Periarthritis of the ankle joint is a serious lesion of the ligaments and muscular apparatus of the articulation, which is accompanied by severe pain, limited mobility of the lower limb. Such a disease is extremely rare due to the special structure of this part of the leg, but it can cause a lot of problems.
General description of the disease
Periarthritis of the ankle joint is characterized by the fact that it affects only the soft periarticular tissues. The articulation itself is not damaged, so its functionality is not limited. The main cause of the lesion is considered to be excessive physical stress on the ankle, as well as concomitant pathologies of the supporting apparatus.
Most often, the disease occurs in females who have crossed the 40-year milestone. The place of fixation of the tendons in the region of the calcaneus is affected. The pathological process is degenerative-dystrophic. Ankle periarthritis requires combined treatment,and you shouldn't drag it out with him.
Reason for development
Before treating this disease, it is necessary to find out why it appears. The causes of periarthritis of the ankle joint are as follows:
- Increased physical load on the limb. In this case, the ligaments and muscles may not withstand the load, and microdamages appear on them. This pathology is often diagnosed in athletes.
- Excessive body weight, in which muscles and ligaments experience tremendous stress.
- Violation of metabolic processes in the body.
- Diseases of the endocrine system.
- Violation of the functionality of blood vessels, heart disease. In this case, the tissues do not receive proper nutrition.
- Arthrosis, spondylosis.
- Frequent hypothermia, prolonged exposure to dampness.
- Injury of the soft tissues of the joint.
- Congenital pathology of the supporting apparatus.
- Complication of infectious diseases.
- Difficult working and living conditions.
- Lack or excess of motor activity.
- Diabetes mellitus.
Periarthritis of the right ankle can be provoked by a genetic predisposition (muscle weakness, ligamentous apparatus). If therapy is prescribed on time, then the functionality of the foot will be restored in full.
Symptoms and signs of pathology
Symptoms of periarthritis of the foot and periarthritis of the ankle are usually severe. Can be distinguishedthe following signs of the disease:
- Severe pain in the affected area at the time of movement.
- Constant muscle tension.
- Severe swelling, limiting the mobility of the limb.
- The appearance of painful nodules and seals in the ankle area.
- Lameness, gait disturbance.
If the disease is not treated, it progresses rapidly. The patient develops a heel spur and may become disabled.
Disease types
According to ICD 10, periarthritis of the ankle joint has the code M05-M14. The disease can be classified as follows:
- According to the localization of the pathological process: bursitis, tendinitis, capsulitis, fasciitis.
- By nature of origin: primary, secondary (appeared as a result of another disease).
- Depending on the nature of the course of the disease: acute and chronic.
Most often, periarthritis of the ankle joint (foot), the treatment of which the doctor must prescribe, is characterized by vivid and intense symptoms.
Diagnostic features
Treatment of diseases of the joints, periarthritis of the foot, in particular, begins with a complete examination of the person, including procedures such as:
- X-ray. Thanks to him, the presence of other pathologies is excluded.
- Ultrasound (swelling of the tendons is determined).
- MRI or CT. Such a study is considered the most informative. Specialists have the opportunity to examine the affected tissues in layers, evaluate themcondition. Tomography allows you to determine the causes of the development of the pathological process.
- Laboratory tests of blood and urine. They detect inflammation in the body. In this case, rheumatic tests must be negative.
Also, the specialist records the patient's complaints, collects his anamnesis.
General principles for the treatment of periarthritis
Treatment of ankle periarthritis should be comprehensive. It is carried out according to the following principles:
- getting rid of symptoms;
- pain relief;
- restoration of limb mobility;
- inhibition of the development of destructive processes in the joint;
- prevention of complications.
To achieve this, you need to use several therapies.
Traditional Therapy
To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, the following drugs are prescribed to the patient:
- NSAIDs: Diclofenac, Ibuprofen. They eliminate inflammation, pain and other symptoms. These drugs are prescribed in the form of ointment, tablets, gel. The duration of their application does not exceed 7 days.
- Painkillers: "Nise", "Analgin", "Spasmolgon".
- Steroids: Diprospan, Hydrocortisone. They are introduced into the periarticular cavity and remove the inflammatory process. These injections are often not allowed.
