Arthritis of the ankle joint is a disease characterized by an inflammatory process. The disease can be autoimmune and proceed independently, or it can be a complication that appears after gout, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthritis and other diseases.
When an inflammatory process occurs in the body or a fungus, virus or infection enters the bloodstream due to injury, the joint becomes inflamed.
The disease is divided into two types:
The acute form is characterized by a local tumor that rapidly progresses. At the same time, the body temperature increases at the site of inflammation.
When the process of suppuration occurs in the joint tissues, the temperature rises and the affected area turns red. Full mobility of the limb is lost, so even the slightest movements are accompanied by painful sensations and the patient cannot stand on his leg.
Chronic arthritis causes dull pain and restrictive movement. However, as a rule, as shown in the photo, the external symptoms of the disease are practically no different from the acute form. But with chronic ankle arthritis, it is difficult for the patient to move around in the morning, and hyperemia and swelling occasionally appear.
If the inflammatory process occurs in the tissues located next to the joint, this signals the presence of periarthritis of the ankle. It should be noted that this disease does not often affect the joint, but its course is quite unpleasant, since the patient’s movements are limited.
Rheumatoid arthritis manifests itself symmetrically; it often develops against the background of a hereditary factor. As a rule, this type of disease is characterized by the following symptoms: aching pain and swelling of the ankle.
In the case of gouty arthritis, the patient’s body is oversaturated with uric acid concentrated in the ankle, which he cannot get rid of on his own. This phenomenon occurs if a person’s metabolic processes are disrupted. Often this type of arthritis develops against the background of smoking and regular consumption of alcoholic and coffee drinks.
When a joint is damaged, traumatic arthritis often occurs. The causes of its occurrence can be various bruises and injuries to the ankle ligaments. Also, this type of disease often develops as a result of blood poisoning, for example, due to improper treatment of a gunshot wound or an open fracture.
Reactive arthritis of the ankle joint occurs due to the presence of an extra-articular infection in the body. Its symptoms include pain in the lower leg. In addition, the limb swells greatly, which significantly impedes its motor abilities.
Post-traumatic arthritis of the ankle joint develops due to injury to the muscles, ligaments or structural components of the joint due to mechanical impact. The main symptoms of the disease are visible dystrophic pathologies.
Home › Joint diseases › Arthritis › How arthritis of the ankle joint develops, its symptoms and treatment with various methods
Inflammation in the ankle joint causes a lot of discomfort for patients
Before you read further, I want to warn you. Most of the remedies for “treating” joints that are advertised on TV and sold in pharmacies are a complete scam. At first it may seem that creams and ointments help, BUT in fact they only remove the symptoms of the disease.
In simple words, you buy a regular painkiller, and the disease continues to develop into a more severe stage.
Ordinary joint pain can be a symptom of more serious diseases:
How to be? - you ask.
We have studied a huge amount of materials and, most importantly, tested most of the remedies for treating joints in practice. So, it turned out that the only drug that does not relieve symptoms, but truly heals joints, is Artrodex.
This drug is not sold in pharmacies and is not advertised on TV or on the Internet, and according to the promotion it costs only 1 ruble .
So that you don’t think that they are selling you another “miracle cream,” I will not describe how effective this drug is. If you are interested, read all the information about Artrodex yourself. Here is a link to the article.
The article talks about the reasons for the development of the inflammatory process in the ankle joint. Various forms and symptoms of the disease have been described. Recommendations for treatment are given.
People of any age and gender can be susceptible to inflammatory joint diseases. In particular, it could be arthritis.
What is this disease? Arthritis is an inflammatory process that destroys the joint and, without proper treatment, leads to its deformation or complete fusion of the articular surfaces.
Arthritis often affects the ankle joint. With a disease such as ankle arthritis, the symptoms and treatment must be consistent with each other. Arthritis of the ankle joint - ICD 10 designates different types of this pathology with the letter M and numbers from 0 to 14.
Like all inflammatory diseases, arthritis develops under the influence of various factors. A certain type of arthritis develops depending on the causative factor.
Table No. 1. Causes of different types of arthritis:
Medical practice: more than 30 years.
I have been treating painful joints for many years. I can say with confidence that joints can always be treated, even in very old age.
