People often encounter diseases such as ankle bursitis. However, few people know what it is characterized by. Inflammation of the joint capsule (bursa) can be caused by such reasons as excess weight, hypothermia of the feet, trauma, congenital pathologies, physical activity and bad shoes.
Bursitis can be infectious, traumatic and chronic. This pathology can accompany diseases such as gout and arthritis. Symptoms include pain, discomfort, difficulty moving, and sometimes high body temperature. It is important to begin treatment for bunions immediately, otherwise the foot may become deformed.
In this article you will learn how ankle bursitis is diagnosed and what traditional and traditional methods of treatment are used.
Ankle bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammation of the tissues of the joint capsule. The bursa is a capsule consisting of connective tissue that protects all elements of the joint and produces a small amount of synovial fluid.
The latter plays a very important role in metabolic processes. It nourishes the cartilage and also reduces friction in the joint. The synovial bursa looks like a slit-like cavity. The bursa is placed where there are bone protrusions.
The bones of the foot and leg are connected to each other using many joints. The largest of them is the ankle. The well-known Achilles tendon is also localized here. The bursa is located in the area where the heel bone connects to the Achilles tendon.
It is worth noting that the synovial bursae can be located in various places: under the fascia, skin, muscles, tendons.
Ankle bursitis occurs in people who subject their ankles to constant physical activity. This disease is common among athletes, ballerinas, and people who wear high-heeled shoes.
In humans, there are 160 synovial bursae, they are located between the bone and tendons to which the muscles are attached. Dysfunction of the synovial bursa leads to increased friction, which irritates nerve cells. It causes pain.
The pain is so noticeable that it incapacitates a person and makes it impossible to work. The synovial bursae of the joints are formed from periarticular tissues and produce compounds that facilitate the unhindered sliding of cartilage.
The bursa serves as a barrier to infection and limits the range of movement of the limb, thereby protecting it from wear and tear. Inflammation of the joint capsule can exist in isolation, but is more often accompanied by inflammation of the tendons - tendinitis.
When diagnosed with ankle bursitis, the symptoms of inflammation of the synovial bursa are combined with signs of inflammation of the Achilles tendon.
Ankle bursitis is quite common. Almost always the disease is characterized by the formation of exudate. There are purulent, serous, hemorrhagic, fibrinous bursitis. The ankle joint affected by this disease is shown in the photo above.
Bursitis, like many other pathological processes, has a different etiology. Acute bursitis in most cases develops against the background of trauma, and chronic bursitis develops as a result of prolonged exposure to any mechanical factors. Often the acute form of the disease becomes chronic.
This is observed with untimely therapy or self-medication. This is why it is very important to see a doctor on time. Acute bursitis can also develop with osteomyelitis, carbunculosis, and erysipelas.
All these diseases are characterized by purulent inflammation, which is an excellent trigger for inflammation of the synovial bursa of the ankle joint.
Penetration of the infectious agent is often carried out by the lymphogenous route. There is another mechanism of infection - through damaged skin. In this case, microbes immediately penetrate into the joint cavity through abrasions and cuts.
Less commonly, bursitis is diagnosed in rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Salts, which accumulate in excess in the joint cavity, contribute to the inflammatory process. As for chronic bursitis, it can occur in athletes.
Depending on the reasons that served as a catalyst for the inflammatory process, it is customary to classify three main types of bursitis.
Depending on the location and the affected bursa, medicine distinguishes between several types of disease. The most common form is achillobursitis. It is characterized by damage to the largest bursa, located between the calcaneal tubercle and the tendon. However, it is possible to develop inflammation in the toes and heel.
Ankle bursitis is represented by pathology of the peri-calcaneal tissues and disease of the Achilles tendon. The disease is caused by systematic traumatization of the synovial bursa by incorrectly selected shoes.
Also, the reasons may be hidden in excess weight, inadequate physical activity on the foot, or infection of the bursa. The danger of ankle bursitis is that it can cause rupture of the heel connective tissue and even disability.
