OSTEOARTHRITIS
Foot & Ankle Osteoarthritis Treatment in Billings, MT
Conservative care first. Surgery when it's actually needed. Board-certified foot and ankle surgeons with in-house physical therapy.
(406) 256-0077Full-Spectrum Arthritis Care
Foot and ankle osteoarthritis is rarely a single problem. The joint hurts, but the cause sits in how the joint is loaded, how the surrounding muscles work, and how far the cartilage has worn down. Treating it well means addressing all of it.
Our board-certified foot and ankle surgeons handle the full range of arthritis care in one practice, from custom orthotics and injections, to joint preservation, fusion, and replacement at Northern Rocky Surgery Center. Our in-house physical therapy team rehabilitates every step of the way.
Serving Montana Since 1988
Decades of foot and ankle arthritis care across every joint: big toe, midfoot, hindfoot, and ankle. We have seen the patterns and we know what works.
Conservative Care First
Orthotics, bracing, anti-inflammatories, and injections are the starting point, not the afterthought. Most arthritis can be managed without surgery.
Full Surgical Capability
When surgery is needed, our surgeons perform joint preservation, fusion, and joint replacement at Northern Rocky Surgery Center.
In-House Physical Therapy
Strengthening, mobility, and gait retraining are done at our practice. Your surgeon and therapist communicate directly. No fragmented care.
Our Treatment Approach
Our approach to osteoarthritis follows a clear framework. We address the root of the problem, not just the pain.
1. Control Stress and Strain on the Joint
Every painful joint is being loaded in a way it can no longer tolerate. The first step is offloading it. That means custom orthotics, bracing, activity modification, and footwear adjustments to take the load off the worn cartilage and spread it across structures that can handle it.
2. Maximize Healing Potential
Arthritic cartilage will not regrow, but the joint and the tissue around it can heal and adapt when given the chance. We address the inputs that limit healing (inflammation, instability, weakness, and biomechanical compensation) so the body has what it needs to settle the joint down.
3. Manage Symptoms
Anti-inflammatory medication and joint injections are tools we use directly to bring pain and swelling down so the rest of the plan can work. Symptom management is part of treatment, not the whole treatment.
Surgery When Indicated
- Joint preservation procedures: When the joint can be saved, we save it. Performed at Northern Rocky Surgery Center.
- Joint fusion: A definitive solution for advanced arthritis in select joints. Performed at Northern Rocky Surgery Center.
- Joint replacement: Available for appropriate candidates. Performed at Northern Rocky Surgery Center.
Most arthritis can be managed without surgery. But when surgery is needed, we do it.
Integrated Physical Therapy
Whether your plan is conservative or surgical, our in-house PT team is part of it. They handle return-to-activity work, gait retraining, joint mobility, and the strengthening that protects the joint long term.
Pain-Free Is Not Healed; Healed Is Not Strong
Arthritis pain often quiets down before the joint is actually protected. Returning to full activity at the first sign of relief (without restoring strength, mobility, and load tolerance) is the most common reason flares come back. We do not let that happen.
Your Osteoarthritis Assessment
You are evaluated by a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon. We examine the joint clinically, take imaging when indicated, and identify exactly what is driving your symptoms. From there you get a clear plan: what we are going to try first, what comes next if it does not work, and what surgery would look like if it ever becomes the right answer.
Every decision is framed around getting you back to the activities you want to do. Not just out of pain.
Frequently Asked Questions About Osteoarthritis
What makes Rimrock's approach to osteoarthritis different?
We treat the full spectrum of foot and ankle arthritis in one practice. Conservative care comes first: orthotics, bracing, anti-inflammatory medication, and injections. When surgery is the right answer, our board-certified foot and ankle surgeons perform it at Northern Rocky Surgery Center. In-house physical therapy ties the whole plan together.
Does foot and ankle arthritis always require surgery?
No. Most arthritis can be managed without surgery. Our first goal is to control the stress on the affected joint, maximize the body's healing potential, and manage symptoms. That usually means custom orthotics, bracing, activity modification, anti-inflammatories, and injections. Surgery is reserved for cases where conservative care has been fully tried and the joint still limits your life.
What surgical options exist when conservative care isn't enough?
When surgery is indicated, our board-certified surgeons perform joint preservation procedures, joint fusion, and joint replacement at Northern Rocky Surgery Center. The right procedure depends on which joint is involved, how advanced the arthritis is, and what your goals are. We discuss each option directly with you before choosing a path.
How does in-house physical therapy fit into arthritis care?
Whether or not you need surgery, physical therapy is central to long-term function. Our in-house PT team works directly with our surgeons, so the strengthening, mobility, and gait work is built around your specific joint and your specific plan. There is no referral gap, no guessing at what we did in clinic or in the OR.
What happens at my first appointment?
You are evaluated by a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon. We perform a clinical exam, take imaging when indicated, and lay out a plan in plain language. You leave knowing what joint is involved, what stage it is at, and exactly what we are going to do about it.
Related Conditions
Questions? Call us at (406) 256-0077.