Inflammation of bone and cartilage tissue is an urgent problem for people around the world living in modern society. Recently, the most diagnosed disease of this type has become ankle arthrosis.
Over time, the progression of the disease can cause limitation or complete loss of motor activity of the lower extremities, which often leads to extremely negative consequences - disability.
The severity of the consequences makes it important to understand the causes, as well as to be aware of the symptoms and treatment features of osteoarthritis of the ankle.
Ankle arthrosis - what is it?
Osteoarthritis of the ankle jointis a disease whose progression is associated with the destruction of the cartilage tissue of the joints of the lower extremities, as well as the adjacent bones.
It is also worth noting that osteoarthritis of the ankle joint is characterized by a chronic nature and an undulating course (systematic periods of exacerbations followed by remissions).
The disease is mainly characteristic of people of the older generation, but recently it is appearing more and more in a situation where arthrosis is diagnosed in people under 45 years old. According to statistical data, the destruction of the cartilage tissue of the ankle is detected in 6% of applicants.
Timely diagnosis and a well-defined treatment plan for ankle arthrosis can completely cure the disease.
The main causes and principles of the progression of osteoarthritis of the ankle
Osteoarthritis of the ankle joint is a special disease that can be a primary phenomenon, or it can be secondary, in which the disease progresses after injury or inflammation.
Regardless of the type, arthrosis appears mainly in conditions of disruption of the natural processes occurring within the articular cartilage.
Considering the main factors in the development of the disease, it is worth emphasizing:
- microtraumas, as well as major injuries of the ankle joint;
- excess body weight;
- performing an operation on a joint;
- improperly chosen shoes, abuse of high heels;
- excessive physical activity;
- metabolic disorders caused by various diseases (gout, hormonal imbalance);
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- genetic predisposition;
- bad ecology.
Under the conditions of normal metabolic processes, surface articular tissues are characterized by softness and elasticity, ensuring unhindered sliding during movement.
When a joint is injured or metabolic processes are disrupted, the smoothness and elasticity of the tissues are lost, which causes friction and significantly worsens the consequences.
Types and grades of osteoarthritis of the ankle
Today, it is customary to distinguish two types of localized arthrosis in the ankle joint:
- PRIMARY- the development of pathological processes directly in healthy cartilage tissue;
- secondary (post-traumatic)– the degenerative processes that occur during the development of various types of diseases/injuries.
In addition, modern medicine also distinguishes several degrees of degenerative disease:
Osteoarthritis of the ankle joint first degree- the first stage of the development of the disease, accompanied by a clear manifestation of symptoms. Patients mainly complain of symptoms such as:
- increased fatigue;
- leg pain.
During diagnostic procedures, pathological processes are practically invisible, which complicates the process of identifying the disease.
Osteoarthritis of the ankle joint 2 degrees- manifests with severe pain that disturbs the healthy sleep of patients.
Visual signs of the disease appear. Inflammation of the joint becomes visually apparent: a local change in skin color (redness) occurs, as well as an increase in its temperature. In addition, swelling begins, movements are limited.
Osteoarthritis of the ankle joint 3rd degree– is accompanied by pronounced discomfort and severe aching pain, which is a sign of the beginning of the transformation of cartilage into bone tissue.
Joint mobility is limited or completely lost. Joint movements occur with a jerk.
The lack of necessary treatment for ankle arthrosis in the later stages of the disease inevitably leads to the loss of the ability to work and the acquisition of the status of "disabled".
Symptoms of ankle arthrosis
Before you understand how and how to treat osteoarthritis of the ankle, it is important to identify its symptoms.
Considering the clinical appearance of the disease, it can be noted that the main symptoms of localized arthrosis in the ankle are increased fatigue and severe pain. As the disease develops, the situation worsens, which leads to increased pain that does not go away even during periods of rest and long sleep.
Over time, the motor activity of the affected joint is significantly limited and a rather severe deformation of the ankle is visually visible. However, in addition, the symptoms of ankle arthrosis include:
- an increase in pain even with small exercises;
- spotting of the skin and swelling of the tissues of the affected joint;
- leg swelling;
- characteristic crackle when moving the joint;
- loss of ability to move the ankle freely;
- local increase in temperature indicators.
The presence of just a few or even one symptom of ankle arthrosis should be the reason to urgently seek qualified medical help.
Which doctor should I contact and how to treat ankle arthrosis?
Doctors such as an orthopedic traumatologist and a rheumatologist treat osteoarthritis of the ankle. If you suspect the presence of a disease, you should refrain from self-medication. Ignoring symptomatic manifestations can worsen degenerative processes and lead to extremely negative consequences.
Grade 1 and 2 osteoarthritis of the ankle joint can be successfully treated. For this reason, when the first signs appear, it is important to contact your local doctor, who will refer you to a specialist for diagnosis.
Despite the complexity of the situation, grade 3 ankle arthrosis is also treatable, but radical measures are mainly used.
Today, various methods are used to treat ankle arthrosis, including drug-free therapy and medication.
Let's look at the available methods in more detail.
Physiotherapy for osteoarthritis of the ankle
Physiotherapyis a unique field of modern medicine that uses both natural and artificially created physical abilities for the prevention and treatment of various diseases.
The use of physiotherapy as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the ankle makes it possible to significantly reduce the amount or completely eliminate the use of medications.
Physiotherapy methods help significantly improve blood circulation in the affected joint, which ensures the activation and acceleration of recovery processes occurring within the ankle.