Calcaneal bursitis, which develops in the bursae located near the ankle joint, affects the subcutaneous calcaneal receptacle and the heel. The disease manifests itself typically as a painful swelling near the heel tubercle.
Bursitis of the foot near the little toe is formed as a result of inadequate foot function. This is often due to the patient's flat feet. In addition, the disease may be the result of a muscle imbalance, which prompts the formation of a lump on the finger and its bending to one side.
Bursitis of the little finger is accompanied by severe pain and inflammation. The remaining toes can also become involved in the pathological process.
Predisposing factors are of no small importance in the development of inflammation of the synovial bursa:
The patient must be prescribed a course of antibiotics and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Symptoms of ankle joint disease are tissue swelling, accompanied by redness and pain, increased body temperature, limited joint function, decreased motor activity and general malaise.
The causes of the disease are often injuries (bruises or abrasions) and infection of the joint capsule with pathogenic microbes. Often, bursitis of the foot is provoked by systematic physical stress, wearing uncomfortable shoes and excess weight.
Not the least role in the development of pathology is played by the inflammatory process in the joints against the background of arthritis or gout. Inflammation can affect the mucous membranes, causing swelling and redness of the tissues. Bursitis is accompanied by a constant sensation of painful swelling in the affected area.
If a bulge characteristic of the disease forms on the foot, it will have an elastic and soft consistency. The tumor reaches 10 centimeters in size.
If the disease becomes chronic, the functions of the diseased limb are not impaired, but the cystic cavity with fluid can become isolated and an acute inflammatory process may develop.
Prolonged forced immobility causes a gradual weakening of the ligamentous apparatus and changes in the periarticular tissues. The cause of bursitis can be metabolic disorders caused by hormonal diseases and obesity.
At first, a person feels discomfort in the area of the damaged bag; a compaction of soft consistency forms here, resembling a ball in appearance. This means that due to some reason, exudate has accumulated in the bursa - an excessive amount of fluid of a purulent or other nature.
Further, bursitis manifests itself as a dull pain in the area of the Achilles tendon; points with particular pain appear in the area of its attachment.
It becomes difficult for a person to stand on his feet for a long time, and standing on his toes causes severe pain. With purulent bursitis, fever often occurs, up to 40 degrees.
In the area where the bursa is located, skin redness, swelling, and a possible increase in local temperature are observed. Symptoms can make themselves felt instantly or gradually, smoothly turning into a chronic form, which subsequently complicates treatment.
The appearance of a sluggish form is associated with the cause of concomitant joint diseases (arthritis, arthrosis), while the acute form is more common due to injury or infection.
Symptoms of bursitis, like any other inflammatory process, include swelling, pain, swelling, and dysfunction of the joint. Very often, patients’ body temperature rises and they feel unwell.
If there is purulent bursitis, the temperature can rise to 40 degrees and above. Redness of the skin in the area of the affected ankle joint is observed, and pronounced swelling is detected. When palpating the calcaneal tubercle of the foot, pain occurs. The skin around the joint becomes denser.
All of the above clinical manifestations lead to impaired motor activity. Walking becomes difficult, which leads to a deterioration in the quality of life, including limitation of work activity. A specific clinical sign is the formation of exudate in the joint cavity.
It may be purulent or mixed with blood. In the latter case, we can talk about the traumatic nature of bursitis.
Exudate can be determined by palpation of the affected area. In this case, you can feel the movement of the liquid inside. Symptoms clearly manifest themselves only in the acute form of bursitis. The chronic type of the disease can be sluggish.
It is important to know that with the long-term development of the disease, the ankle joint, and with it the entire human foot, can become deformed. Photos of bursitis and the lesions caused by it are easy to find in specialized literature.
Ankle bursitis makes itself felt by a constant dull pain in the back of the ankle and in the heel area when walking. The pain intensifies with movement. Bursitis is characterized by the presence of pain points at the attachment points of the Achilles tendon.
