Foot pain and stiffness – here’s the doctor’s best advice

Reader’s question: Pain in the foot comes and goes – what to do?

I’ve had ankle pain for a while – every now and then. It’s swollen and stiff in the morning, but usually softens after about ten steps. He finds it difficult to go down stairs and is easy to climb. Some days it hurts a lot, others not so bad, it depends on how much I walk. What is there to do?

Doctor: “It could be osteoporosis.”

The pain seems to come and go, but I understand you want to know what caused it. You yourself notice that it gets worse when you stress the joint. Symptoms may indicate that you have arthritis. Then the joint can feel stiff and swollen, and be affected by excessive load. You do not appear to have an infection, rheumatism or gout, for example. Then the symptoms will look different, and not come and go. Osteoarthritis results from the shock-absorbing joint cartilage becoming more brittle, and getting thinner over time as well. It can’t be said with certainty that it’s osteoarthritis without an examination, but you can try the self-care tips we usually provide. When you have a problem, you can take over-the-counter pain reliever tablets in a cycle. We mainly recommend the paracetamol in Alvedon, Panodil and others, but do you think it helps better with the anti-inflammatories Ipren, Ibumetin and the like, if you can tolerate it, you are also fine. Stick to the maximum doses mentioned on the package, and feel free to go one step ahead by taking, for example, Alvidone doses three times a day if you have problems. So do not wait for pain. You can also go to an orthopedic store and try shoes with a roller sole, as it can loosen the joint. If your problems worsen, contact a health center or physiotherapist for treatment.