Our center was the first in Russia to receive certified access to the latest drug for osteochondrosis and joint pain. I confess to you, when I first heard about it, I just laughed because I didn’t believe in its effectiveness. But I was amazed when we completed testing - 4,567 people were completely cured of their illnesses, this is more than 94% of all subjects. 5.6% felt significant improvements, and only 0.4% saw no improvement.
This drug allows you to forget about back and joint pain in the shortest possible time, literally from 4 days, and cure even very complex cases within a couple of months.
The first symptom is pain, which intensifies in the morning and subsides in the evening. As the disease progresses, swelling and redness of the skin over the joint appears.
Local temperatures rise. Subsequently, all structures of the joint are affected and atrophy of the surrounding muscles develops. Due to the pain syndrome, movement is limited.
There is a connection between reactive arthritis and a previous infectious disease. The first symptoms appear some time after the infection.
As a rule, one of the joints of the legs is affected. The disease is characterized by the following manifestations: pain when moving, redness and swelling of the skin in the joint area.
In addition to local symptoms, this disease causes general symptoms: increased body temperature, fever, damage to the nail plate.
The disease has acute and chronic periods. In the acute period, the attack begins with sharp painful manifestations, mainly at night. The slightest touch to the affected area causes pain.
The skin in the joint area becomes red and swollen. The chronic period of gouty arthritis is practically asymptomatic, which makes diagnosis difficult.
The disease can have acute or chronic forms. The acute form occurs suddenly and is manifested by pain and redness of the skin in the joint area.
Stories from our readers
Cured sore joints at home. It's been 2 months since I forgot about joint pain. Oh, how I used to suffer, my knees and back hurt, lately I couldn’t really walk properly. How many times have I gone to clinics, but they only prescribed expensive pills and ointments, which were of no use at all. And now it’s been 7 weeks and my joints don’t bother me at all, every other day I go to the dacha to work, and it’s a 3 km walk from the bus, so in general I can walk easily! All thanks to this article. A must read for anyone with joint pain!
Read the full article >>>
There is an increase in temperature, nausea and vomiting, and general malaise. Sometimes yellowing of the skin and headache appear.
The chronic form manifests itself with mild symptoms.
Periarthritis of the ankle joint is diagnosed infrequently, due to the physiological characteristics of the structure of human bones. It manifests itself as a strong inflammatory process and pain.
Swelling appears and compactions and nodes form, which can be easily felt during examination.
If you have any of the above symptoms, you should contact a specialist.
Diagnosis of pathology is based on data from a patient interview, clinical picture, results of instrumental and laboratory tests.
The diagnosis of arthritis is made on the basis of x-ray examination
Laboratory methods include:
Each type of arthritis will have its own diagnostic criteria. The doctor makes a diagnosis of arthritis based on clinical, laboratory and instrumental research data.
After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes treatment for ankle arthritis, which should be comprehensive. That is, different approaches should be used in the treatment of this disease.
Complex therapy includes the following methods:
First of all, the affected joint is given rest and any stress is avoided. During the acute period, the doctor recommends bed rest. In some cases, a bandage is placed on the joint. To reduce the load on the ankle, it is suggested to move with the help of a cane.
Ankle arthritis - symptoms and treatment involve wearing a brace
The primary goal of drug therapy for arthritis is to eliminate pain and inflammation. Medicines are prescribed depending on the causes of the disease and its type.
Modern pharmacies have a large selection of medicines to combat this disease. The price for them is quite high, but medications are necessary to preserve or partially restore the affected joint.
Each package contains instructions, which allows you to most accurately calculate the required dose and frequency of use of the medicine.
Table No. 3. Types of medications used in the treatment of arthritis:
The drug is used to relieve pain
Compliance with the principles of proper nutrition is an important condition for a positive treatment result. Restoration of joints is possible only if the body receives all the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
For all types of arthritis, you should avoid fatty, spicy, canned foods, smoked foods, confectionery, baked goods, strong coffee and tea, and alcoholic beverages. It is highly undesirable to eat tomatoes, sorrel, and spinach.
Doctors recommend consuming foods such as:
Meals should be fractional - up to 4-6 times a day, in small portions.
How to treat ankle arthritis other than diet and medication?
