Bursitis of the foot should be understood as an inflammatory process in the bags of cartilage tissue (bursae). This connective capsule provides mechanical protection and the production of synovial fluid.
This fluid is necessary to facilitate friction of the articular surfaces and to provide a nutrient medium.
As the disease develops, exudate mixed with pus and blood can accumulate in large quantities in the bag.
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. You can clearly see the problem in the photo on the Internet.
Symptoms of foot 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. To understand what it looks like, just look at the photo for this article, which shows heel bursitis.
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.
This disease develops:
Symptoms of bunions will begin to manifest themselves as a large lump growing on the toe, the formation of a callus on it, bending of the toe to the side and pain, especially when moving.
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. This will help:
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.
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.
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:
Traditional methods of getting rid of bunions help to significantly speed up the healing process and relieve its symptoms. They will be especially effective at the very beginning of the development of the disease and after a complete examination of the body.
Bursa is a connective tissue membrane around a joint. Its task is to protect the joint and ensure ease of sliding of the joint surfaces against each other thanks to the lubricant produced by the cells of the inner surface of the bursa. The lubricant is called synovial fluid.
A special feature of the foot is that it has many joints:
There are 10 bursae in the human foot. Inflammation of any of these bursae is called “bursitis.”
Among all foot bunions, the predominant ones are:
The foot is the most mobile part of the lower extremities in humans, bearing the load of our body. And therefore, any symptoms of its damage immediately affect the ability to move and well-being.
Foot trauma is the main reason why bunions develop. Even minor injuries in the form of abrasions, wounds and abrasions can serve as entry points for infection. Also, streptococci, staphylococci and other microbial agents are able to penetrate into the periarticular bursa hematogenously, through the blood. This occurs especially often after osteomyelitis, erysipelas, and pustular skin diseases of the foot and leg.
In addition, common reasons why bunions occur include:
Risk factors are:
Ankle bursitis is common among runners due to increased stress on the foot. And for this in sports medicine it received a second name - runners' disease.
Based on the time of occurrence, bursitis of the foot is divided into acute and chronic. Acute, as a rule, occurs after a foot injury or after infection penetrates into one of the foot bags. Chronic develops gradually; symptoms of the disease may be absent for a long time.
Acute bursitis is characterized by classic signs of inflammation:
Ankle bursitis involves the Achilles tendon, which is connected to the heel bone. In the acute stage, the patient experiences pain in the back of the heel and along the tendon itself. It is impossible to stand up on your toes, as the pain increases sharply. There is swelling and redness along the back surface of the ankle joint, and movement in the ankle is limited.
In the chronic stage, stiffness in the ankle joint is noted in the morning. When moving, a characteristic crunching sound is heard. This form of bursitis often occurs when the load on the ankle is excessive or after rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms of thumb bursitis resemble those of gout. The finger is swollen, red, and its movements are limited. But the main sign that speaks in favor of bursitis is that the axis of the toe is deviated, the shape of the foot is deformed. As a result, walking causes acute pain, palpation is painful. In later stages, a bone callus can be felt.
The same picture is observed with bursitis of the little finger. The pathology typically occurs as a result of wearing smaller shoes and squeezing the leg. The condition is aggravated when wearing shoes with a narrow toe and high heels.
At the onset of the disease, symptoms of bunion are minimal. Patients experience aesthetic discomfort rather than pain.
The third most common foot bursitis occurs with inflammation of the plantar aponeurosis. This is the place under the heel where tendons and ligaments are attached. The symptoms of this bursitis are not the same throughout the day: in the morning and evening the pain in the heel area is more significant than during the day, when the patient seems to be pacing. What other symptoms are typical for this case:
Symptoms of chronic inflammation can be aggravated by cold feet or high humidity.
The doctor diagnoses the disease based on an analysis of the symptoms: formations that are hard to the touch are visualized and palpated. If you have chronic bursitis, the formations will be scarred. But still, the doctor can refer you for x-rays, ultrasound and arthrography.