Particularly severe pain is felt when transferring the weight of the body to the forefoot or rising on the toes. It is difficult for a person to stand for a long time; ankle bursitis is often combined with flat feet.
In the heel and ankle area, the skin turns red and swells.
A symptom of ankle bursitis is pain that occurs and intensifies when the foot is flexed from the side of the sole. The Achilles tendon becomes inflamed, thickens, and pain sensitivity increases along its entire length, especially at the points of attachment to the bones of the ankle joint and heel bone.
Diagnosis of bursitis includes collecting a medical history, patient complaints, palpation of the affected ankle joint, and conducting laboratory and instrumental examinations. In order to determine the nature of the exudate, a joint puncture is performed.
With its help, you can examine the synovial fluid and determine the causative agent of the disease. The subsequent treatment of the patient largely depends on this. If it is suspected that bursitis has developed against the background of another infection, that is, it has a specific etiology, the level of antibodies is assessed, and a bacteriological study is carried out.
If there is inflammation of the ankle bursa, treatment is prescribed by a doctor only after confirming the diagnosis using MRI or X-ray results. Therapy largely depends on the type of pathogen and the form of pathology.
In case of acute purulent bursitis, antibiotics that affect one or another pathogen are necessarily prescribed. If the patient has an aseptic type of illness, the doctor prescribes painkillers from the NSAID group and compresses. In addition, the patient is obliged to provide rest to the affected joint. The load on the ankle is eliminated.
In severe cases, the joint capsule and joint cavity are washed with antiseptic solutions and drained. The chronic type of the disease may require surgery. The operation is aimed at excision of the joint capsule.
It should be remembered that bursitis is a dangerous pathology that can become chronic and lead to dysfunction of the affected ankle joint.
Before starting treatment for bursitis, it may be necessary to take a puncture of the contents of the bursa to determine the nature of the inflammatory process and find out sensitivity to antibiotics.
Treatment of a traumatic illness is based on physiotherapeutic procedures: dry heat, electrophoresis and others. This therapy will have a resolving, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
You will also need to pump out the fluid from the bag and then apply a therapeutic bandage. As necessary and taking into account the symptoms of bursitis, repeated punctures are possible. Treatment of the disease is sometimes carried out by introducing strong anti-inflammatory non-steroidal drugs into the bursa cavity.
If conservative treatment is ineffective, surgery is performed for bursitis. Surgical intervention involves excision of the inflamed mucous membrane of the bursa. The operation lasts about 40 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia.
After the procedure, hospitalization is not required: the patient can leave the medical facility after 2 hours.
If a patient suffers from bursitis of the feet, then conservative treatment methods are indicated. Usually they can be done simply at home. Therapy involves the use of drugs to relieve pain and inflammation (usually non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and the subsequent application of a plaster splint.
If the disease develops severely, the patient is recommended to undergo a course of intra-articular injections using hormonal drugs and antibiotics. Before treating ankle bursitis, it may be necessary to puncture the contents of the connective capsule.
Classical therapy offers additional physical therapy sessions, such as dry heat and electrophoresis. Such treatment of ankle disease will help reduce pain, relieve inflammation and resolve the lump on the joint.
In addition, it is necessary to pump out the exudate from the bursa and then apply a sterile dressing. As necessary and taking into account the symptoms, it may be necessary to perform another puncture. Therapy in some cases is carried out with the help of strong drugs against the inflammatory process.
Having stopped the acute course of the process, the following physiotherapeutic procedures and rehabilitation methods can be prescribed:
In cases where conservative treatment does not give the desired result, the patient requires surgery. Surgery involves opening the inflamed bursa. The procedure lasts about 40 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia.
The acute form of bursitis is treated conservatively: the joint is limited in movement, and painkillers are given. Provide rest to the leg using a removable splint. Without stress, the pain calms down.
If immobility of the joint is ensured, then with proper treatment the patient will recover in two weeks. If you fail to see a doctor immediately, the disease may become chronic.
