procedures may be performed in our in-house office-based Surgical Suite, keeping consultation, treatment, and follow-up coordinated through Wigley Feet.
Learn morePalmetto Lakes Surgical Center
Joint Commission-accredited outpatient ambulatory surgical center partner in Miami.
Some procedures may be better suited for an outpatient ambulatory surgical center. Through our partnership with Palmetto Lakes Surgical Center, a Joint Commission-accredited ambulatory surgical center in Miami, we can coordinate ASC-based surgical care when appropriate.
Learn moreThe surgical setting is determined after consultation and is based on safety, medical appropriateness, procedure type, anesthesia requirements, insurance requirements, and physician judgment.
What to Expect
- 1Identification of which joints — and which type of arthritis — are involved
- 2A stepwise plan starting with conservative care
- 3Long-term strategies to preserve mobility
Related at Wigley Feet
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about foot & ankle arthritis at the Wigley Feet Surgical Suite in North Miami Beach.
Request a Surgical Consultation
To find out whether this procedure is appropriate for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Stephen Wigley IV and the Wigley Feet care team.
The information on this page is educational and does not replace medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Not every patient is a candidate for office-based surgery or procedures. Final treatment recommendations depend on examination, diagnosis, imaging, medical history, circulation status, anesthesia needs, insurance requirements, procedural risk, and physician judgment. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.