Ankle Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
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Ankle arthritis is a result of a worn out cartilage in the joint area connecting the foot to leg. This medical condition is not really an illness on its own because it could be a result of an inflammation, injury or deformity in the ankle area. It could also be a result of either the rheumatoid or osteoarthritis that moves down to the area of ankle joints. This illness can be diagnosed through x-ray and medical examinations. Patients found suffering from this medical condition will be advised to undergo non-operative treatments first.
Symptoms
The first warning signs of this illness are pain and swelling. At the early stage, it is quite difficult to notice any symptoms. Normally, pain can be felt less around the ankle as pain is deeply felt in the joints. If the pain is recurring for no reason at all and oral medications won’t discontinue pain, there is no doubt that it is ankle arthritis. In other cases, abnormality can be noticeable like excessive swelling at the joint.
Causes
The most common cause of ankle arthritis is due to an injury like fracture or sprain in the ankle area. When a person suffered from ankle injury, cartilage is expected to be damaged. However, in case a person did not suffer from any injury and yet, he felt pain and there is swelling in the ankle, more likely that it is caused by rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis is capable of spreading to any joint within the body. Another cause is due to damaged cells in the cartilage brought about by infection. Cells in the cartilage are not capable of renewing thus, the damage can be permanent. Some causes of this illness are associated with the body weight. Since the legs and feet carry much of the body’s weight, there is a high tendency for the joint cartilage to be damaged.
Treatment
Treating ankle arthritis greatly depends on the manifested symptoms as well as the severance of the illness. Treatment can also begin with the simplest ones such as the changing of footwear to help ease the pain. Footwear modification like cushioned inserts is advisable. Activity modifications can also help. Persons suffering from this illness should limit activities like brisk walking, running and other strenuous physical activities that would make use of the legs and feet. Another is through wearing of ankle-foot-orthoses. This will prevent the foot from excessive motion while holding the ankle joint in its proper position. Patients having moderate symptoms can be given an anti-inflammatory medication that should not be taken for a long period of time and should be under the guidance of a doctor. Lastly, cortisone injection can significantly alleviate the pain but this can only be given occasionally.
Ankle arthritis is less common than the other types of arthritis like those that occur in the knee and hip area but could be as painful. If not given proper medical attention, invasive treatment like surgery is more likely to happen.
Symptoms
The first warning signs of this illness are pain and swelling. At the early stage, it is quite difficult to notice any symptoms. Normally, pain can be felt less around the ankle as pain is deeply felt in the joints. If the pain is recurring for no reason at all and oral medications won’t discontinue pain, there is no doubt that it is ankle arthritis. In other cases, abnormality can be noticeable like excessive swelling at the joint.
Causes
The most common cause of ankle arthritis is due to an injury like fracture or sprain in the ankle area. When a person suffered from ankle injury, cartilage is expected to be damaged. However, in case a person did not suffer from any injury and yet, he felt pain and there is swelling in the ankle, more likely that it is caused by rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis is capable of spreading to any joint within the body. Another cause is due to damaged cells in the cartilage brought about by infection. Cells in the cartilage are not capable of renewing thus, the damage can be permanent. Some causes of this illness are associated with the body weight. Since the legs and feet carry much of the body’s weight, there is a high tendency for the joint cartilage to be damaged.
Treatment
Treating ankle arthritis greatly depends on the manifested symptoms as well as the severance of the illness. Treatment can also begin with the simplest ones such as the changing of footwear to help ease the pain. Footwear modification like cushioned inserts is advisable. Activity modifications can also help. Persons suffering from this illness should limit activities like brisk walking, running and other strenuous physical activities that would make use of the legs and feet. Another is through wearing of ankle-foot-orthoses. This will prevent the foot from excessive motion while holding the ankle joint in its proper position. Patients having moderate symptoms can be given an anti-inflammatory medication that should not be taken for a long period of time and should be under the guidance of a doctor. Lastly, cortisone injection can significantly alleviate the pain but this can only be given occasionally.
Ankle arthritis is less common than the other types of arthritis like those that occur in the knee and hip area but could be as painful. If not given proper medical attention, invasive treatment like surgery is more likely to happen.