Ankle arthritis: symptoms, treatment

Ankle Arthritis is a disease caused by the violation of the load on the joint proportions and the stability of its components. At the first signs of the disease need to seek immediate medical attention, to set the correct diagnosis and effective treatment.

The inflammatory process is developing quite rapidly, gradually limited motor activity disrupted lifestyle, there is a temporary disability, and in some cases even disability.

What it is?

Ankle arthritis - an inflammatory chronic or acute disease of this joint human motor system. Defeat of the joint formed owing to the development of some pathological changes in the patient, e.g., lupus, Bechterew disease, gout or rheumatoid arthritis.

The causes of arthritis of the ankle joint

Arthritis ankle may be precipitated by factors:

1. Failure in the hormonal background.
2. Malfunction of the immune system in which the body can be hostile to its own tissues, considering them alien.
3. Wearing uncomfortable or wrong shoes, and very high heels.
4. An allergic reaction.
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5. Addictions.
6. Sharp and strong supercooling.
7. Hereditary predisposition.
8. Professional or sport activity.
9. Non-specific or specific infections.
10. Metabolic disorders in the body (due to this developing gout). In this case, the arthritis is not the primary and secondary disease.
11. Excessive body weight, at which on the ankle is very large load that destroys joint tissue.
12. Joint injury or other mechanical injuries of bones, cartilage, ligaments or muscles.
13. Other pathologies of the ankle, such as flat feet.

All of these factors can trigger many other pathologies, so you must pay attention to the symptoms of disease, as well as undergo a thorough diagnosis.

stage of the disease

There are several stages of the flow of arthritis of the ankle:

first degree	pain occur periodically, usually on the joint at loads. There is a general malaise. At this stage of the disease should consult a doctor, because without proper treatment it will go into the next level, which is much more difficult amenable to therapy.
second degree	joint pain more severe and can persist in a dormant period. There is swelling and redness of the area around the joint. During the load characteristic can be heard crunching. In this step may begin deformation of the joint in the absence of treatment.
third degree	developing the disease if untreated. In this step becomes appreciable joint deformity, walking difficult, lameness appears, and in a particularly severe cases may complete absence of the possibility of independent movement and loss disability.

The symptoms of arthritis of the ankle joint

The first symptoms of inflammation of the ankles are directly dependent on the primary pathological activity. But due to the presence of inflammatory foci, the disease has a number of common features common to all of its forms:

1. Sharp pain in the ankle joint;
2. The presence of edema, which can be seen on pressure in the ankle;
3. Increasing the temperature of the skin and redness at the site of the affected joint;
4. Difficulty in walking, due to the limitation of joint movement;
5. The presence of general inflammation symptoms: fever, malaise and weakness.

The presence of ankle arthritis in any case force the patient to see a doctor, because over time, a sharp pain starts accompanied by difficulty in movement.

At the beginning of the disease can be an acute or progressive course of the disease. Typical clinical manifestations may be absent, but suspect the presence of the disease is still possible in two ways:

1. The presence of pain at full amplitude of the extension and flexion of the ankle joint;
2. Feeling of tightness when dressing usual shoes, arising due to swelling of the foot.

What is Arthritis: photo

In the next picture of ankle joint arthritis symptoms typical of 1 and 2 stages of development of destruction.

The consequences of the disease

If you do not provide proper treatment, can develop such effects:

• in cartilaginous shell is completely destroyed within 2 years;
• joints deformed shape;
• joint mobility is lost, forming defects walk;
• developing muscle atrophy tibia (patient limb becomes thin);
• complete fusion of the joint fragments with subsequent disabilities.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of ankle arthritis, symptoms and treatment is determined by the attending physician rheumatologist, which conducts a course of special diagnostic tests.

To determine arthritis conduct such survey methods:

1. ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate);
2. leukocytes;
3. Rheumatoid factor;
4. Sterile blood.
5. The study of the synovial fluid (intake material carried by puncture);
6. Arthroscopy with biopsy of articular tissues;
7. X-rays;
8. US patient joints and internal organs (rheumatoid arthritis);
9. CT and MRI.

