Osteoarthritis of the ankle is a fairly serious disease that always requires qualified treatment. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to deal with this pathology. However, modern medicine offers effective means to reduce existing levels of inflammation and slow the progression of the disease.
What is disease?
The ankle joint connects the lower leg to the instep of the foot. It basically moves along the frontal axis, thus providing flexion and extension of the foot. Lateral movements are characterized by a minimal margin.
Ankle arthritis, the symptoms and treatment of which are directly related, is a process of sequential destruction of joint tissue. Pathology leads to a violation of the normal structure of tissues, the death of a part of chondrocytes, the formation of cracks in the surface and compaction of bones. If you don't take the medication prescribed for arthritis, the joint becomes deformed and normal functioning becomes practically impossible.
The older the person, the higher the likelihood of destructive degenerative changes in humans. In this case, the musculoskeletal system is no exception. About 10% of the world's population over the age of 40 is reported to have joint disease. In developed countries, the number of patients 65 years of age and older ranges from 60 to about 80%.
Classify
In the early stages of the disease, the joint cavity is directly narrowed, the cartilage itself swells and softens. Grade 2 arthritis is distinguished by the fact that small cracks form in the areas of greatest pressure of the joint head, and prominent protrusions in places of the least pressure. In the third and fourth stages, cartilage breakdown occurs, followed by the formation of cysts, the development of the so-called bone callus (bone-forming substance). As a result, the joint ends flatten out on their own, preventing the foot from performing normal movements.
Main reason
Very rarely the disease is primary, i. e. it occurs spontaneously. Usually it is secondary and is explained by the influence of several factors. Causes of ankle osteoarthritis can include the following:
- Injury to the musculoskeletal apparatus of the foot and the joints themselves (flat feet, hereditary connective tissue dysplasia).
- Post-traumatic arthritis (dislocation, sprain, bruise).
- Inflammation of an immune nature.
- Infectious lesions.
- Types of neurological disorders (osteonecrosis, neuritis).
- Metabolic diseases (obesity, rickets, gout).
The cause of dry ankle joint disease often lies in the frequent wearing of high heels. The unnatural position of the foot causes a repeated increase in the load on the ankle. Athletes, dancers and people whose weight significantly exceeds the norm are also included in the risk group.
What are the symptoms of ankle osteoarthritis? Symptoms and treatment
First of all, the patient noted painful discomfort when trying to stand fully on his feet, as well as a characteristic rattle sound when moving. Over time, the pain becomes stronger and persists even at rest. The limitation of the ability to move the foot along different axes gradually becomes more severe. The joint itself increases in size, the foot is slightly bent. In the advanced stages of the disease, pain can also be felt in the knee and hip joints.
Conservative therapy
Most pain relievers belong to a class of so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
These drugs allow you to get rid of the pain, but they also have some disadvantages. The thing is that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have an extremely bad effect on the stomach lining. For example, with prolonged use in patients, gastritis often worsens and even ulcers appear. That is why the reception of such funds is prescribed in short courses to minimize negative consequences.
Local treatment of the affected area involves reducing inflammation in the joint. As a result, it is possible to reduce the progression of the disease, i. e. keep the inflammatory process under constant control. Such therapy is indicated if the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is ineffective.
Local treatment consists in the use of gels with an anesthetic in their composition. However, this cost is completely justified. Ointments and gels provide an excellent therapeutic effect, especially when combined with other drugs.
Some patients are prescribed chondroprotectors. They help cartilage repair and significantly improve tissue synthesis.
Surgical treatment
Unfortunately, it's far from possible to fix ankle joint disease through drug treatment alone. Sometimes the medicine doesn't work. In this type of situation, the doctor decides to intervene surgically. The safest way to stop the degenerative process is arthroscopy.
The procedure is done with a special instrument, which is inserted into the affected area through micro-incisions. This operation allows you to remove all the growing bones.
exercise therapy
Exercise therapy is indicated for many types of joint disease. Especially such exercises are effective in post-traumatic variants of the disease. Therapeutic exercises for joint disease are aimed primarily at restoring lost muscle tone, as well as expanding the range of motion of the ankle itself.
Initially, such exercises are selected that require a minimum load. They are performed in a supine position (eg, circular motions in the feet). Then the lessons become more difficult. The exercise is performed in a sitting position (legs roll without lifting heels off the floor). Note that in each case, a group of exercises was selected individually by the doctor.
Prevent
First of all, experts especially recommend avoiding injuries and mechanical damage to the joints. To do this, you should choose shoes with stable heels, and when playing sports should use special protective equipment.
Body weight control is important, as being overweight is often a major cause of ankle joint development. Symptoms and treatment of this pathology should not be ignored. When the main symptoms appear, you should seek professional help, do not try to solve the problem on your own.
In addition, experts recommend following a diet with a high content of protein-rich foods. You should give up too salty and fatty foods, as well as alcohol for a while.
Inference
In this article, we have presented in as much detail as possible about the factors that make up ankylosing spondylitis. Symptoms and treatment, causes and prevention are just some of the topics for which detailed answers are provided here. Note that the effectiveness of disease therapy depends not only on its specific stage of development and the presence of concomitant health problems, but also on competent compliance with alldoctor's recommendations.