For arthritis during the period of remission, various physiotherapy procedures are prescribed. They effectively relieve pain and restore joint functionality.
There are many physiotherapeutic methods that prolong remission and improve the patient's quality of life. But only an experienced specialist can prescribe them, depending on the type of disease.
The following methods have proven themselves well:
The electrophoresis procedure allows you to deliver the drug directly to the joint
The use of physiotherapy allows you to reduce the dosage of medications and, as a result, reduce their side effects.
Gymnastics is a mandatory component of complex therapy for joint inflammation. As a result of repeated exercises, the fluid accumulated in the joint cavity is absorbed, blood circulation improves and lost joint functions are restored. A specialist will tell you more about the benefits of physical therapy in the video in this article.
The main condition for achieving a positive result is regularity of exercise. The patient should not experience discomfort when performing the exercises. Their intensity increases gradually.
The instructor develops a set of exercises individually for each patient, taking into account the characteristics of the course of the disease, the presence of concomitant diseases and the patient’s age. First, the exercises are performed under the supervision of a specialist; after the complex is assimilated by the patient, you can practice independently. It is useful to end a set of exercises with a calf massage session.
At home, you can get rid of the symptoms of arthritis with the help of traditional medicine. Treatment with folk remedies for arthrosis of the ankle joint is carried out in combination with traditional therapy and only after agreement with the attending physician. Self-medication can lead to a worsening of the patient's condition.
There are many home methods that can alleviate a person’s condition with this disease. These can be various compresses, ointments, tinctures. Do-it-yourself lotions made from natural ingredients.
If allergic reactions occur or symptoms intensify, treatment with folk remedies should be stopped.
If conservative treatment does not bring the expected results and the disease is advanced, a decision is made to undergo surgery. This can be either an operation to remove pus or joint replacement.
Ankle Arthritis - Symptoms and Treatment are complex. However, timely diagnosis and therapy will allow full restoration of foot function.
Arthritis of the ankle joint is an inflammatory process that has a destructive effect, leading to hyperemia, deformation or complete fusion of the articular surfaces.
If left untreated, the damage will lead to irreversible consequences: complete immobility of the joint and disability of the victim.
The main reason for the development of arthritis is joint injury with the addition of pathogenic bacterial flora caused by specific pathogens (gonococci, chlamydia spirochetes) or nonspecific (pseudomonas aeruginosa, streptococci, influenza viruses).
A number of autoimmune diseases can lead to the destruction of joint tissue:
Lupus, against the background of which the articular tissue undergoes degenerative-dystrophic changes due to impaired blood supply and lack of nutrients.
Cracks appear inside the articular cartilage and the cartilage tissue is destroyed.
First, the affected area begins to hurt and swell; upon palpation, a noticeable hole remains.
Further, the reddened areas become hot, which is associated with an increase in temperature against the background of the ongoing inflammatory process.
Due to joint pain, it becomes difficult for the patient to walk and it hurts to step on his foot.
It is the ankle joint that hurts.
The pain can be sharp, aching or shooting.
The patient experiences weakness, a feeling of aching, and increased pain when extending or flexing the joint.
Symptoms completely depend on the underlying pathology that led to the development of arthritis.
Signs are more pronounced in the acute course of the disease:
If further development of inflammation is not prevented, arthritis will enter the chronic stage. After 2-3 years, the articular cartilage will be completely destroyed.
When carrying out diagnostic measures, the images clearly show thickening of the ankle at the site of the lesion, the adoption of an unnatural position by the foot, atrophy of the ankle muscles, or dislocation of the joint, sprains due to weakening of the ligamentous apparatus under the influence of the inflammatory process.
Signs of arthritis can be determined independently and visually.
Pain increases when bending or straightening the joint. If you move your foot towards the shin and then straighten it back, you will simply experience a burning pain; also, a swollen ankle will not allow you to put on your once-comfortable shoes.
There are 5 types of ankle arthritis: gouty, reactive, rheumatoid, purulent, post-traumatic.
1) Gouty arthritis leads to the accumulation of breakdown products of uric acid in the joint due to a violation of its metabolism.
Salt crystals clog the joint cavity, and the pathological process begins.