It is very important to consult a doctor promptly if your foot begins to hurt. Indeed, despite the apparent mildness of the disease, the lack of adequate treatment leads to the disease becoming chronic. It is also fraught with the development of more serious complications, including:
Achilles bursitis of the ankle joint is dangerous due to the possibility of rupture of the heel tendon, and this is fraught with disability. But septic complications can threaten the patient’s life.
Treatment of foot bursitis at any stage of the disease is not difficult and has several goals. And the main thing is the fight against infection. Equally important is the prevention of complications, as well as reducing the frequency of exacerbations.
Acute bursitis of the foot is usually treated on an outpatient basis, resorting to hospitalization in extreme cases. The treatment is carried out by a traumatologist-orthopedist. Moreover, treatment methods are conservative, and only if they are ineffective, surgical treatment is used.
In the acute stage of traumatic bursitis, the following must be done:
Anti-inflammatory therapy in the acute stage includes the use of antibiotics, and in difficult cases, intra-articular administration of hormonal drugs.
Pain relief is achieved by prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of ointments and gels: indomethacin ointment, Diclofenac, ibuprofen ointment.
Physiotherapeutic methods of treatment are widely used - magnetic therapy, laser, ultrasound with medications.
When the acute process subsides, restorative procedures are prescribed - massage, physical therapy. To consolidate the result, sanatorium-resort treatment is indicated.
Bursitis of the thumb is usually treated with the use of special orthopedic devices and insoles that eliminate the deformity. If these measures do not produce results, the patient is hospitalized for surgery.
Heel bursitis in an advanced stage when a bone growth has formed on the heel is treated with shock wave therapy or surgical removal of the growth, washing the bursa with antiseptic solutions and introducing antibiotics into the cavity.
It should be remembered that, unlike heel spurs, pain with bursitis is associated with inflammatory changes in the plantar aponeurosis. Therefore, a whole range of anti-inflammatory measures is necessary.
You can treat inflammation of the bursa using traditional medicine recipes. One of the most famous methods is as follows: wash a fresh cabbage leaf, cut off the ribbed areas and lightly chop the leaf with a knife to obtain juice. Apply to the sore spot for about 2-3 hours, then change. It is necessary to repeat several times during the course of the disease in the acute stage.
What other recipes can you try:
Folk remedies only seem safe, but in fact, each method has its own contraindications. Therefore, coordinate your treatment with your doctor. And remember that traditional medicine will be more effective together with traditional methods.
Bursitis, like other diseases, is preventable. But if you already have a problem, then try to prevent relapses.
Preventive measures include such points as:
High-heeled shoes should be worn only in exceptional cases: visiting a restaurant, theater, or formal event.
Inflammation of the inner lining lining the synovial bursae, located near large joints in the human body, is called bursitis. The disease, accompanied by all the symptoms characteristic of the development of inflammation, requires timely, competent treatment. According to the observations of traumatologists, a common pathology is bursitis of the ankle joint, a functionally significant joint of the lower limb.
The ankle joint, connecting the lower leg and foot, bears the main load when a person moves. One of the important elements of the articular joint is the synovial bursa (bursa), which is a slit-like pocket. It is lined from the inside with a connective tissue membrane and contains small amounts of synovial fluid.
The bursa, together with the fluid, acts as a shock absorber, protecting the tendons of the lower leg muscles and the heel (talus) bone of the foot from impacts and excess friction. Therefore, the bursa can respond to any mechanical damage to the ankle by increased production of joint fluid and the development of an inflammatory reaction - this is how bursitis develops.
Due to the fact that the inflammation is localized in the area of the heel (Achilles) tendon, it is often called Achilles bursitis.
The process can be acute or chronic. The contents of the bursa can be:
Ankle bursitis is a fairly common disease. Men are especially prone to it due to the higher incidence of injuries than women.
In women, it most often begins from wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes.
The inflammatory process in the synovial bursa of the ankle can have both traumatic and infectious origin. The second etiology is much more serious than the first according to the prognosis due to the risk of gangrene or general blood poisoning.
The causes of ankle bursitis are few. Typically the disease develops due to the following factors:
The clinical picture of the disease is somewhat different in acute and chronic variants of bursitis. Each patient has a greater or lesser degree of severity of symptoms.