Pain is relieved by oral administration of reopirin, butadione, and subcutaneous administration of novocaine. Potent medications for pain relief are dosage forms containing corticosteroids. Hydrocortisone or betamethasone is used.
The drug is injected into the pain points of the Achilles tendon. External remedies for pain and inflammation are widely used for bursitis.
Drug therapy includes:
External means in the form of ointments provide treatment for ankle bursitis that is sufficient to eliminate all unpleasant symptoms. The list of remedies for bursitis includes anti-inflammatory ointments Voltaren, Dolgit, Ketonal, Finalgon, Nise, Ketorol, Diclovit, Dicorfenac, Deep Relief, Nimulid, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Betamethasone, Indomethacin.
The patient is prescribed electrophoresis, phonophoresis, paraffin therapy, and ultraviolet irradiation. Massage for acute pain is contraindicated. You can give a gentle massage around the affected joint after the pain has subsided. At this time, any gymnastics is prohibited. After the pain subsides, knead the foot with passive gymnastics.
Therapeutic exercises serve as the best prevention of ankle bursitis (photo). First, the ankle joint is gently stretched. To do this, the patient must relax his leg, and his assistant, carefully holding the leg by the heel, stretches the foot.
Then the patient begins to independently make circular rotations of the foot in the ankle, stretch the toe of the sore leg and pull it towards himself. The exercises are performed for several months.
The administration of drugs into the joint capsule is carried out after removal of exudate (inflammatory fluid). If you have a diagnosis of ankle bursitis, treatment must begin immediately, because neglect of the process can lead to serious consequences.
Treatment is carried out using various physiotherapeutic methods depending on the stage of the disease and the severity of the process:
Bursitis of the foot or bursitis of the ankle joint can be successfully treated using traditional medicine recipes. Treatment may involve the use of therapeutic mud and clay. Such natural ingredients, when used correctly, give quick results.
Many alternative medicine remedies can relieve inflammation and pain. When using them, it is important to clearly understand that such methods do not exclude classical treatment, but are only its organic addition.
Depending on the severity of the bunion pathology and its characteristics, the doctor will help you choose the most appropriate prescription. So, to date, the following methods of getting rid of bursitis have confirmed their effectiveness:
Warming and pain-relieving compresses with salt are made for bursitis. Honey is mixed with salt, and after the salt has dissolved, linen cloth is smeared with this mixture. Then the mass is applied to the ankle joint, covered with polyethylene, and wrapped in a warm cloth.
The pain calms down if you apply a compress of honey with dead bees or mustard to the ankle. Such compresses are given to adults; if a child complains of pain in the ankle joint, they must be shown to a doctor.
In case of chronic disease, ankle bursitis, treatment with folk remedies can reduce the intensity of pain symptoms, shorten the period of exacerbation, and reduce the number of relapses.
Rubbing with horse chestnut fruits infused with vodka helps to cope with the disease. For 500 ml of vodka, 300 g of chestnuts are required, infused, shaking, for 2 weeks.
Traditional methods for acute infectious bursitis are ineffective. External treatment is not able to cope with the bacteria that caused inflammation of the joint capsule. Without medications, it will not be possible to get rid of the pain of bursitis caused by metabolic disorders.
The main preventive measure for this disease is wearing spacious shoes that do not restrict the foot. In addition, shoes must properly distribute the load on the foot. Physical activity should not be prolonged or excessive; during sports, you should use bandages that are placed on the joint area.
If you have been injured, you should consult a doctor and not self-medicate, as time may be lost, which will lead to the development of complications, including bursitis. If the integrity of the skin is damaged, it is necessary to use antiseptics to prevent bacteria from entering the body.
If symptoms of bursitis are detected, self-treatment is contraindicated. You should immediately contact a specialist. Lost time may result in surgical intervention
Ankle bursitis is an acute or chronic inflammatory disease that occurs in the bursae (cartilaginous tissue bursae). Bursae are special capsules that promote the synthesis of synovial fluid and mechanical protection of joint elements. Synovial fluid is the natural lubricant of joints, preventing friction and damage. During the inflammatory process, a large amount of fluid with blood and pus accumulates in the bags.