The articular cartilage is damaged, whitish growths around the joint or tophi are formed, characteristic of the gouty form of arthritis. The site of inflammation is hyperemic, deformed, and constantly hurts. When the skin is damaged, decay products are released in the form of a white cheesy mass.
2) Reactive arthritis leads to the development of inflammation in cartilage tissue and pathological changes throughout the body.
The reason is infection of the joint cavity with an infection: salmonellosis, chlamydia.
Pus accumulates in the soft tissues, the lower leg area swells, and osteomyelitis develops. Reactive arthritis leads to damage to the hyaline cartilage, serous fluid accumulates in the cavity, and the ankle in the ankle area swells and hurts.
The pain only intensifies with palpation and movement, and the temperature rises. The joints need urgent fixation by applying a plaster cast.
3) Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with autoimmune processes in the body.
The development of the disease is facilitated by a failure of the immune system. Mistaking one's own cells for foreign ones, the destruction and destruction of hyaline cartilage occurs. Small joints on the legs and arms are often affected together.
4) Purulent arthritis develops as a result of infection entering the joint cavity, where suppuration occurs.
Healthy nearby joints are gradually damaged. The disease can develop against the background of HIV infection, hemarthrosis. The foot and lower leg swell, the temperature rises, the articular cartilage begins to quickly melt under the influence of pus, and eventually collapses completely.
5) Post-traumatic arthritis is the result of degeneration of cartilage tissue under the influence of an inflammatory process.
The cartilage is damaged and a fracture of the ankle bone is possible. The joint swells. When a puncture is taken, bloody fluid oozes from the site of inflammation.
Treatment depends entirely on the form of the disease, the stage of its progression, symptoms and signs. It is important to stop the inflammatory process and eliminate the root cause that triggered the development of arthritis.
First of all, you need to give the joint complete rest and minimize any stress on it. Doctors recommend using a cane when walking to relieve some of the stress.
Bed rest, immobilization of the joint and application of an elastic bandage are recommended. Treatment of arthritis is complex with the prescription of medications, painkillers, chondroprotectors, and physiotherapy.
Diet, gymnastics, massage, local treatment by rubbing ointments and gels into the joint, applying lotions to relieve pain and swelling are indicated. Attention! Only the doctor prescribes treatment.
Self-medication can become not only ineffective, but also dangerous, only complicate the situation, and lead to irreversible degenerative consequences. At the first suspicion of arthritis, you should go to the emergency room.
It is important to apply a cast or other fixing bandage in a timely manner, to reduce the load on the joint, so that in addition to the inflammatory process occurring in it, you do not aggravate the situation by placing stress on the joint, which only accompanies the appearance of cracks and accelerating the destruction of the articular cavity.
1) Medicines are prescribed by a doctor only when a final diagnosis is made based on the results of examinations: ultrasound, x-ray, MRI.
To relieve inflammation, pain and swelling, anti-inflammatory, non-steroidal drugs are used: Ibuprofen, Ketaprofen, Aspirin.
Also non-hormonal drugs: Pyridoxicam, Nimesulide, Diclofenac, Naproxen, Etodolac, Indomethacin, Celecoxib, Diflucinac, Flurbicin.
Painkillers and antipyretics are prescribed in tablets, injections and ointments.
To maintain immunity - vitamins, general strengthening agents. It is possible to administer injections into the joint cavity to relieve unpleasant symptoms. Glucocorticoids, cytostats for pain relief in gouty or rheumatoid arthritis.
2) Chondoprotectors with the appointment of Terraflex, Structum for the purpose of restoring cartilage tissue, normalizing nutritional processes in its structures.
3) Physiotherapy to improve blood supply, regeneration of cartilage in articular tissues.
4) Compresses are useful: paraffin, ozokerite, medicinal mud.
5) Endoprosthetics for post-traumatic arthritis, when conservative methods are no longer effective. Additionally, with physical therapy, the chances of restoring joint function are much higher.
6) Arthroscopy is a surgical method by introducing instruments into the joint cavity to remove purulent fluid, eliminate inflammatory foci, and also stop bleeding.
7) Orthopedic shoes are recommended to be worn by doctors with special inserts (insoles) to unload the foot, relax the muscles, and reduce the load on the joint as a whole.