The following are used in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the ankle:
- laser radiation;
- ultrasonic impact;
- electrical stimulation.
Treatment of ankle arthrosis is determined according to the symptoms that appear and the intensity of the disease.
Massage and arthrosis of the ankle
Massageis a complex of mechanical techniques and reflexes, the use of which ensures increased blood circulation, which significantly accelerates the restoration of affected tissues.
Treating osteoarthritis of the ankle with massage, in addition to reducing the rate of progression of the disease, helps prevent the likelihood of its exacerbation.
Only a specialist who knows the structural features of joints can perform a massage to treat ankle arthrosis. It is important to note that the duration of the massage should be at least 25 minutes.
The use of massage together with exercises for ankle arthrosis will ensure the achievement of the most effective results in a relatively short time.
Exercises and exercise therapy for ankle arthrosis
Despite the fact that many are of the opinion that physical therapy (physiotherapy) for arthrosis is ineffective, physical activity is the key to getting rid of the hated pain and significantly improving well-being.
Correctly selected exercises for ankle arthrosis lead to:
- disappearance of the feeling of stiffness while walking;
- activation of blood circulation in the internal tissues of the joint;
- slowing down, and in some cases even stopping the course of the disease;
- restoration, improvement of the quality of life.
It is important to note that for osteoarthritis of the ankle joint, exercises are selected exclusively in accordance with the recommendations of the attending physician.
Surgical intervention for osteoarthritis of the ankle joint
In a situation when the conservative treatment of osteoarthritis of the ankle does not give the desired results, a more radical method of eliminating the disease comes to the rescue - surgery.
Today, the following types of surgical interventions are possible:
- endoprosthetics– total ankle replacement;
- arthroscopy– elimination of excessive formations inside the ankle;
- arthrodesis– immobilization of the ankle while preserving the remains of the cartilage.
Surgery falls into the category of last methods for treating ankle arthrosis. Timely diagnosis and a well-structured treatment plan can prevent the need for radical measures.
To consolidate the result after surgery and to speed up the recovery of the joint, specialists prescribe a set of exercises for osteoarthritis of the ankle.
Treatment of ankle arthrosis with drugs
Drug treatment of ankle arthrosis is part of complex therapy, providing the opportunity to relieve unpleasant symptoms and stop degenerative changes.
The method of treating ankle arthrosis can only be determined by a specialist who knows the characteristics of the disease being diagnosed. Self-medication with medications can cause irreparable damage to the body.
All drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the ankle are divided into several groups, each of which differs not only in the principles of action, but also in the degree of effectiveness.
Let's look at some of them in more detail.
Anti-inflammatory and soothing
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of ankle osteoarthritis are used at different stages of the disease's development.
The main focus of this type of action is pain relief and relief of inflammation in the joint.
Today, the drug market offers anti-inflammatory and pain relievers not only in the form of gels and ointments, but also in the form of tablets, patches and injections.
Antispasmodics-muscle relaxants
Drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the ankle, such as antispasmodics and muscle relaxants, are prescribed as an active aid in the fight against muscle spasms adjacent to the affected joints.
Antispasmodics provide muscle relaxation and pain relief. .
Chondroprotectors
Chondroprotectoris a drug for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the ankle, providing stimulation for the production of a sufficient amount of intra-articular fluid, which ensures accelerated tissue regeneration and saturation with essential vitamins and minerals.
Possible complications
In the absence of a comprehensive treatment for arthrosis of the ankle, the likelihood of complete recovery is reduced to almost zero.
Self-medication and ignoring the symptoms of the disease inevitably lead to immobilization and disability of the limbs.
In the presence of symptoms and insufficient treatment of ankle arthrosis, the course of destructive processes causes the appearance of osteophytes (growths in bone tissue), which negatively affects a person's quality of life.
The constant swelling of the tissues of the affected joint can also cause the development of pathological processes in blood vessels, in particular, deterioration of blood circulation, impaired blood flow.
Long-term destructive processes that develop in the joints lead to immobilization of the ankle, which increases the risk of associated diseases and injuries.
Basic principles of dietary nutrition for osteoarthritis of the ankle
According to numerous studies, it has been noticed that arthrosis appears mainly in people who do not follow their diet.
Following a diet and taking into account some nutritional principles accelerates the treatment of many diseases, especially arthrosis.
The main principle of nutrition for arthrosis is balance. In addition, criteria such as:
- regularity of meals;
- variety of food products;
- correspondence between nutritional value and intensity of energy expenditure.
During the treatment and rehabilitation period, the patient's diet should consist mainly of dishes prepared using gelatin. In addition, it is important to give priority to foods enriched with vitamins of various groups and other useful microelements.
To speed up your recovery, it is also recommended to avoid drinking sugary sodas and alcohol.
Prevention of osteoarthritis of the ankle
The best treatment for osteoarthritis of the ankle isPreventing.
To minimize or completely eliminate the likelihood of degenerative-dystrophic processes in the ankle, experts around the world recommend following the simplest principles:
- continuous monitoring of the diet;
- tracking and control of optimal body weight;
- care and avoidance of lower extremity injuries;
- allocating enough time for a good warm-up before physical activity;
- timely treatment of inflammatory diseases;
- maintaining an optimal balance of microelements in the body.
Compliance with the simplest preventive recommendations will eliminate the likelihood of ankle arthrosis symptoms and will limit the need to treat this type of disease.
Remember, consulting a doctor when you observe the initial symptoms of osteoarthritis of the ankle joint guarantees its timely diagnosis and high-quality and successful treatment.