Ankle bursitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the synovial bursae, characterized by excessive formation and accumulation of fluid in the cavities of the synovial bursae. Inflammation of the bursae most often occurs in the knee, shoulder, ankle, hip and wrist. A predisposition to the disease is observed in young men under 35 years of age and athletes experiencing significant stress.
The main symptom of bursitis is significant swelling, which is observed as a result of an abnormal increase in the volume of the joint capsule (sac). The enlargement of the bag occurs due to the accumulation of a large amount of blood in it. When the blood breaks down, it becomes a yellowish liquid. This fluid is called exudative effusion or exudate. The formed pouch can deform the skin if it is located on the surface of the joint.
When fluid (exudate) accumulates in the joint cavity, compression of nearby tissues subsequently occurs, and edematous fluid (transudate) accumulates in the extracellular space, which is the result of impaired lymph and blood circulation. Edema fluid compresses blood vessels and nerves, which causes pain.
When the swelling is located very deep (in the bursa), there are no changes in the joint. This often happens with popliteal bursitis. In such cases, they resort to instrumental diagnostic methods (X-rays).
Our foot has a very complex structure; it consists of many bone elements and joints. The smallest joints are the interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints, and the largest joint is the ankle. Bursitis of the foot can occur in any of these joints, but bursitis most often develops in the ankle joint. The most functional tendon of this joint is the Achilles, and therefore the most vulnerable to injury and damage. The bursae of other joints of the feet (subcutaneous calcaneus and heel) can also become inflamed. The disease can also occur in the joints of the big toe.
Bunions can occur as a result of the following factors:
Depending on the nature of the exudate from the joint capsule, foot bursitis can be of the following types:
Experts also identify other types of the disease. The purulent form is considered especially dangerous. Pus is dead white blood cells that fought the infection. From leukocytes they turn into purulent bodies. Hemorrhagic exudate is a significant accumulation of red blood cells that were formed from destroyed vessels. This exudate has a red tint.
According to the cellular composition, the exudate has the following forms:
There are also acute and chronic forms of the disease. The acute form develops rapidly and is accompanied by pronounced symptoms. In the chronic form, relapses alternate with remissions.
For reasons of development, the disease occurs:
As a rule, the infection penetrates from pathological foci and is spread by blood. Therefore, according to the nature of the pathogen, the disease is:
Specific bursitis is caused by the following pathogenic agents:
The pathogenic agent determines the course, type and form of the disease.
The disease depends on the localization of the pathological process. In this case, bursitis occurs:
The disease can occur in different joint structures. In accordance with this, they distinguish:
A characteristic feature of bursitis is calcification (calcification) of the joint sac. Calcification is the deposition of calcium salts in the walls of the bursa. However, calcium salts should not be present in the body tissues in undissolved form. This leads to joint dysfunction. Since the bursa is a kind of pocket that is located near all large and small joints, it must be filled with synovial fluid, which will prevent friction of the adjacent bones. Synovial fluid has a viscous consistency that resembles a thick gel. This gel has shock-absorbing properties, the so-called hydraulic cushion, which makes the movements of the joints soft and flexible. There are approximately 100 such pockets in the human body. For this reason, the risk of developing bursitis is quite high.
Most often, ankle bursitis occurs as a result of excessive stress on the joints. The disease can be an independent phenomenon or develop against the background of another disease, that is, it can be a complication. For example, in osteomyelitis, the infection spreads to the bursa from the bone marrow, and in arthritis, it spreads from the affected joint. In this case, complex treatment is carried out with correction of the primary disease.
Bursitis occurs in three stages:
During the second stage, infection of other organs may occur as the infection spreads throughout the body through the bloodstream.
A characteristic symptom of bursitis is swelling in the affected area of the body. The swelling has a dense consistency, and upon palpation there is a sharp pain.
