Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative joint disease. It involves the gradual destruction of cartilage, or the soft layer that covers the ends of the bones around the joints. Unlike inflammatory forms of joint diseases, such as, for example, arthritis and spondylitis, with arthrosis there is no inflammation (and if there is, it is temporary).
Arthrosis of the ankle joint is a rather rare type of this disease. Most often it affects athletes and professional dancers who experience constant stress on their ankles. There is also post-traumatic arthrosis of the ankle after sports and household injuries.
The main problem of this disease is the progression of bone erosion, the process of osteogenesis in the tissues located directly under the cartilage, as well as changes in the synovium and joint capsule. These changes may be accompanied by pain, functional limitations, and bone deformities, although the disease may also remain asymptomatic for long periods of time.
If you have been diagnosed with arthrosis of the ankle joint, treatment must begin as quickly as possible to stop the process of destruction of the joint and protect yourself from disability. In this matter, you can use proven and safe folk remedies.
Initially, the patient may only feel mild discomfort or pain in the ankle after heavy exercise. Later the following symptoms appear:
Post-traumatic arthrosis gives the above symptoms after an injury (fall, bruise, etc.). In this case, the patient initially feels severe pain, but it goes away after treatment of the dislocation or bruise. At first glance, there are no problems with the joint, but they gradually begin to appear after some time.
Treatment of arthrosis of the ankle joint can take a long time - this is necessary so that the cartilage tissue is completely restored and the bones no longer rub against each other. Using simple folk remedies, you can support your body and establish metabolic processes in a diseased organ without harm to health or side effects. For this, herbs and available remedies with anti-inflammatory and arthroprotective properties are used.
A simple joint massage already brings relief from pain. And if you perform it with the help of healing oils and rubs, the patient’s condition will improve even faster. If you are bothered by the symptoms of arthrosis, prepare one of the following remedies.
Warm water relaxes muscles and ligaments, which gives relief to sore joints. To treat arthrosis, it is best to take baths with the addition of herbs or essential oils, which have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.
Arthrosis should be treated not only with external medications, but also with drugs that restore the cartilage structure from the inside.
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The ankle joint is like the wheels of a car: it helps a person move by bearing weight. This work is difficult, so the joint can weaken and fail with age - up to tissue destruction and the inability to move without a wheelchair. Let's consider what ankle arthrosis is: treatment with folk remedies and medications, symptoms and causes of the disease.
Before getting acquainted with the methods of treating ankle arthrosis, let’s consider the nature of this disease and talk about diagnosis.
The disease begins with an inflammatory process that affects joint tissue, starting with cartilage, and ends with complete deformation.
The disease has three stages:
A decrease in the performance of cartilage can be explained by the following reasons: deterioration of endurance or mechanical overload. If the cartilage fails, the joint behind it will begin to deteriorate.
During the first phase, the patient is bothered by discomfort, and during the second and third phases, the quality of life gradually deteriorates; the disease literally “ties the legs” of a person, turning the patient into a disabled person.
Treatment for stage 1 arthrosis of the ankle joint is not always prescribed on time, and this is because it is not always possible to identify the disease at this stage. Symptoms are sometimes not pronounced or are “masked” as normal fatigue. However, try to listen to your body and rush to the doctor if any of the following symptoms appear:
The following situations and circumstances contribute to the appearance of ankle arthrosis:
And, of course, age-related changes that do not spare the joints and can become the starting point for the onset of the disease.
So, you know the causes and symptoms of arthrosis of the ankle joint, symptoms, now about treatment. The course includes a set of measures to influence the diseased joint and the body as a whole. Its main task is:
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After the study, the doctor will determine which methods are best for you to fight the disease. These may include:
There are three types of operations to restore the functionality of the ankle:
Drugs to combat ankle arthrosis can be divided into 2 categories:
Medicines work in different ways. The first group relieves pain, the second group prevents the disease from progressing.
Fast-acting medications are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds, which include nimesudide, diclofenac, naproxen, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aceclofenca, etc.
The main advantage of these drugs is pain relief, the minus is a detrimental effect on the digestive tract, which can result in gastritis or even an ulcer. For this reason, avoid self-medication; trust your doctor, who will determine the duration of the course and prescribe drugs that protect the stomach.
Local treatment can be used as a substitute for the described group of drugs or as an auxiliary step - if the pain does not subside. Topical preparations include butadione, diclofenac in the form of an ointment, bystrum in the form of a gel, etc.