The earliest and main sign of an acute type of the disease is pain in the ankle, area of the supraheel bone, aggravated by the slightest load. It becomes difficult for a person to walk and even stand. Sparing his injured leg, he begins to limp. Movement in the ankle joint is limited due to pain.
Then limited swelling and edema occurs. Gradually the tumor increases in volume. A swollen ankle is especially noticeable in thin people with an elegant physique.
As the inflammatory process progresses, the Achilles tendon area turns red, then becomes bluish, shiny, and hot to the touch. The tumor is elastic, dense, painful; When you feel it under your fingers, you can feel the liquid rolling.
Bursitis of infectious origin is characterized by an increase in general body temperature.
Sometimes, with insufficient treatment or its absence, the acute course of the disease takes on a chronic form.
For a chronic process, pain, hyperemia (redness) and dense shiny swelling of the articular area are not typical. At the site of attachment of the Achilles tendon to the heel tubercle, a round, soft, painless formation is felt. The functionality of the ankle joint is completely preserved.
A protracted, sluggish course of the disease is possible, with periodic exacerbations and remissions. In chronic cases, areas of pathologically altered tissue remain on the inner surface of the articular capsule of the ankle joint.
Ankle bursitis can easily be confused with diseases or injuries accompanied by similar symptoms:
The diagnosis of bursitis, based on clinical signs, is made to the patient by an orthopedic surgeon or trauma surgeon. For example, bursitis differs from arthritis of the ankle joint by a greater range of motion in the joint.
In addition to the external examination, the doctor may prescribe the following studies:
Treatment tactics for ankle bursitis are selected by the attending physician. It depends on the causes of the disease, the degree of its neglect and the nature of the course.
In case of acute aseptic bursitis, first of all, it is necessary to provide maximum rest to the sore leg. A radical method for limiting movements in the ankle is the application of a plaster splint.
To reduce pain, apply an ice pack to the affected area. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out. More often, effective and safe non-steroidal drugs of the new generation are used (for example, Nimesulide, Meloxicam, Dilaxa).
Externally, medicinal ointments and anti-inflammatory gels can be used, for example, Dolgit or Ketoprofen.
If a bacterial infection occurs, a course of antibiotics is prescribed. They are administered intravenously as injections or using droppers. Sometimes injections are given directly into the soft tissue of the joint. If necessary, repeated removal of excess synovial fluid or drainage of the joint capsule cavity is performed, followed by irrigation with bactericidal and antiseptic solutions.
If conservative therapy is ineffective, a bursectomy may be required - surgical excision of the synovial bursa.
Further treatment is similar to that for ordinary purulent wounds. Healing of the surgical surface occurs by primary intention and can take from three weeks to a month.
After the acute symptoms of inflammation have been relieved, physical therapy, massage and physiotherapeutic procedures will be useful during the recovery stage:
The most effective treatment for chronic non-infectious ankle bursitis is surgery. Surgical excision of the joint capsule permanently relieves the patient of this disease. Removal of the bursa is performed routinely in a sterile hospital environment. Relapses of the disease after surgical treatment occur in only 1-2% of patients.
The ankle joint is a rather complex anatomical mechanism that bears an increased load.
Avoid foot injuries, carefully treat wounds, cracks, and calluses on your feet.
Ankle bursitis takes a long time to treat, and its therapy requires patience and perseverance from the patient.
Bursitis of the ankle joint is an inflammation of its joint capsules, located at the site of attachment of ligaments and tendons. The inflammatory process can be nonspecific and specific (tuberculosis, syphilitic).
Localization of ankle joint capsules
There are several reasons for the occurrence of this pathology:
Achilles tendon bursitis
Achilles tendon bursitis is an inflammation of the joint capsule located at the base of the attachment of this tendon to the heel bone. The reasons for its occurrence are the same as for other bursitis.
The symptoms and treatment of different types of bursitis are similar. If signs of this disease are detected, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible to prescribe proper treatment. If this is not done in time, the disease can become chronic and lead to disability.
Appearance of the ankle joint with bursitis
The disease manifests itself with classic signs of inflammation:
Achilles tendon bursitis causes redness and tenderness along the entire length of the tendon.