- Chondroprotectors: "Don", "Artra". They normalize the metabolism in the articulation itself, preventdestruction of cartilage.
- Multivitamin preparations.
If a person feels intense pain, then he is prescribed Novocaine injections.
In addition to taking medication, the patient needs to do physical therapy exercises. They are selected by the attending physician. At first, the intensity of execution is low. Thanks to the complex, you can quickly develop a limb. Physical education improves blood and lymph flow, relieves swelling. It is enough just to bend and unbend the joint, make circular movements with it.
No less effective is the treatment of ankle periarthritis with ointments.
Physiotherapy treatment
In addition to medication, the patient is prescribed physiotherapy:
- Mud applications. They allow you to eliminate pain in the affected part of the limb, improve local immunity.
- Pharmacopuncture. This procedure involves the point administration of medications.
- Laser and magnetic therapy. Treatment in this way allows you to improve the defenses, reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process, stimulate blood circulation, lymph outflow. These treatments help reduce swelling.
- Electro and vibration massage. It normalizes muscle tone, therefore, reduces the strength of pain.
- UHT. Here, the affected tissues are cleansed of harmful substances, the outflow of lymph is restored.
- Electrophoresis with medications. Due to the electrical action, the medicinepenetrates deep into the tissues and acts more effectively.
Acupuncture and acupressure are considered a good method of dealing with periarthritis. Thanks to these procedures, the metabolism in the affected tissues improves, the mobility of the limb improves.
Surgical intervention is rare, as the disease can be managed with traditional methods.
Treatment with folk remedies
You can fight pathology not only with medicines, but also with folk remedies. They are able to reduce the intensity of inflammation, improve metabolic processes and tissue nutrition. But before using this method of treatment, you need to consult a specialist.
The following recipes will be useful:
- You will need a bucket of water and half a kilo of hay dust. Raw materials need to be boiled over low heat for several minutes. It takes half an hour to infuse. The liquid is filtered and poured into the basin. The product is used for foot baths. It takes 30 minutes to take them. At the same time, you need to make sure that the water is constantly warm.
- Honey. This remedy contains a huge amount of useful substances that allow not only to eliminate the symptoms, but also to restore the affected tissues. A compress is made from honey, which is fixed on the ankle for the whole night and tied with a warm scarf.
- Compress based on horseradish. It has a warming effect. It must be used carefully so as not to burn the skin. First, the vegetable is rubbed, and then laid out on a napkin and fixed over the affected tissues. It should be kept no more thanhours.
- Infusion with calendula or nettle. Requires 1 tbsp. l. pour a liter of boiling water over the selected crushed plant. It takes 20 minutes to infuse. Next, the liquid is filtered and used for grinding. You can also use it inside.
Folk remedies are not a panacea. They cannot always fully cope with the disease, so they are used in combination with drugs prescribed by a doctor.
Possible Complications
The lack of therapy does not go unnoticed. The inflammatory process becomes stronger, the symptoms become brighter. If no measures are taken, then such complications of the pathology are possible:
- constant presence of pain;
- inability to move freely, as each turn of the leg causes unpleasant symptoms;
- loss of ankle mobility.
Incorrect treatment or lack thereof will lead to tissue necrosis. In this case, the person may become disabled.
Prevention of pathology
Information about periarthritis, causes, signs, symptoms and treatment is important for all patients who have a genetic predisposition to pathologies of the supporting apparatus or have a history of trauma. But there is an opportunity to prevent the development of inflammation. To do this, it is important to follow the following recommendations of experts:
- Do not allow body weight to go beyond the norm. Additional weight increases the load on the joint, leading to microdamage to soft tissues.
- Follow your diet. The diet should contain foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Additionally, it is recommended to use dietary supplements.
- Wear comfortable shoes. In some cases, it is better to choose orthopedic things.
- If there are pathologies of the foot, they must be treated in a timely manner. At the same time, self-medication can lead to disastrous results.
- Avoid traumatic ankle injury.
- Be active. You should do simple gymnastics for the ankle, especially if the person has a sedentary job. The load must be dosed.
- Perform self-massage of the joints of the foot.
Compliance with preventive measures will avoid the development of the inflammatory process.
Periarthritis of the ankle is a rare disease, which, however, significantly reduces the quality of human life. Any inflammatory process in this area must be treated in a timely and correct manner.