The main role in shoes is played by a rigid sole or convex shoes, the selection of which is carried out by the doctor, taking into account the existing symptoms and the stage of development of arthritis.
Indispensable for diseases such as ankle arthritis.
Normalizes the trophism of the entire osteo-articular system, which is designed to support the supply of nutrients and microelements to cartilage and bone tissue.
Recommended for consumption are pork cartilage, gelatin, poultry and fish containing collagens that can restore connective tissue.
Exercises are developed by the attending physician on an individual basis, taking into account the symptoms and stage of the disease.
Of course, in acute cases of severe pathology, the load (even a slight one) on the joint is unacceptable.
Exercises will prevent the formation of scars and adhesions in the joint cavity, but are carried out only in the post-rehabilitation period, or when the inflammatory process subsides.
Massage to maintain joint mobility. But it is carried out only by an experienced specialist. Any incorrect movements can aggravate the position of the joint.
Ointments. Combine turpentine (1-2 tsp) with egg yolk and apple cider vinegar (1 tbsp), mix. Rub into sore spots. The product helps with lameness due to joint deformation.
Fir oil. Prepare a compress. First rub the joint with sand, then with oil.
Next, apply a layer of sand or sea salt again and secure with a gauze bandage. Bishifit to the joint helps .
Sanatorium-resort treatment is indicated for ankle arthritis in order to prevent possible relapses in the future with the appointment of warming therapeutic baths and mud procedures.
If the arthritis is advanced, the joint constantly hurts and all the above methods of treatment are ineffective, then surgical intervention is possible - an operation for prosthetics or fusion of the ankle joint.
Today dietary supplements are applicable and approved by doctors.
For example, collagen ultra has a number of benefits:
You can prepare a decoction at home. Pour boiling water (1 glass) over elderberry leaves (3 tsp dry), leave in a water bath for up to 20 minutes, cool, drink in sips up to 8 times a day.
It is also good to brew and take corn silk, birch buds, and black currant leaves regularly.
The prognosis is quite favorable if treatment is not delayed for a disease such as ankle arthritis.
The effectiveness and duration of the healing process and the rehabilitation period will depend on how correctly the doctor selects treatment tactics, taking into account the existing symptoms and indications after the diagnostic methods performed.
With a disease such as arthritis, it is important to immobilize the joint in a timely manner, reduce the load, stop the inflammatory process, and stop its further development.
Wearing correct orthopedic shoes with inserts to reduce the load on the foot plays an important role in treatment.
It is important to take care of the joint and strictly follow all doctor’s instructions. After the symptoms pass, you can expect improvements, restoration of the cartilage cavity and mobility of the ankle joint.
The ankle joint is constantly exposed to serious stress - they have to not only withstand the weight of the entire body, but also constantly move. Any, even small, change in the ankle joint can significantly limit the mobility of the entire body - after all, a person will experience discomfort when walking. Due to constant stress, an inflammatory process can develop in this area, leading to arthritis.
Human joints contain cartilage tissue - a special layer that prevents bones from rubbing against each other. Its damage or modification limits the mobility of the limb and causes severe pain.
Arthritis of the ankle joint is a disease characterized by inflammation of the joint, destruction of cartilage and bone tissue. There are different types of this disease.
The main symptom for all types of arthritis is the appearance of pain. Additional symptoms of ankle arthritis include:
If any of the symptoms of ankle arthritis appear, you should immediately consult a surgeon or orthopedist.
Injury can cause ankle arthritis
Arthritis of any kind is possible in two forms: acute or chronic.
In the acute form, a person experiences severe constant pain, dizziness, weakness, insomnia, and joint mobility is completely limited due to pain. The acute form may disappear on its own, but when the first symptoms appear, it is better to consult a doctor.
In the chronic form, the disease lasts longer, but calmly, there is no strong constant pain. Periodically, the inflammation process intensifies. If you seek medical help in a timely manner, the chronic form can be completely cured.
Sometimes a metabolic disorder occurs in the body, which causes uric acid deposits. This disease is called gout. Gout often causes changes in the structure of joint tissue - it becomes inflamed, becomes stiffer, and keratinized. This is called gouty arthritis.
Read more: Arthrosis of the ankle joint
This disease never develops independently. Its cause is infectious diseases, osteomyelitis, and various purulent lesions.