Treatment for ankle bursitis should begin as early as possible before the disease becomes chronic. In case of severe inflammation, the ankle joint is immobilized with a plaster splint or orthosis.
Loads on the ankle joint are reduced to a minimum. With bursitis, the ankle joint must be provided with complete rest.
If the inflammation is specific, the underlying disease is treated.
In the future, you should wear orthopedic shoes and insoles. Properly selected shoes can prevent bursitis. An important point is to normalize body weight, since excess weight creates additional stress on the joints.
Drug therapy includes:
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:
At home, painkillers and warming compresses are applied to relieve the symptoms of bursitis. It is better to consult with your doctor about the advisability of such procedures, since their use is not indicated in all cases.
For this use:
Compress is an excellent remedy for bursitis at home
The compress is wrapped in polyethylene or plastic bags are placed on the legs and a cloth is wrapped on top.
Massage during the acute phase of inflammation is contraindicated. During the rehabilitation period, gentle massage and exercise therapy are performed.
Most often, conservative treatment brings the desired effect and leads to cure of the disease. If conservative methods are ineffective, sometimes it is necessary to resort to surgical treatment.
The ankle joint is one of the largest joints in the human body, has high mobility and is susceptible to many diseases, one of which is ankle bursitis.
This pathology consists of inflammation of the joint capsule, manifests itself with characteristic symptoms and interferes with full movement. With timely diagnosis, it responds well to therapy with complete cure of all manifestations.
The ankle is one of the joints that is most involved in movement and is often exposed to external factors. There are many reasons why inflammation occurs in the area of the joint capsules of the lower leg, leading to bursitis.
Among them are the following:
Important! People who regularly suffer from infectious diseases, smokers and abuse alcohol are predisposed to the disease. It is often caused by poor nutrition, frequent hypothermia and reduced immunity. Ankle bursitis often occurs in women because they wear high-heeled shoes, which increases the load on the joint several times.
Since the pathological changes in bursitis in the ankle joint are based on inflammation, the disease is characterized by:
If an infection occurs, the patient may develop a high fever. Due to swelling, the skin over the joint becomes tense and tight. Penetration of the infectious agent is possible in two ways - through damaged skin or through the lymphogenous route.
Most often, the disease develops gradually. First, a feeling of discomfort appears in the area of the left or right ankle joint, and then a small lump forms. Its cause is the accumulation of fluid in the cavity of the joint capsule. A dull pain appears in the lower leg, localized in the area of the Achilles tendon.
Over time, swelling forms, spreading to the outer edge of the foot, and the skin over the joint turns red. It becomes difficult to move because every movement causes pain. But often patients do not seek help for a long time, even at this stage of the disease, because they believe that everything will go away on its own.
After contacting a medical institution, the doctor carries out a set of diagnostic measures that are aimed at making an accurate diagnosis.
First, the history of the disease is determined and the main symptoms are identified. Afterwards, an external examination is carried out, during which characteristic signs of bursitis are detected: swelling, hyperemia and swelling in the area of the affected joint.
On palpation, pain occurs and a rather dense, small formation is often detected in the lateral part of the Achilles tendon. This is an inflamed joint capsule with an excess amount of fluid in its cavity. Often the doctor will ask the patient to stand on his feet, stand on his toes, or walk around the room.
It is noted that the support on the foot suffers, gait is difficult, and trying to rise on the toes causes pain.
After the examination is completed, additional studies are prescribed:
Important! If necessary, a diagnostic puncture of the ankle joint cavity is performed. With its help, it is possible to determine the nature of inflammatory changes (serous, purulent, etc.) and obtain joint fluid. The latter is necessary to detect the causative agent of infection and determine its sensitivity to antibiotics.
During the treatment period, the ankle joint with bursitis must be fixed using a splint or orthosis. The patient is prescribed bed rest and maximum rest.
Additional fixation is greatly helped by kinesio taping for bursitis of the ankle joint, which involves the application of special cotton-based adhesive tapes.
Complex therapy for bursitis in the lower leg should be aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease and symptoms.
For this purpose, patients are prescribed drug therapy, which includes:
It is necessary to treat concomitant diseases that could cause bursitis.