The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
In the acute course of the disease, the temperature can rise to 39 - 40 degrees, with severe swelling and significant pain. Chronic bursitis can transform into hygroma. Hygroma is a small bubble with fluid that appears in the edema cavity.
Signs of the disease appear in stages. The acute form begins with the sudden appearance of a dense tumor, which hurts and limits mobility. The skin at the site of the tumor is hyperemic and swollen, and acute pain is felt upon palpation. Often purulent exudate accumulates in the bursa, which leads to an increase in temperature. If the disease is a consequence of another pathology, then its symptoms will progress.
Local lymph nodes enlarge as a result of pathogenic agents entering them. Lymphadenitis (inflammation of the lymph nodes) may occur. As a rule, damage to the lymph nodes is a reaction of the immune system. The chronic form of the disease can be practically asymptomatic.
Diagnostic measures are as follows:
Diagnosis of some types of disease is complicated by the fact that their symptoms are similar to other joint diseases, for example, synovitis, arthritis, osteoarthritis. In addition, these diseases can occur simultaneously, so determining the cause of the disease is quite difficult.
Special tests will help diagnose the disease:
If in the above cases pain or limitation of joint mobility is noticed, then there is a fact of the presence of an illness.
Treatment of the disease is carried out in two directions:
In the acute form of the disease, the main factor is immobility and rest. If the pathological process involves the upper or lower extremities, then the affected arm or leg must be fixed using a plaster splint or a special cut. In case of severe pain, it is necessary to take a painkiller; in some cases, the pain goes away on its own. In order for the liquid to resolve faster and the swelling to subside, dry heat is applied to the sore spot or a compress with Vishnevsky ointment is applied.
Treatment is prescribed on an outpatient basis. At home, the patient must be provided with complete rest, comfort, medication, and diet therapy. The medications used are: antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid drugs in the form of injection into the joint cavity, painkillers, strengthening the body's defenses.
Drug treatment is complemented by physiotherapeutic treatment, massage and physical therapy.
Physiotherapeutic treatment includes:
Physiotherapy improves metabolic processes in joints, eliminates stagnation of lymph and blood, eliminates swelling, relieves muscle spasms, and resolves swelling. Physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed individually for each specific case. The affected limb is fixed with a soft bandage, orthosis or elastic bandage. The fixed joint is elevated to quickly eliminate swelling. During the acute period, physical activity is increased gradually. For this purpose, a course of massage and therapeutic exercises is carried out. Full recovery occurs within three weeks.
Typically, surgical treatment is required for the chronic post-traumatic form of the disease. Indications for surgical intervention are large calcium accumulations in the walls of the bursa. They interfere with movement and cause discomfort.
Calcium deposits are removed under anesthesia during surgery. The bursa is opened, cleaned, adhesions and calcium salts are removed, then the cavity is treated. In case of a purulent form of the disease, the mucous part of the bursa is removed. The classic type of surgical intervention is osteotomy, which is accompanied by repositioning of bones and their fixation in an anatomically correct position using special metal staples. The recovery period is short; the patient can return home a couple of hours after the intervention. In some cases, a bursectomy is performed - complete removal of the periarticular bursa.
Attention! There is information on the Internet about extracting fluid from the joint capsule at home. This absolutely cannot be done. This procedure can lead to sepsis and death. The procedure is performed only by a qualified specialist in a medical institution.
Preventive measures include the following rules and restrictions:
How to treat ankle bursitis? This question is of interest to many patients. This disease is characterized by the appearance of inflammatory processes in the joint area, and more specifically, at the site of the so-called synovial or subcutaneous heel bursae.
Ankle bursitis is a fairly common disease; most often it occurs in girls who like to wear high-heeled shoes.
This pathology develops while walking due to excessive pronation of the foot. The most common, according to statistics, causes of ankle bursitis:
Today, scientists divide foot bursitis into separate types depending on where exactly the inflammatory process is located.
