Osteoarthritis Of The Ankles: A Silent And Painful Condition

Many people are more likely to complain of wear and tear on the hip or knees, but osteoarthritis of the ankles is also a common form associated with degenerative diseases.

The ankle joint is very important for walking. In addition, it has an essential function in posture. It also ensures that the axis formed by the hip, knees and feet is in harmony.

However, all complex structures of the ankle joint are subject to various factors. These can then affect the delicate health and stamina of the ankles.

A nasty condition

Osteoarthritis is without a doubt an ailment that can put a real curse on quality of life. In this article you will find more information about this topic. We are confident this will help you.

How does ankle osteoarthritis develop?

Increasing wear and tear on the cartilage in the ankle joint is the cause of this type of osteoarthritis. As we age, it is quite normal for the ankles to become stiff and deformities to develop.

Classic bone spurs can also occur. These make the condition even more painful and limit your movements even more.

Several causes promote the development of osteoarthritis of the ankles:

•  Several sprains in the past.
• You are an athlete.
• The presence of cysts or abnormal bone growth.

Other causes

But also autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis often lead to the first symptoms of osteoarthritis of the ankles.

• Traumatologists also mention this peculiar cause: the deformity of the ankle itself. People with flat feet are sometimes more likely to develop osteoarthritis over time.

Finally, there is not always a specific cause for ankle osteoarthritis. Sometimes we suffer from what is known as ‘primary osteoarthritis’. This condition mainly affects older people.

What are the symptoms of ankle osteoarthritis?

The first sign of wear and tear in this joint is if you experience pain when walking. In the beginning we only notice it after a long walk.

• Pressure on the ankle and more specifically a sharp pain in the ankle occurs when walking. It forces us to rest the ankle for a few minutes to relieve the pain.
• At a later stage, the ankle will swell. It will even become difficult to wear certain types of footwear.
• Many patients also complain of pain at night.
• We can also gradually develop painful heel spurs. We’ve already talked about this. This is a result of the increasing deformity of the ankle.

Treatment of ankle osteoarthritis

Injection of the ankle joint

The most common treatment is articular injections. They contain hyaluronic acid and corticosteroids.

The injections temporarily improve the mobility of the joint. This is because the components ‘lubricate’ the joint. But we emphasize again that this effect is only temporary.

Special arch supports

In these cases, the opinion of a specialist is fundamental. He will recommend the treatment most appropriate to remedy the symptoms.

• Using corrective orthotics is another common approach. They are used to support and correct foot deformity.
• They also reduce the force of impact on the ankle when walking. At the same time, they relieve the pain.

• Nowadays you will also find more specialized footwear on the market, with special arch supports that support the ankles.

Surgery

The traumatologist may recommend surgical intervention. Then we can choose to alleviate the disease through a procedure known as arthroscopy.  This procedure is effective in the early stages of the disease. The joint is corrected during a simple and usually quick operation.

On the other hand, you can opt for a complete ankle prosthesis. This will only be done in severe cases where the deterioration of the joint is already very advanced.

We now explain how you can completely regain the mobility of the joint.

How can I prevent osteoarthritis of the ankles?

We must not forget that osteoarthritis of the ankles can make us crippled. So try to avoid it as much as possible. What we can at least do is slow down development.

How can you handle this?

• For example, do movement exercises in the swimming pool.
• Walk and walk on flat surfaces where there are no bumps.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid wearing high heels very often.
• At home, try to walk barefoot for a few hours every day. After all, walking without shoes is the least dangerous.

see a doctor

In conclusion, we also remind you of an important aspect: problems of osteoarthritis are usually a genetic problem. So it is normal that we start to notice some of the symptoms of this condition around the age of fifty-five.

Consult a traumatologist and inform yourself about the treatments. He will give you advice on how to maintain healthy joints and how to reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis of the ankles.