Arthritis in the foot and ankle affects one or more of the joints causing stiffness and pain. The small joints of the ankle and foot may be affected. There are more forms of Houston Foot and Ankle Arthritis that affect the ankle and foot which can make walking and performing activities very difficult. Though there is no cure, Arthritis Treatment Houston by Houston arthritis specialist is to manage pain, remain active, and continue with activities you enjoy.
The foot and ankle provide support and balance through walking, standing, and running. They are essential for motion and the three bones in an ankle joint allow up and down movement. The foot and ankle have more than 30 joints and these joints are covered in a slippery substance that is called articular cartilage that helps the bones glide smoothly over each other. Foot and ankle arthritis reduced the articular cartilage causing the bones to grind against each other which causes pain when in movement.
The three types of arthritis that affect the foot and ankle include
- Osteoarthritis: a wear-and-tear arthritis common in people past middle age. The cartilage in the joints gradually wears away causing the bones to rub against each other. Other risk factors causing osteoarthritis include obesity and generational history of the disease in a family.
- Rheumatoid arthritis affects multiple joints in the body but starts in the foot and ankle. It affects the same joints on both sides of the body, meaning if it is an ankle both ankles are affected.
- Posttraumatic arthritis: Develops after an injury to the foot and ankle. Any injury that previously affected the joint surface might lead to posttraumatic arthritis as the cartilage wears away after the initial injury. This is because during the injury the body might secrete hormones that lead to the death of the cartilage cells.
Ankle Arthritis
It occurs when there is a breakdown of the cartilage in the ankle joint. This breakdown occurs due to
Trauma, infection, or autoimmune disease. Most cases of ankle arthritis have been discovered to
Come from old injuries. If you suspect ankle arthritis visit a specialist in arthritis Cypress complete for a
Diagnosis and customized treatment plan.
The symptoms of ankle arthritis include swelling, pain that increases with activity, deformity, loss of mobility, and stiffness. The podiatrist starts by taking a complete history and a physical examination. Some of the things looked at include skin changes, nerve sensations, range of motion, absence, and presence of pulses, and areas of discomfort. X-rays are taken to evaluate the degree of the ankle problem and arthritis. Further testing can be done using MRI and CT scans, especially if surgery is being considered.
Non-surgical ankle arthritis treatments
Houston Arthritic Foot & Ankle Care Treatment is customized in consideration of other treatments, other medical conditions, and your overall health. Some of these treatments include:
Ankle bracing: Provides support and stabilizes your ankle joint. You can get a pre-fabricated or custom-made ankle brace.
Activity modifications: apply a limit to high-impact activities such as sports that involves running and jumping. Stick to low-impact sports and activities.
Cortisone injections: The injection is administered directly to the affected area especially during a flare-up to reduce swelling and pain.
Ice and anti-inflammatory drugs: Used to decrease symptoms of swelling and pain.
When all non-surgery treatments fail to alleviate pain and discomfort then surgery is considered. Surgeries that are considered include:
- Arthroplasty (total ankle joint replacement): It utilizes the newest implants available. The surgery is performed on ankle arthritis patients to preserve functions and offer pain relief. This procedure is performed by our highly qualified foot doctors for the best results.
- Arthrodesis (ankle fusion): it is done on an outpatient or inpatient depending on your condition and the doctor’s assessment. It fuses the two bones that make up the ankle joint into one block of bone. Pain is caused by the bones rubbing against each other and ankle fusion is excellent for relieving pain from arthritic joints. The procedure can cause 75% of the ankle motion to be lost but the rest of the foot retains its motion movement.
- Debridement (bone spur removal): foot and ankle arthritis leave the ankle joint susceptible to the development of bone spurs. This procedure is used to remove bone spurs to improve the range of motion and relieve pain. The removal can be done through arthroscopy or an open ankle incision.
- Distraction arthroplasty: is a new technique used for joint restoration by applying an external frame to the ankle joint to encourage cartilage growth. It relieves pain and maintains ankle motion.