In advanced cases and if there are medical indications, surgery is performed on the ankle joint. Surgery is especially effective in curing the purulent form of bursitis. During surgery, part of the joint capsule is usually excised. Often, its complete removal is required, after which the functionality of the joint is completely restored.
After the acute manifestations of bursitis have been relieved, physiotherapeutic treatment is indicated, which includes UHF, magnetic therapy, cryotherapy, electrophoresis and other procedures. The patient needs massage and a whole range of exercises in physical therapy classes.
All of the listed methods and means allow you to speed up the healing process and restore lost mobility and functionality of the joint.
It has long been known that traditional therapeutic methods combine well with traditional medicine methods, which are excellent for treating diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Treatment of ankle bursitis with folk remedies is widely used by many specialists. Proven recipes allow you to get rid of the initial manifestations of bursitis in the early stages and are often included in complex therapy in more severe cases of the disease.
Everyone has their own home recipe that will help get rid of the unpleasant manifestations of bursitis. But it would be right to consult your doctor before starting treatment with alternative medicine.
Important! Self-massage is very beneficial for joints. It is best to do it with a special mixture of oils: lavender, vaseline and eucalyptus. After finishing the massage, there is no need to wash off the remaining oils; it is best to wrap the joint warmly and get under the blanket.
For any disease of the musculoskeletal system, doctors pay great attention to prevention, and ankle bursitis is no exception in this regard.
Quite simple tips serve as preventative measures:
To strengthen your joints, immune system and the entire body as a whole, you need to walk more, do gymnastics in the morning, attend yoga classes, swim in the pool, get enough sleep and create conditions for relaxation.
It is necessary to get rid of bad habits, avoid stress and hypothermia. You need to be in constant contact with your doctor and undergo regular medical examinations. This will help to identify disturbances in the body’s functioning at an early stage and correct them in a timely manner.
Proper nutrition will help strengthen all joint structures, which should contain more dairy and fish products, fruits, vegetables, herbs and cereals. You should exclude fatty, fried, butter and flour foods - this will help get rid of extra pounds and normalize metabolic processes.
Bursitis in the ankle joint is a fairly common pathology, which is manifested by inflammation of the joint capsule and requires complex therapy. Delayed seeking of medical help may lead to complications and the need for surgery.
If characteristic symptoms of bursitis appear, it is recommended not to delay visiting a doctor. The disease is well detected by modern diagnostic methods and can be successfully treated, after which the manifestations of the disease disappear completely.
Ankle bursitis is a lack of synovial fluid in the joint capsule. For various reasons, the amount of fluid that is between the two halves of the joint begins to decrease, which leads to friction between the two bony parts of the joint. This process is always accompanied by pain, as the nerve endings are affected. In most cases, pain in the ankle is very severe; because of it, a person cannot lead his previous (mobile) lifestyle .
Bursitis affects the bursae of the joints.
Bursitis has two stages: acute and chronic.
The acute stage occurs suddenly; with proper treatment, a positive prognosis for the future can be made, but subject to all preventive measures. If treatment for ankle bursitis is not carried out on time, the disease will enter the chronic stage, which will cause a person great discomfort and deprive him of the opportunity to lead his previous lifestyle . For athletes, chronic bursitis means the end of their career.
The appearance of a sore ankle immediately attracts attention
Symptoms of ankle bursitis depend on the stage of the disease. The following clinical picture is typical for acute bursitis:
If you have symptoms of bursitis that are shown in the photo, you should urgently go to the doctor
Chronic bursitis is characterized by constant aching pain in the ankle area, scar formation and tissue hardening.
To diagnose bursitis, the doctor examines the patient’s medical history and all his complaints. As a rule, a description of the clinical picture and palpation of the ankle area is sufficient to establish the correct diagnosis. For mild symptoms, MRI is used to make a diagnosis.
Treatment for ankle bursitis depends on the stage of the disease. For the acute form, conservative treatment methods are used, which involve complete immobilization of the damaged joint and taking painkillers to relieve the unpleasant symptoms of the disease. Without stress on the ankle, the inflamed area hurts much less. For immobilization, a medical splint is installed. If all instructions are followed, the acute form of bursitis goes away within 7-10 days.