If this does not help, then a local blockade is needed - an injection given into the joint. Corticosteroids are used for this, for example hydrocortisone, Kenalog, etc.
Slow-acting medications called chondroprotectors include glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, which act as the main component of the drugs aflutop, teraflex, structum, etc. These substances are “building material” for new cartilage, as well as an inhibitor of tissue destruction. However, chondroprotectors act slowly: to see the effect, you have to wait for months, or even a year.
Worth paying attention! Chondroprotectors are used to treat stage 1-2 of the disease, post-traumatic arthrosis of the ankle joint. During the 3rd phase, it is already too late to introduce such substances, because there is nothing left to restore the cartilage from.
Adherents of treatment methods using medicines given to us by nature can also breathe a sigh of relief. Traditional medicine is replete with methods for treating ankle arthrosis. Get acquainted with the recipes, choose an option “to your taste” and be treated in unison with nature:
Exercise is also a “weapon” in the fight for ankle health. Don’t be lazy to do the following set of actions every day, and the disease will recede.
Exercise 1. Turn your feet inward/outward. Start with 10 reps.
Exercise 2. In a sitting position, straighten and bend your toes. Also 10 repetitions.
Exercise 3. Lie down and pull your feet away from you/toward you 10 times.
Exercise 4. Sit so that your body is comfortable. Connect your heels and toes. Move your feet alternately back and forth. You need to do 10 repetitions for each.
Exercises 5. Make circular movements with your joined legs. 10 times in each direction.
Prevention is the best strategy to combat illnesses. What should you do to keep your ankle joint healthy?
Remember the rules of prevention:
The effectiveness of treatment for ankle arthrosis depends on your discipline and timely visit to the doctor.
Arthrosis of the ankle joint is a gradually developing, chronic lesion of the articular cartilage, in which the cartilage becomes thinner and destroyed. In the later stages, the disease leads to complete dysfunction of the ankle.
Click on photo to enlarge
At the beginning of the development of the disease, the symptoms are minor, inconsistent, and practically do not bother the patient. And in the later stages, disability may even occur when a person cannot walk.
With pathology, there is a gradual destruction of the cartilage surface of the joint: the disease begins with a decrease in the production of synovial fluid, which nourishes and lubricates the cartilage, and ends with its abrasion and overgrowth of the articular cavity. The onset of ankle arthrosis, unfortunately, is irreversible, but it is quite possible to slow down its development so that it never forces you to sit in a wheelchair, and you lead a full-fledged lifestyle.
Read on for an overview of the disease: causes, characteristic symptoms of the disease. Which doctor should I go to and what can he prescribe?
Seven main causes of illness:
Age-related changes in joints and ligaments. 80% of patients diagnosed with this disease are people over 60 years of age. In those who are initially healthy and have no other prerequisites for the development of ankle arthrosis, the disease progresses more slowly and less often ends in disability.
Obesity 2–4 degrees. Excess body weight increases the load on the joints of the legs and leads to earlier wear and tear. If a person has been obese since childhood, arthrosis can develop in him by the age of 20–25.
Increased load on the ankle joints: professional sports (running, football, figure skating), work associated with constant standing, carrying heavy objects and long walking.
Bone fractures in the ankle area.
Flat feet and other types of congenital and acquired foot deformities.
Heredity. People whose blood relatives suffer from osteoarthritis of any joints have a higher risk of developing the disease than those whose family is healthy.
Wearing shoes with too high heels or flat soles for a long time. Almost 100% of those sick for this reason are women over 35 years of age. For constant wear, orthopedists advise choosing shoes whose heel height is equal to the length of the foot (in centimeters) divided by 7.
Many years pass from the first symptoms to the final stage of the disease (complete immobility of the joint). Exactly how much depends on the initial state of the body, the time of treatment and the adequacy of the therapy. Timely treatment can “freeze” arthrosis of the ankle joint at one of the early stages, while the cartilage is not yet destroyed and can perform its functions.
The first stage of arthrosis does not bother the patient too much. The only symptoms are short-term morning stiffness in the legs (no longer than 15 minutes), as well as pain in the ankle joints and leg fatigue when walking a distance of more than a kilometer. Flexion and extension of the foot may be accompanied by a crunching sound.
An X-ray of the joint at the 1st stage of arthrosis does not show pathological changes, but the process of cartilage destruction is already underway. Treatment started during this period gives the best results.