A disease that occurs as a result of an injury - bruises, fractures, dislocations, etc. This type can occur unnoticed by a person, or can be characterized by pronounced symptoms.
As a rule, the main reasons are genetic predisposition and a malfunction of one’s own immunity (autoimmune disorders), when the body begins to independently destroy cartilage tissue, mistaking it for foreign. Rheumatoid arthritis is classified as a chronic form of the disease.
One of the most effective methods for diagnosing ankle arthritis is MRI.
It develops when an infection enters the cavity of the joint capsule. Its most dangerous form is because the process of suppuration begins in the soft and bone tissues, which can lead to complete deformation of the joint. Purulent arthritis requires immediate medical intervention.
The second name for this type is osteoarthritis. A disease in which primary damage to cartilage tissue develops into degenerative changes in the entire joint. There are two types: primary, which occurs for unknown reasons, and secondary, as a consequence of another disease or injury.
There is another type of arthritis – polyarthritis. This is a chronic form of the disease in which inflammation of the joints occurs. Unlike arthritis, here the inflammatory process affects several joints, either simultaneously or one after the other.
Only a doctor can determine the type of disease after conducting all diagnostic tests: blood tests, x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other necessary measures.
Wearing high heels is one of the main causes of ankle arthritis
In children, the causes of the disease are divided into three groups:
Most often, this disease occurs in children in the autumn-winter period, when the immune system is weakened and vitamin deficiency appears. In addition, unsuitable living conditions - cold, dampness, dirt - can trigger the onset of the disease.
The basis of treatment is immobilization - providing complete rest to the damaged joint.
After determining the causes of the disease, complex drug therapy is prescribed, which includes antibiotics, antipyretics, and various anti-inflammatory ointments to relieve pain.
To restore cartilage tissue, chondoprotectors can be prescribed - drugs that nourish and restore the structure of the tissue.
Injections are an effective method of treating ankle arthritis
This disease can also be treated using acupuncture, which stimulates fluid circulation and improves joint mobility.
To achieve an effective result, a special diet is prescribed, including products containing collagen. This substance serves as a source of “building material” for the regeneration of cartilage tissue.
Only a specialist can choose the correct treatment for ankle arthritis. Self-medication can lead to worsening of the disease and complete deformation of the joint.
Sources: http://vash-ortoped.ru/bolezni-sustavov/artrity/artrit-golenostopnogo-sustava-simptomy-i-lechenie-88, http://vse-sustavy.ru/lechenie/golenostopnyj/artrit-golenostopnogo- sustava.html, http://moyaspina.ru/bolezni/artrit-golenostopnogo-sustava
We conducted an investigation, studied a bunch of materials, and most importantly, tested most of the remedies for joint pain. The verdict is:
All drugs gave only temporary results; as soon as the use was stopped, the pain immediately returned.
Remember! There is NOT ONE REMEDY that will help you heal your joints if you do not use complex treatment: diet, regimen, physical activity, etc.
Newfangled remedies for joints, which are replete with the entire Internet, also did not produce results. As it turned out, all this is a deception of marketers who earn huge money from the fact that you fall for their advertising.
The only drug that gave significant
the result is Artrodex
You may ask why everyone who suffers from joint pain doesn’t immediately get rid of it?
The answer is simple, Artrodex is not sold in pharmacies and is not advertised on the Internet. And if they advertise, then it’s a FAKE.
There is good news, we have contacted the manufacturers and will share with you a link to the official Artrodex website. By the way, manufacturers are not trying to profit from people with diseased joints; the promotional price is only 1 ruble .
Ankle arthritis is an inflammatory process that affects the anatomical structures that form the articulation of the bones of the leg with the foot. This type of arthritis develops against the background of systemic ailments: lupus erythematosus, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis.
According to medical statistics, in 80% of cases this disease affects older people. However, recently there has been a tendency towards “rejuvenation” of this disease. Now it is detected even in children.
