Most podiatrists see many patients with RA. We work in in collaboration with a patient's rheumatologist and primary care doctor. Many patients benefit from custom orthoses and appropriate shoe gear. Surgery may be an option for some patients, but as always it depends on the symptoms, pain, and the extent of the deformity. The majority of my patients with RA usually benefit best from a soft orthoses to accommodate the ball of the foot, as the fat pad is often thin and the metatarsal bones become prominent and painful. If your rheumatologist works closely with a podiatrist, ask him/her for a recommendation. Best of luck.

Roland Tolliver