In the second stage, the initial symptoms intensify. Morning stiffness lasts from 30 minutes and is accompanied by lameness. Starting pain appears at the beginning of walking. The distance that a person covers without pain and fatigue in the legs is less than 1 km. When moving, a distinct crunching sound is heard in the ankles.
An x-ray image reveals osteophytes - growths of bone tissue along the edges of the joint space, as well as the convergence of the ends of the bones that form the joint (epiphyses). Treatment without surgery is still possible, but it will be longer and more expensive.
At this stage, arthrosis of the ankle joint manifests itself most clearly. Pain occurs not only when walking, but also with any movement of the ankle, as well as at rest. Patients are forced to constantly take painkillers, without which they cannot sleep. Independent movement is severely limited or possible only with the help of crutches. The joints are noticeably deformed and increased in volume. Inflammation is associated with ankle arthrosis, and the muscles of the lower leg gradually atrophy.
An x-ray will reveal a strong narrowing of the joint space and flattening of the surfaces of the bones that form it, pronounced growths of osteophytes, and sometimes subluxation (displacement of the epiphyses of the bones relative to their correct position). Treatment is exclusively surgical. Conservative therapy during this period is aimed only at alleviating the patient’s suffering - reducing pain and relieving inflammation.
At the fourth and final stage of arthrosis of the ankle joint, which inevitably develops in the absence of adequate treatment at the onset of the disease, the symptoms subside. The pain goes away, but the range of motion in the ankles decreases so much that walking becomes impossible. At this stage, the cartilage is almost completely destroyed, and the articular surfaces of the bones are fused to each other.
An x-ray shows partial or complete healing of the joint space. Treatment is the same as in the third stage.
All treatment methods for this disease are aimed at:
If you suspect arthrosis of the ankle joint, do not delay visiting a doctor. Contact a therapist or a specialist - a rheumatologist. Ignoring the initial symptoms, and even more so self-medicating before making a diagnosis, is to follow the road that leads to disability. Remember that severe forms of arthrosis never occur suddenly. They are always preceded by stages when the pathological process can be stopped.
Treatment of ankle arthrosis is a set of measures that affect all parts of the pathological process.
Perform this set of exercises daily, and within 1-2 weeks you will feel relief.
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The ankle joint bears the entire weight of the human body; it has a complex structure. Here the 2 bones of the lower leg articulate with the talus bone of the foot. Thanks to the system of muscles and ligaments, various movements are carried out: flexion-extension of the foot, abduction inward and outward, rotation around an axis. Of all the joints in the human body, the ankle is the most commonly injured. Some time after the injury, symptoms of ankle arthrosis may appear. Deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint is not only post-traumatic; existing diseases or age-related changes can lead to its development. Whatever the causes of ankle arthrosis, in the later stages it can lead to disability, so it is necessary to begin treating it as early as possible.
The disease begins with degenerative-dystrophic processes in the articular cartilage. It dries out, cracks, becomes thinner, which leads to exposure of areas of articulating bones and their friction during movements. Gradually, the subchondral layer of the bone begins to thicken, osteosclerosis develops, osteophytes grow, and ligaments calcify. These processes lead to severe deformation and immobilization of the joint. Cartilage destruction can be caused by various reasons:
Arthrosis of the ankle joint accounts for about 25% of all osteoarthritis. Like other common types of arthropathy, it has its own name - crusarthrosis.
Arthrosis has been classified according to the reasons that cause it. In accordance with this criterion, osteoarthritis of the ankle is divided into:
Cases of primary disease are mainly observed in people over 40 years of age, this is due to the biochemical changes that occur in the body with age. Predisposition to idiopathic arthrosis is inherited. Age-related deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint rarely occurs in isolation; more often the patient suffers from polyarthrosis with multiple lesions of the joints.
According to etiology, there are several types of secondary crusarthrosis:
Taking into account the location of the disease, a diagnosis of arthrosis of the right or arthrosis of the left ankle joint is made. Unilateral localization is typical for static, dysplastic, post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the ankle joint. Idiopathic is often bilateral. Arthrosis of the joints is a chronic disease that occurs with periodic exacerbations. Therefore, acute arthrosis of the ankle is not a separate form of the disease, which is opposed to chronic arthrosis. Depending on the severity of clinical symptoms, acute and subacute periods of the disease are distinguished. It is an acute illness that is meant when they talk about acute arthrosis of the ankle.