Bursitis of the Achilles tendon is distinguished. This inflammation, according to statistics, is a fairly common type of ankle bursitis. The Achilles tendon is located between the heel tubercle and the tendon.
There are only two reasons for the occurrence of this type of bursitis:
Symptoms of the occurrence and development of this type of bursitis include pain when walking or when pressing on the heel area, as well as the appearance of swelling on the heel tubercle; heel pain that limits movement.
Be careful, when the first symptoms of the disease appear, you must immediately contact a medical institution for qualified help in order to avoid undesirable consequences, such as rupture of the heel tendon, which can lead to disability.
Bursitis is identified on the big toe. This type of disease manifests itself due to the occurrence of deformities of the joints of the foot and big toe. As a result, the bone of the joint gradually begins to protrude. As a result, the protruding bone rubs against the inner surfaces of the shoe, which continues to contribute to inflammation of the joint capsule. Typically, bunions on the big toe occur when wearing high-heeled shoes or those with a pointed toe for a long time. In the presence of flat feet, the occurrence of bunion of the big toe increases several times.
Symptoms of this type of bunion include pain in the big toe area, joint deformities, and swelling.
Just like bunions on the big toe, bunions on the little toe can also occur.
The next type is calcaneal bursitis. Based on the first symptoms, it can easily be confused with the appearance of heel spurs. As a rule, this disease is accompanied by the appearance of swelling in the ankle joints. Its treatment methods differ from the treatment of heel spurs, despite the fact that their symptoms are almost the same.
For quality treatment, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination, and not use means for self-medication. The method of treating bursitis is selected by a specialist depending on its type and based on the stage of inflammation.
For acute bursitis, it is necessary to carry out outpatient treatment using various methods. In the initial stages of the inflammatory process, constant use of medications is necessary, and for Achilles bursitis, a plaster splint must be applied.
It is recommended to wear arch supports and specialized orthopedic insoles to speed up the treatment of bunions on the big toe. If necessary, resort to intra-articular injections and a course of antibiotic treatment.
As for the impact on the very cause of the disease, it is initially necessary to reduce the physical stress acting on the ankle joints, providing them with rest at least for a short period of time.
If you are overweight, you need to take a course to reduce it and, most importantly, pay great attention to the quality of the shoes you purchase. The one you wear every day should not only be beautiful, but also comfortable.
During the recovery period, the patient also needs sanatorium treatment.
As for the prevention of foot and ankle diseases, it includes the following measures:
Some engage in self-medication, which not only does not help, but also worsens the patient’s well-being. If bursitis is not treated in a timely manner, then in the future it will be impossible to do without surgical intervention.
Be attentive to your health and do not self-medicate. And at the first signs of the disease, contact your doctor, because treatment of the disease at an early stage is much easier and faster.
Do not ignore the disease, do not allow it to develop
Bursitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the bursae of cartilage tissue. The purpose of the bursa is to reduce friction and pressure between the structures of the ankle joint. It provides mechanical protection and the production of synovial fluid. Ankle bursitis knows no boundaries; the disease affects people of any age. Due to certain causes and risk factors, an inflammatory process develops at the junction of the heel bone with the tendon. In the bursa there is an accumulation of fluid mixed with pus and blood. The disease begins to develop against the background of injury; the occurrence of chronic bursitis is facilitated by multiple exposures to mechanical factors. Each subsequent movement becomes very painful.
Ankle bursitis is characterized by different etiologies. Sometimes the disease is infectious. The infection occurs after damage to the skin around the bursa of the ankle or after severe injuries, such as bone fractures. The main cause of infectious ankle bursitis is Staphylococcus aureus. Inflammation occurs against the background of ongoing infectious pathology in the body. For example, with osteomyelitis, carbunculosis. There are many cases of the development of the disease without the participation of pathogenic microorganisms (aseptic ankle bursitis). The cause of the pathological process is:
Ankle bursitis occurs due to certain risk factors that are triggers. These include obesity, old age, certain professional groups (tilers, musicians, athletes). Inflammation of the synovial bursa is also possible when wearing uncomfortable shoes and frequent hypothermia of the lower extremities.
