Osteoarthritis of the ankle joints: causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment

2024 Author: Curtis Blomfield | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 20:44

The movable bone joint between the foot and lower leg during walking experiences loads exceeding body weight by 7 times. Lifting weights, standing for a long time, and being overweight also adversely affect him. These loads can lead to the development of such a serious pathology as osteoarthritis of the ankle joints. Consider what kind of ailment it is, what provoked it and how to deal with it.

Characteristic of the disease

Osteoarthritis of the ankle joints is a fairly common ailment. According to statistics, this pathology is diagnosed in 80% of people aged 50-60.

In the course of life, large loads fall on the joints, which a person, while the joints do not bother him, does not even think about. However, it is they that trigger the aging mechanism. This process destroys the fibers in the joints. in he althy jointsthe loss is made up by the synthesis of new ones.

But if the balance between destruction and restoration is disturbed, then osteoarthritis begins to develop. The cartilage becomes brittle and becomes dry. The ankle joint swells and hurts. He is no longer able to withstand the load. Over time, it breaks down. However, the changes concern not only cartilage. They also affect the bone underneath.

Outgrowths begin to grow along the edge of the joint. They seem to compensate for the loss of cartilage with enlarged articular surfaces. This is how deforming osteoarthritis of the ankle joint develops.

Causes of illness

Pathology can provoke a variety of factors. And most often the disease occurs as a result of a combination of several causes.

The main factors that provoke osteoarthritis of the ankle joints are:

1. Aging. Cartilage becomes less elastic with age, loses its ability to resist stress.
2. Congenital pathologies. The weakness of the connective tissue often causes the development of flat feet. If you do not follow a certain regimen, arthrosis may appear at a young age.
3. Genetic predisposition. This fact is scientifically proven.
4. Injuries. Dangerous as one-time severe damage, and permanent tiny microtrauma. The latter are often provoked by the peculiarities of the profession or sports. So, ballerinas very often develop osteoarthritis of the ankle joints.
5. Associated ailments. broken exchange,endocrine pathologies can cause the development of the disease. Most often, pathology occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus, obese people, with atherosclerosis, thyroid diseases.

Stages of pathology

According to the progression of the disease, several degrees of the disease are distinguished:

1. Osteoarthritis of the 1st degree. This is the beginning of the development of the disease. Significant cartilage damage has not yet been observed. The joint looks quite normal. No visual changes are visible. However, the process of destruction has already begun. The cartilage is deficient in nutrients. As a result, his cells begin to gradually die. Adjacent tissues also suffer. The person is experiencing some pain.
2. Osteoarthritis of the ankle joint 2 degrees. In this case, unpleasant manifestations are already more pronounced. The patient experiences severe discomfort. The pain is regular. Sometimes it doesn't even stop. There is deformity of the joint. X-ray confirms that irreversible processes have occurred. Bones have grown far beyond the joint.
3. Osteoarthritis of the 3rd degree - deforming. With such a pathology, changes are visible even to the naked eye. Cartilage, ligaments, articular bags are very badly affected. The result is a deformity of the ankle joint.

Symptoms of the disease

All manifestations that occur with this disease depend on the degree of pathology. These symptoms get worse over time.

The pathology is characterized by the following manifestations:

1. Pain syndrome. Discomfort gradually increases. Initially, a person experiences pain only while walking, running, playing sports. At rest, unpleasant symptoms completely disappear. With the progression of the disease, discomfort occurs even at night. It is aching in nature and does not allow a person to rest in peace. The ankle joint swells and hurts. In the future, discomfort occurs even in the morning. A person cannot calmly step on his foot.
2. Limited joint mobility, stiffness of movement.
3. The limb is clamped in one position.
4. Along with swelling, the temperature in the painful area may rise. Such symptoms characterize the acute stage of the disease.
5. Deformation of the articulation.
6. A man cannot step on his foot. A vivid symptom that characterizes this pathology.

Cure disease

Only complex therapy is being undertaken to combat such a pathology as osteoarthritis of the ankle joint.

Treatment includes the following activities:

1. Massage. It allows you to get rid of painful spasms, improves blood circulation, stimulates the transmission of impulses. As a result, cartilage is better nourished.
2. Physiotherapy. Soft methods are assigned. Can be recommended: magnetotherapy, electrophoresis with Dimexide, laser therapy, EHF-therapy.
3. Exercising exercises. This is a prerequisite for comprehensive rehabilitation.
4. Orthopedic products. They can significantly reducestress on the injured joint. The patient may be advised to wear orthopedic shoes or a special arch support.

Along with such therapy, drug treatment is prescribed:

1. NSAIDs. Medicines are recommended to relieve inflammation and reduce pain: Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Movalis, Ibuprofen.
2. Anti-inflammatory ointments. Medications will bring benefits: Fastum-gel, Dolgit-cream, Diclofenac-gel, Revmagel, Erazon.
3. Intra-articular injection. To quickly alleviate the patient's suffering, drugs are injected directly into the joint: Kenalog, Diprospan, Depo-medrol, Celeston.
4. Chondroprotectors. Such drugs can be taken in the form of tablets: "Struktum", "Don". Medicines for intramuscular injections: "Rumalon", "Alflutop". For intra-articular injection, the medicines Alflutop, Traumeel, Target T are used.

Folk remedies

This treatment is very popular. However, it should be understood that it will only benefit in complex therapy. In addition, its effectiveness can be counted on if osteoarthritis of the ankle joint is not running.

Folk remedies are often used as follows:

1. Rice must be crushed and pre-soaked. Mix it with vaseline. It is recommended to apply this gruel on the affected joint at night.
2. Take 10 g of bay leaves. Pour 1 tbsp. boiling water. Boil for 5 minutes. This decoction should be drunk all day in small sips. Heperfectly removes toxins, slags and s alts from the body. Duration of admission can be from 2 weeks to 1 month. After a break, you can repeat the therapy.

Disease prevention

To protect your body from the development of pathology, doctors recommend following the recommendations:

1. Watch your weight.
2. Provide proper nutrition for your body.
3. Be sure to do physical exercises (they should be selected with an orthopedist).
4. Choose the right shoes (long-term walking in high heels is unacceptable).

And most importantly, contact your doctor in a timely manner. After all, a pathology detected in the early stages can be suspended.