This classification is important for developing a treatment regimen. In the acute period of ankle arthrosis, treatment is primarily aimed at relieving pain through NSAIDs. It is necessary to use orthopedic devices or an elastic bandage to fix the ankle. In the subacute period, more attention is paid to joint restoration with the help of chondroprotectors, hyaluronic acid preparations, and drugs to improve blood circulation. Physiotherapeutic procedures, exercise therapy, massage and manual therapy are required to mobilize the joint and restore range of motion.
Deforming osteoarthritis of the ankle joint is not the name of a separate type or form of the disease. DOA, or deforming osteoarthritis, is the same as arthrosis. The word “osteo” in the name of the disease indicates that bone tissue is involved in the process, and the definition “deforming” refers to deformations that occur in the joint.
With arthrosis of the ankle joint, the symptoms increase gradually; based on the combination of clinical and radiological signs, 3 degrees (stages) of the disease are distinguished:
At stage 1, signs of arthrosis can only be revealed by x-rays; a narrowing of the joint space and the first manifestations of osteosclerosis (hardening of bone tissue) are noticeable. At the same stage, thinning and separation of the cartilage occurs, and the volume of intra-articular fluid may increase. But these processes can only be seen by ultrasound or MRI. Osteoarthritis of the 1st degree is characterized by moderate pain at the beginning of movement and after exercise, which quickly passes. The disease is also manifested by mild swelling of the foot and ankle caused by the accumulation of intra-articular fluid.
At stage 2, the intensity of the pain increases and it does not go away longer. Movements are often accompanied by a pronounced crunching sound and their amplitude is limited. Synovitis develops, intra-articular fluid increases in volume and bursts the joint capsule. Puffiness and swelling of the tissues is associated specifically with synovitis, but at this stage it is already possible for the overgrown edges of the bones to bulge. The image shows osteophytes, still small, and a progressive narrowing of the articular lumen. Individual pieces tear off from the cartilage, calcify them, and x-rays reveal these loose bodies (articular mice) in the joint space.
The human ankle joint undergoes very frequent loads, which with age leads to the development of the process of destruction of the cartilage tissue that forms it. At the same time, an inflammatory process begins, gradually contributing to the destruction and deformation of articular tissues. This disease is arthrosis of the ankle joint. Its symptoms and treatment depend on many factors and the course of the disease.
Not only older people suffer from arthrosis: recently, young people are also susceptible to it. The causes and processes that provoke the development of arthrosis are as follows:
When calcium salt deposits accumulate in joints and cartilage cracks, bone growths (osteophytes) form. The consequence of this state of affairs is deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint, which is a serious disease that subsequently leads to disability.
The structure of the ankle is shown in the figure below.
Symptoms and treatment of this chronic disease depend on the stage at which the disease is detected, how severe the pain and other signs are, and on some other factors.
Signs of the onset of the disease:
Typically, characteristic symptoms accompany the second stage of the disease.
This disease has 3 stages:
Only a rheumatologist can select the correct treatment after diagnostics and tests. Therapy depends on the stage of the disease and the general condition of the patient. As a rule, treatment is prescribed local (directed specifically at the diseased joint) and complex (to affect the entire body of the patient).
The main goals of treatment are to prevent further development of the process of tissue degeneration in the diseased joint, as well as to reduce pain.
Treatment of ankle arthrosis can be carried out using various methods, which include:
The use of all medications is aimed at increasing a person’s motor activity, pain relief, and relieving swelling and inflammation:
If the patient has grade 3 arthrosis, the disease manifests itself in a more severe form. Joint deformation occurs (which occurs in 30% of patients), which is caused by damage to the cartilage tissue of the ankle, and the formation of osteophyte growths. Swelling of the affected joint area and redness are also observed, curvature of the legs and increased pain often occur, as a result of which the patient’s motor abilities are reduced.
This is how deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint manifests itself. The symptoms and treatment of this stage of the disease are similar to the previous ones, but in an advanced state (if the disease is not treated), the disease leads to disability.
In severe situations, when other treatment methods are ineffective, surgical intervention is indicated. This involves removing the damaged part of the joint and replacing it with an artificial one. The rehabilitation period after such an operation lasts 1 month.
Treatment of ankle arthrosis at home is primarily aimed at reducing pain and other discomfort; it can be used simultaneously with traditional therapy prescribed by the attending physician.
These are various warming compresses, ointments (prepared independently), decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs. Below we will tell you what warm compresses you can use to help relieve pain in the ankle joint.