The name of this joint eloquently indicates the degree of load on the foot and lower leg. Indeed, thanks to its complex structure and special shape, the human feet and lower legs have high mobility. They support the body's weight when walking and running, and the ankle joint provides rotation, flexion and extension of the lower extremities. In addition, if we compare the daily load on the hip, knee and ankle joints, the latter bears the heaviest, which means that it is susceptible to injuries and some specific diseases. Any disease of the ankle joint affects a person’s motor ability. Based on a number of symptoms and manifestations, a large group of diseases is distinguished under the general name: arthritis of the ankle joint.
Arthritis of the ankle joint is an inflammatory and destructive lesion of the ankle joints of various origins. The disease can appear at any age, but older males are more likely to suffer. This articular pathology is widespread throughout the world and largely determines the quality of life of patients, and also causes serious concern for specialists in the field of traumatology and rheumatology.
Ankle arthritis can occur due to:
Since the disease is systemic in nature, it leads to impaired immune reactivity. As a result, the immune system positions its own joint tissue as foreign and is subject to aggressive attack by antibodies. Rheumatoid arthritis of the ankle joint is characterized primarily by inflammation of the synovial membrane of the ankle, which is accompanied by its growth, damage to cartilage and bone tissue, as well as fusion of the articular surface. Reactive arthritis of the ankle joint develops after a viral or bacterial infection (intestinal, nasopharyngeal or urogenital) and is associated with a hyperreaction of the immune system to pathogen antigens. When they interact with tissue antigens, non-purulent inflammation develops. Ankle arthritis in children develops as a result of intestinal and respiratory infections and allergic irritants (plant pollen, animal hair, food products). Suppurative arthritis of the ankle joint is not common. As a rule, this is associated with injuries and damage, for example, with a penetrating injury to the joint and penetration of a pyogenic infection into its cavity, or with the spread of infection through blood and lymph from a pathological focus.
Psoriatic atritis develops as a result of skin lesions in individuals with a genetic predisposition. Post-traumatic ankle arthritis occurs as a result of trauma following bruises, fractures, dislocations, sprains and ruptures of tendons and ligaments. Excessive load on the joint leads to chronic microtrauma of the joint and ligamentous apparatus of the foot, which can also cause the development of arthritis.
Other factors predisposing to arthritis are:
Common causes of ankle arthritis are:
Ankle arthritis is divided into the following types:
Ankle arthritis comes in two forms:
The acute form of ankle arthritis begins rapidly with vivid symptoms, which manifest themselves:
The chronic form of ankle arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness and pain. Symptoms are pronounced in the morning, immediately after waking up. However, swelling of the joint and redness of the skin are not noticeable.
The manifestation of general symptoms of the disease depends on its form. In the absence of adequate treatment for two years, complete destruction of the cartilage of the ankle joint occurs. As a result, the joint area thickens, its position changes, which leads to difficulties in walking, which in the future will become completely impossible. A strong progression of the inflammatory process is evidenced by atrophy of the lower leg muscles, which “dry out” and become thinner than the other.
The symptoms of ankle arthritis can “tell” about the cause that caused the development of the disease.
The disease is manifested by the following symptoms:
Initial symptoms may be subtle and mild. However, even at this stage of the disease, there are symptoms that eloquently indicate the presence of arthritis:
To make a diagnosis, anamnesis is collected, the patient is examined, and clinical and instrumental studies are prescribed.
For this purpose, the following instrumental studies are prescribed:
Laboratory tests include:
Treatment of ankle arthritis begins with giving the leg maximum rest, and, if possible, bed rest. If a person cannot afford to stay at home, then an orthosis or elastic bandage must be put on the leg to limit mobility and fix the joint in one position.
Treatment of ankle arthritis is carried out according to two scenarios:
Conservative treatment includes:
It is prescribed in severe, advanced forms of the disease, which cause deformation of the ankle joint. The goal of this treatment is to improve the motor function of the joint. The main methods used in surgical treatment are fusion of the ankle joint or its prosthetics.
Physiotherapy procedures are successfully used to treat arthritis:
With their help, you can significantly improve the patient’s condition: relieve pain, restore the functions of the damaged joint.
The following are auxiliary rehabilitation methods:
This form of arthritis is characterized by a long-term relapsing nature. The prognosis of the disease is proportional to the cause that caused its development. For example, with a reactive form the prognosis is favorable, with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis - less favorable. Because these types of ankle arthritis lead to severe deformities and complete limitation of mobility.