Remember! If left untreated, bursitis becomes chronic.
A fixing bandage will quickly relieve inflammation from the affected area.
To relieve pain, the patient is prescribed local drugs: ointments, creams and gels that relieve inflammation, swelling and soothe pain. By themselves, these drugs cannot be used to treat the disease, since their effect is possible only when combined with other drug treatment. The main drugs prescribed to the patient are Butadione, Reopirin, and intravenous injections of novocaine.
Treatment of ankle bursitis (code 110 according to the ICD - the international classification of diseases) is necessarily accompanied by the precise implementation of all exercises and exercise therapy. You can perform gymnastics only in the absence of pain. First of all, the ankle needs to be stretched a little, and only then should we develop its mobility. Exercise therapy is performed exclusively under the supervision of a medical professional.
Therapeutic exercise for the ankle is performed only on the recommendation of a doctor
The patient is prescribed the following therapeutic procedures:
Important! Performing an ankle massage during periods of exacerbation of pain is strictly prohibited. Massage and physical exercises to develop the mobility of the ankle joint are performed only in the absence of pain.
Many movable bones, surrounded by synovial bursae, make up the human foot. Damage and development of the inflammatory process is possible in any part of the foot.
What is ankle bursitis?
Ankle bursitis is the development of an inflammatory process at the junction of the heel bone with the tendon or specifically in the ankle part, the largest joint passing near the Achilles tendon.
Each bone (in particular the ankle) is surrounded by an articular capsule in the form of a connecting capsule filled with fluid.
The bag serves a protective function to prevent the joint from possible damage from the outside.
The liquid is a nutrient for all structures of the articular surfaces in order to prevent damage and abrasion of the joints and other adjacent bones.
With the development of inflammation in the connective capsule or joint capsule, purulent exudate begins to accumulate and the reasons for this are:
As exudate accumulates, swelling, thickening and redness of the inflamed area are observed.
The development of bursitis or inflammation in the ankle joint can be triggered by:
And also by the occurrence of inflammation in the ligamentous apparatus, disturbances in hormonal levels or metabolic processes, weakness of the ligamentous apparatus, and the occurrence of another internal infectious disease.
Cuts, infection through them and an abnormal birth defect in the ankle joint.
Symptoms of bursitis are similar to the inflammatory process in any other part of the musculoskeletal system.
The main signs of Achilles bursitis (inflammation of the Achilles tendon) include:
Symptoms directly depend on the cause of the disease, as well as the location of the source of inflammation.
Signs are most pronounced at the initial acute stage. In a chronic course , they are usually sluggish and not so acute.
Signs of a configuration disorder or change in the shape of the ankle may appear in the event of a rupture of the Achilles tendon or deformation of the joint due to strong mechanical impact.
There is an acute burning pain in the joint, which intensifies when walking or pressing on the heel.
The area swells greatly, pain hinders movement. If timely assistance is not provided, a rupture in the heel tendon area may occur, and the condition may lead to disability.
Due to constant friction, the deformed joint begins to swell , and the big toe or little toe swells.
With inflammation in the heel area, heel spurs appear, accompanied by swelling in the ankle area.
With the development of inflammation in the synovial bursalocated between the tendon and the spur on the heel, the symptoms are somewhat different:
Lack of timely treatment can lead to rupture of the heel tendon and even disability.
When the big toe is affected, pain, joint deformity, and redness are observed.
With calcaneal bursitis, spurs appear on the heel. An inflammatory process develops in the synovial bursa. Part of the heel tubercle hurts, there is a feeling of heat.
Symptoms are less pronounced with serous bursitis, the accumulation of pus in the synovial bursa. The area is swollen and hot, but there is no significant pain. When salts are deposited in the joint cavity, a compaction is observed that is painless on palpation.
If bursitis is caused by mechanical damage due to an impact, then hemorrhage and swelling at the site of the injury is possible. With an open wound, serous contents drain when pressed.
With the development of bursitis due to excessive tension in the tendons, an increase in their volume is observed. When fluid accumulates in the synovial bursa, the bone tubercles are subject to hydraulics.