With ankle bursitis, symptoms are always associated with pain. The affected area swells and the joint appears red and swollen. It becomes sensitive and hot to the touch. Redness occurs due to the fact that blood circulation has increased in the synovial bursa and surrounding tissues due to the onset of an inflammatory reaction. Bursitis of the ankle joint is characterized by limited mobility, and functions are severely impaired. Often the patient's body temperature rises to the point of hyperpyretic fever. An increase in body temperature is typical for a patient in whom purulent bursitis predominates; with normal inflammation and accumulation of exudate, fever rarely occurs. The skin around the joint becomes dense. If you have such signs, you shouldn’t delay going to the clinic.
The duration and severity of symptoms depends, first of all, on the cause of the inflammatory process. Ignoring complaints can worsen the patient's situation. The progression of the disease occurs over several months or even years until the patient begins to notice deviations of the ankle joint from the norm. The tumor can reach up to 10 cm in diameter. When ankle bursitis becomes chronic, it can cause gait disturbances.
Suspecting ankle bursitis, the doctor will first ask the patient about the symptoms and examine the history of the victim and his family. An accurate description of the complaints, after which the development of inflammation began, is important for making a diagnosis. Determining the cause of the disease will greatly facilitate diagnosis and treatment. The attending physician will palpate the affected ankle joint, conduct the necessary tests, and give the patient a referral for blood donation. A blood test is necessary if a bacterial infection is suspected. You will also need to take your body temperature to determine the severity of the infection. Suspicion of bacterial infection can be confirmed by sampling synovial fluid, which is taken during puncture. Examination of the sample for the presence of the causative agent of ankle bursitis is necessary for treatment planning.
Therapy is prescribed after imaging tests such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance or computed tomography. After an accident or injury, it is often unclear which structures were damaged. An X-ray will help evaluate the ankle joint and look for possible fractures or cracks. MRI is necessary to identify the form of pathology. Treatment largely depends on the results of x-rays, ultrasound, MRI and puncture obtained during the examination.
Early inflammation of the synovial bursa will avoid the occurrence of purulent bursitis and prevent the development of other complications. Bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, it is so important to detect the disease at an early stage of development. First of all, it is necessary to ensure that the joint remains calm for several days. Along with this, they take anti-inflammatory drugs, for example, Ibuprofen or Diclofenac. It is necessary to treat a disease of infectious etiology with the use of antibacterial drugs. Antibiotics are necessary to prevent bacteria from spreading throughout the body.
Before using corticosteroid drugs, it is necessary to pump out the accumulated fluid. Corticosteroid medications are injected directly into the joint area. If non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do not improve, a medicine called cortisone may be given. It quickly relieves pain, but also causes many side effects. The treatment process is accompanied by the use of anti-inflammatory ointments and gels, but most often they partially help reduce inflammation and pain. Physiotherapeutic treatment is effective: ultrasound, massage, laser therapy, and the use of magnets.
The severe course of the disease forces doctors to limit the mobility of the joint using a plaster splint. In some patients, the symptoms do not go away, despite all the measures taken and consistent treatment, the inflammation returns again and again. For ankle bursitis, treatment sometimes requires surgical removal of the bursa, followed by replacement with an implant.
Treatment with folk remedies is ineffective for severe inflammation. Medicines prepared at home can be used in the first stages of the disease. Folk remedies include warming and pain-relieving compresses. This treatment is an organic addition to traditional therapy. Effective recipes:
An excellent remedy is tinctures, in which the fabric is moistened and lotions are made. A vodka tincture made from mustard, as well as dead bees and honey has proven its effectiveness more than once. Burdock, hop cones, horse sorrel, and steamed valerian herb have an analgesic effect. Medicinal herbs are applied to the sore spot in the form of a compress.