Hi Jovigirl, I don't know what form of arthritis you have but unfortunately stress can bring on a flare. Because it is an auto immune disease, it is very linked to stress levels or overworked or overused bodies.
I have bad feet at the moment so can relate to your pain. My arthritis has affected both my big toe base joints as well as my little toes, so I sort of hobble around trying not to bring to much weight to bear on the front of my feet, so of course now my ankles are inflammed! I also get swollen tendons so it makes it hard for me to push my weight off my feet. Where is your foot pain?
My physio has strapped my feet and I use ice and elevation when ever I can, to help reduce the swelling but I went on a 2 day pack of steroids, 50mg of prednisolone and that really helped my tendons settle.
The trouble is the more we walk crooked the more it puts strain on other parts of the body?
Shouldn't you be seeing a rheumatologist rather than an ortho specialist?
Anyway, sorry to hear about your pain, maybe you could ask about a prednisone pack or cortisone shots?
Goodluck, golitho