Unfortunately, there are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis that can affect the human body. The most common form, however, is known as osteoarthritis. This form develops as we all get older and is known as the wear and tear style of arthritis. What happens essentially is that the cartilage that covers the end of the bones wears out. The result is some of the worst pain you can experience, as well as swelling and inflammation in the joint. The tough thing about arthritis, it can develop in a joint that was injured, even if the injury happened years, or even decades before. This is known as traumatic arthritis and has the same symptoms as osteoarthritis.

Since there are so many bones and joints in the foot, it is a prime spot for the development of arthritis. If it does develop in the foot, it can alter the way you walk, therefore putting strain and pressure on parts of the foot where there was none before and that can bring on a whole host of other problems. The parts of the foot that are most commonly affected by arthritis are the ankle joint, the heel, the arch and the big toe. The big toe is also a prime spot for the development of painful bunions.

The symptoms of arthritis in the foot is pretty straight forward. If you're experiencing stiffness, nagging, throbbing pain, tenderness, swelling and reduced motion, you might have arthritis. Also, not being able to walk for long distances is another sign of possible arthritic problems.

Getting your arthritis diagnosed isn't a difficult process, but you can help your doctor out a bunch by keeping a pain journal. Once the pain becomes chronic and its apparent that it's not going away by it's self, sit down and write everything you remember about the pain: when did it start, how long does it hurt for, does it hurt during exercise or after, does it hurt at night when you sleep, does it get worse when you walk or run and does it migrate to different parts of the foot and ankle?

When you get to the doctors office, you can expect to give the doctor your medical history and the contents of your pain diary. He or she will then give you a physical exam to try to detect the cause of the pain you're feeling. The doctor may also do what is called a gait analysis. This is a test so that the doctor can see how you walk and see how your leg and foot line up. If the doctor isn't able to make a proper diagnosis based on the information so far, he may request a series of x-rays to be done to see if the bones have degraded at all in the foot. Other tests, such as a CT scan or an MRI might be used as well.

Treating your arthritis is difficult. There is no cure and often the damage suffered isn't reversible. Treatment is geared towards relieving pain more than anything. A doctor will usually prescribe the use of over-the-counter pain killers, such as Tylenol or Advil to kill pain. Supports in the shoes are another common treatment that can cut down on pain. Using a brace or a cane might be necessary as the arthritis gets worse. For severe cases, surgery is common.

Overall, arthritis isn't a fun process. It can be debilitating and extremely painful. But if you take care of your feet over time, watch your weight and wear properly fitted shoes, you should be able to avoid it.