Elliott M. Perel, DPM, FACFAS: Podiatrist (2024)

Blog How Rheumatoid Arthritis Breeds Bunions

Elliott M. Perel, DPM, FACFAS: Podiatrist (1)

Bunions aren’t just something old people develop. This deformity can be triggered by a number of causes and therefore can affect people at different ages.

Often, a bunion develops due to stress on the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint in your big toe. This joint is located where the first long foot bone (metatarsal) meets the first toe bone (phalanx). As you take a step, the joint bends, which allows you to push off the foot and move the other leg forward. That means, for a brief moment, the MTP joint has to fully support half your body weight. The joint is strong, but the more active you are and the more you stress it, the more likely it is to develop problems like bunions.

At Monroe Foot & Ankle Care, podiatrist and podiatric surgeon Dr. Elliott Perel sees many patients who’ve developed bunions, not just from stress, but also from other causes, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here’s what you should know about the RA-bunion link.

The most common way bunions develop

Bunions don’t develop overnight. They form over many years, which is why older people often have them.

The process usually starts when the toes are routinely pressed together. This can happen if you often wear shoes with a narrow toe box or high heels that move your weight to the front of your foot. The pressure weakens the ligaments responsible for holding the toe straight. As a result, the MTP joint moves outward, and the big toe shifts inward toward the second toe.

As the bones move out of alignment, a bulge forms at the MTP joint. This is a bunion. And as the bunion grows, it rubs against the side of your shoes, becoming red, swollen, and painful. It may become difficult to find shoes that fit, and in advanced cases, it may even be hard to walk.

Smaller bunions, known as “tailor’s bunions,” can also form at the base joint of your little toe.

How rheumatoid arthritis breeds bunions

RA is an autoimmune disease. This means the immune system mistakenly attacks one’s own tissues, damaging and destroying them in the process.

RA is also a type of arthritis, a term that derives from the Greek, meaning “joint inflammation.” In the case of RA, the body attacks the joint tissues, causing widespread inflammation.

How does this work? The body’s joints are covered with a lining — called synovium — that lubricates the joint, making it easier to move. RA causes the synovium to swell. This eventually destroys the joint and the ligaments, bones, and other tissues that support it.

Aside from this, weak ligaments can lead to joint deformities — such as claw toe or hammertoe. And a softening of the bone (osteopenia) from RA can result in stress fractures and bone collapse. When these are added to the normal stress on the MTP joint, it’s easy to see how and why the joint moves out of alignment, forming bunions.

Keep in mind, over 90% of people with RA develop symptoms in the foot and ankle at some point. In about 20%, foot and ankle symptoms are the first signs of the disease.

If you’ve developed bunions, or if you have rheumatoid arthritis and want to learn how to prevent bunions, come into Monroe Foot & Ankle Care for a consultation with Dr. Perel. Give our office a call at 732-978-9569 or book online with us today.

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Elliott M. Perel, DPM, FACFAS: Podiatrist (2024)

FAQs

Is a DPM the same as an MD? ›

Podiatrists are doctors, but they don't go to traditional medical school. They have their own schools and professional associations. They also have "DPM" (doctor of podiatric medicine) after their names instead of "MD" (medical doctor).

Why don't podiatrists go to medical school? ›

A podiatrist goes to Podiatric Medical School and earns the DPM degree. Like other medical schools, podiatric medical schools require the MCAT test and are competitive. However, pod schools get fewer applicants than general med schools, and are therefore easier to get into.

What does DPM mean in the medical field? ›

A podiatrist is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM), known also as a podiatric physician or surgeon, qualified by their education and training to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg. When treating patients, this system is also known as the lower extremity.

What does facfas stand for? ›

The letters FACFAS mean that a podiatric surgeon is a Fellow in the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) is a professional organization associated with an interest, training, board certification, and education in the specialty of foot and ankle surgery.

Is podiatry school harder than medical school? ›

Is Podiatry School Easier Than Medical School? Podiatry school is very similar to med school. You'll have to take the MCAT, attend a four-year program after your bachelor's degree, focus heavily on sciences, and do clinical rotations.

Is it easier to get into podiatry school than medical school? ›

The only standardized test that is usually necessary for entry to podiatry school is the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, the AACPM website states. Podiatry programs are typically selective, though not quite as hard to get into as the most prestigious M.D. programs, Trepal says.

Why do podiatrists make so much money? ›

A DPM has a comparable educational path to that of other types of doctors. With this level of schooling and training, it makes sense for them to earn more than many occupations while being on par with other physician specialists. There are also many sub-specializations within the specialty of podiatry.

What is the most common problem treated by a podiatrist? ›

Common problems that podiatrists treat include bunions, heel pain, ingrown toenails, and athlete's foot. Treatment methods used by podiatrists can vary depending on the specific condition but often include things like orthotic devices, braces, or surgery.

What state do podiatrists make the most money? ›

Best-Paying Cities for Podiatrists
Sacramento, California$235,930
New Haven, Connecticut$235,920
San Diego, California$231,660
Seattle, Washington$192,010
Charlotte, North Carolina$187,890
2 more rows

Why podiatry over MD? ›

Although MDs/DOs may learn about foot care through their general studies, DPMs receive far more comprehensive education specifically related to foot an ankle pathologies. As a result, podiatry education and training is far more specialized than that of MDs/DOs.

What is a diabetic foot doctor called? ›

DPMs, also called podiatrists, diagnose and treat disorders, diseases, and injuries of the foot, ankle, and lower extremities. They can specialize in areas such as sports medicine, surgery, biomechanics, and diabetic foot care, among others.

What type of doctor is best for foot surgery? ›

Both podiatrists and orthopaedic surgeons are qualified to treat foot and ankle conditions, surgically and non-surgically.

Who is the best foot surgeon in the United States? ›

Dr. Vladimir Zeetser is a board certified podiatric physician and surgeon specializing in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery.

What is the difference between a DPM and an orthopedic surgeon? ›

There is one big difference, though: podiatrists and orthopedic doctors treat different body systems. An orthopedic doctor treats issues with bones, muscles, and ligaments all throughout the body, including the knees, hips, and feet, whereas a podiatrist treats foot, ankle, and heel problems exclusively.

What is the difference between facfas and AACFAS? ›

Board Certification

Look for the FACFAS or AACFAS credentials after your foot and ankle surgeons name—only Board-Certified Fellows of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons are distinguished with the credentials of FACFAS. Associate members are board-qualified with AACFAS credentials.

References

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