Treatment of arthritis of the ankle joint

First of all the joints of patients assigned the maximum rest. If you can not stick to bed rest, then you need to apply the elastic bandage over the affected area, which will immobilize the affected joint. During the walk it is recommended to use a cane, which will take over most of the load.

Conservative treatment of arthritis ankle reduces to:

• Antibiotic therapy, the purpose of which is justified only in the fight against the bacterial form of the disease. Antimicrobials used with a broad spectrum of activity (tetracycline, chloramphenicol);
• Painkillers. These tools are needed to a patient to relieve pain in the affected area. However, when the pain stops, the person feels better and begins to increase the burden on the ankle, which is fraught with even greater problems with joints. That is why doctors strongly insist on the use in treatment of crutches and other aids;
• Also appointed hondoprotektory designed to slow the expansion and recovery of cartilage. However, treatment agents of this type has an effect only in the initial stages of the disease where cartilage tissue itself can still be recovered.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as diclofenac, aspirin, Voltaren. They reduce the swelling, but their use should take place under the supervision of a specialist, because they have undesirable side effects. When stored in disease progression stage, endocrine therapy is prescribed;
• Vitamin. For improvement of metabolic processes in the body as a whole and directly into the affected joint is assigned folic acid and vitamin B and C;
• Special diet at which the patient should abandon Solanaceae, since they cause pain, and by the use of canned and smoked, because they contain large amounts of salt;

At untimely treatment of the disease, may develop synovitis or deforming arthrosis, and then drug therapy is not enough.

Physical therapy procedures

Good help in reducing pain, as well as restoring functionality in inflammatory processes of the joints can have physiotherapy. They are used as follows: ultrasound treatment; cold; using hydro-massage; and flyuidoterapiya. Improve blood circulation and restore joint mobility help manual'nye manipulation.

The above-mentioned disease has a negative impact on the mobility of the joints, reducing the natural articular surfaces glide shells. With the help of manual mobilization can improve the mechanical joint function and reduce pain. Certain exercises also help to reduce pain. leg muscles are the shock absorbers. If the strength of muscles, which are placed around the joint will increase, then it will help to reduce ankle strain.

Folk remedies

At home, to the basic treatment of osteoarthritis of the ankle can add treatment of folk remedies. Very good help decoction of the leaves of bilberry. For this cup of boiling water is poured for 2 hours. l. prepared herbal materials and placed in a water bath for 15 minutes. After cooling, used in small sips throughout the day. According to this principle are prepared decoctions of black currant leaves, corn silk and birch buds.

A good effect is herbal tea from a mixture of birch, stinging nettle and violets. Each component is over 2.5 spoon filled with 200 g boiling water and infused in a water bath for 10 minutes. Take 0.5 cups of up to 4 times a day.

operative therapy

When conservative therapy is ineffective and running severe acute arthritis ankle treated surgically. During the operation, produce a fusion of the joint department, or the prosthesis is inserted. The goal of surgery - to help the joint to move again, to increase its efficiency, eliminate pain.

Appointed by the operation in the following cases:

• after conservative treatment of the pain persists and becomes stronger;
• lost performance stop, is lost their mobility;
• inflammation affects the internal organs;
• there was a severe articular deformity;
• there is the beginning of necrosis (happens very rarely).

One type of surgical treatment of ankle arthritis is arthroplasty. Before the operation, be sure the patient is undergoing X-rays, on which the images clearly visible focus and degree of development of the disease. The surgeon makes a few incisions and through them carried out all the necessary manipulations. After this procedure, the patient has fully recovered mobility of the joint.

Forecast

The forecast is quite favorable, if not to delay treatment for such diseases as arthritis of the ankle joint. On how well the doctor will select the treatment strategy based on the available evidence and symptoms after conducted diagnostic methods will depend on the effectiveness and the duration of the healing process and period rehabilitation.

In such a disease, like arthritis important time to immobilize the joint, reduce the load, stop the inflammation, prevent its further development. A great role in the treatment plays wearing proper orthopedic shoes with tabs to reduce the load on the foot.

It is important to keep the joint, to comply strictly with all the doctor's instructions. Once the symptoms go away, you can expect improvements, the restoration of cartilage cavity and mobility of the ankle joint.