Such compresses are applied throughout the night and can be alternated. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
Healing ointments are applied to the sore spot and help relieve pain and inflammation:
In the treatment of arthrosis, proper nutrition is of great importance:
When treating such a serious disease as arthrosis of the ankle joint, the symptoms and treatment of which are discussed in this article, an integrated approach is required: drug treatment, physiotherapy, local anti-inflammatory - the simultaneous use of various methods will give a lasting positive effect and make life easier for the patient.
Arthrosis of the ankle joint is a disease associated with degenerative-dystrophic changes in the articular cartilage, often accompanied by inflammatory processes of adjacent tissues.
The ankle joint is formed by the articulation of the tibia and fibula with the talus bone of the foot; The joint is supplied with blood through the tibial arteries, and sensitivity is provided by the branches of the tibial nerves. A special feature of the joint is its high mobility, as well as the ability to withstand daily loads within the limits of a person’s weight.
The epidemiology of arthrosis is as follows: the disease is most often observed in people of both sexes in the age group after 45-50 years, while deforming arthrosis with early development is observed in people who are obese.
The blood supply to articular cartilage slows down over time. Lack of properly organized physical activity (dynamic), age-related mechanical wear of the hyaline layer, increased viscosity of the synovial fluid leads to the gradual destruction of cartilage, compensatory growth of bone osteophytes and decreased mobility of the foot.
At a young age, the same processes can develop with chronic foot injury (for example, when playing football, dancing), as a result of a sports injury, or with frequent dislocations of the limb. Excess weight significantly increases the load on the ankle joint, which accelerates its destruction; genetic predisposition to diseases of the musculoskeletal system is another factor that can affect the development of arthrosis.
The main reasons accelerating pathological processes in bone and joint tissue may be:
Depending on the cause of its appearance, there are two types of arthrosis:
At the initial stage of development of the disease, pain in the ankle area appears after intense exercise, sports, long walking or climbing stairs.
Characteristic signs of the disease are also:
If arthrosis develops against the background of a serious injury to the ankle, unevenness, indentations or pathological bulges may be felt when palpating the surface of the joint.
As deforming arthrosis of the ankle develops, 3 stages are distinguished , characterized by the following diagnostic signs:
The result of this process is often curvature of the lower leg (bending inward or outward), restrictions on the activity of the limb, as well as its complete immobility.
Impaired functioning of the ankle and the proliferation of bone osteophytes often leads to compression of blood vessels and nerve roots, the occurrence of thrombosis, synovitis and bursitis.
The main task of diagnostic measures is to differentiate joint arthrosis from various types of arthritis, especially rheumatoid and gouty. After performing a general blood test, it is determined that there are no abnormalities in ESR and leukocytes, except in cases of secondary diseases - bursitis, synovitis. It is mandatory to draw blood for biochemical analysis (for rheumatoid tests and the concentration of c-reactive protein, uric acid, as well as immunogram parameters), which in arthrosis most often correspond to the norm.
To determine the degree of development of arthrosis of the ankle joint, an X-ray examination is performed, and to assess the atrophy of bones, muscles and ligaments, an MRI or radioisotope scan is performed.
Unloading the ankle is extremely important, which is achieved by limiting stay in an upright position, eliminating heavy lifting and reducing static loads. It is practiced to reduce joint mobility with the help of bandages, bandages, and elastic bandages. In some cases, bed rest may be necessary, and walking with a cane or crutches is recommended.
Drug treatment for ankle arthrosis may include:
In advanced stages of the disease, surgical intervention may be necessary - arthrodesis (fastening the bones, as a result of which the joint becomes immobile), endoprosthetics (replacing the joint with an artificial one).
Traditional methods of treatment can not only prevent the development of concomitant diseases and relieve acute pain, but also help maintain healthy joints:
To effectively treat the disease, you must adhere to the basic rules:
The diet for arthrosis should be based on the following principles:
To prevent the development of the disease, you must first of all choose your shoes carefully: high heels, hard soles, compressive or uncomfortable shoes can have a detrimental effect on the condition of the ankle joint.
It is necessary to limit the load on the joint , eliminate injuries and damage, avoiding hard work or excessive physical training, while fully engaging in therapeutic exercises. Metabolic disorders and neuroendocrine diseases require mandatory treatment or correction, which helps improve tissue trophism and joint nutrition.
It is imperative to normalize your weight: by eliminating the additional load on the ankle joint, you can prevent its degenerative changes.