If urgent treatment measures are not taken, the disease will become chronic. The condition can lead to tendon rupture. Treatment and all subsequent rehabilitation can become significantly more complicated.
Treatment of ankle bursitis is always complex.
It is aimed at relieving pain, relieving inflammation, and improving overall well-being.
Only based on the results obtained after carrying out diagnostic procedures and studying tests, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatment.
Conservative and surgical methods of influencing the affected area are mainly used, but without treatment in combination with folk remedies, local effects on the joint by applying ointments, gels, and undergoing physical procedures, a complete cure for the disease is unlikely to be achieved.
If the reason for the development of bursitis is a mechanical effect on the joint, then it is necessary to minimize the load on it and apply a plaster cast (splint).
Immobilize the entire foot completely to avoid re-injury.
Effective in the initial manifestations of the disease.
Immediately as soon as pain and swelling appears at the site of the lesion.
The method of therapy is selected by the doctor taking into account the tests obtained, ultrasound, and MRI of the ankle.
In acute cases of the disease, the following are prescribed:
Surgical intervention is prescribed in cases where purulent exudate has accumulated in the joint cavity.
Urgent cleansing of the cavity is required, and excision of the joint capsule is also possible. Otherwise, the disease may become chronic.
Treatment of the affected ankle will become difficult.
In severe cases of the disease, the joint cavity is drained (opened), purulent contents are removed, washed and treated with antiseptics.
Physiotherapeutic procedures in combination are indicated after surgery.
These include heating, massage, ultraviolet irradiation, exercise therapy, electrophoresis, phonophoresis of the affected area to relieve inflammation.
External treatment with ointments to relieve inflammation. Applying dressings made of warming ointments.
Massage, physical therapy, as additional but mandatory therapeutic measures in order to achieve effective results in the treatment of bursitis.
Passive gymnastics by gently stretching the ankle joint, stretching the toe of the foot and pulling it towards you.
Depending on how chromatic chronic purulent bursitis occurs in the number of countries at birth, the FSS of the mechanical impact of injury to the area is saturated
As an addition to the main course at home.
It consists of applying warming and pain-relieving compresses by applying to the sore spot, for example, an infusion of horse sorrel, steamed valerian herb, a bag of heated salt in a frying pan, a composition of St. John's wort, millennial and burdock root, golden mustache, hop cones.
It is indicated for the treatment of bursitis by applying a dry compress: Honey with Salt, to the ankle joint, wrapping it up.
Or preparing a tincture of Vodka from Mustard, Dead Bees and Honey, rubbing the sore spot.
It is worth understanding that traditional methods of treatment are effective only at the initial stage of the development of the disease, or when acute symptoms have already subsided.
It is not recommended to use alternative treatment for acute or infectious disease. When an inflammatory process develops in the joint capsule of the ankle, it is necessary first of all to clean the cavity of purulent contents, to prevent possible complications and relapses in the future.
When the patient’s well-being improves significantly and the symptoms go away, applying current to the affected area, ozokerite baths, and applications to the ankle are useful.
Paraffin therapy is effective in reducing pressure on the foot, pain and swelling. In addition, during the postoperative period, patients are advised to wear orthopedic shoes to distribute an even load on the joint to avoid relapses.
Prevention of bursitis involves dosing physical activity, wearing special bandages (taping) during strength exercises and lifting weights to protect the joints from possible injuries and cuts.
Under no circumstances should you delay the treatment process if you have problems with the ankle joint. Only timely consultation with doctors will help avoid complications in the future.
If an open wound or deep cut appears as a result of an injury, you should immediately treat the wound with antiseptics to avoid infection and development. It is important to promptly eliminate the symptoms of infectious bursitis.
Inflammation in a joint will not go away on its own.
If left untreated, osteomyelitis may develop, blood poisoning may occur, and the situation may lead to disability. When bursitis occurs chronically, surgery cannot be avoided.
It is important to identify the pathology in time and carry out full comprehensive treatment.
Only under such conditions can one hope for positive results. In advanced cases, the bursa will have to be removed; you will no longer have to count on the full functioning of the ankle joint.