Rheumatoid Arthritis

This is an autoimmune disease that affects about 1 in 100 Canadians; women over thirty are more prone to the disease. It causes inflamation in a joint or joints and may also affect internal organs such as the heart, the lungs, or the eyes. The most common joints affected are in the hands and feet. The deformities caused by the changes in the joints can become debulitating, and in some cases lumps may form. These are called rheumatoid nodules. On the feet, this can lead to problems with footwear and associated painful callus on pressure areas. This may require routine chiropodial treatment and possible orthotics and occasionally custom-made footwear.