Arthritis of the ankle joint is a disease that occurs mainly in girls, lovers of high heels and athletes. It manifests itself in the form of inflammation of the joint that connects the leg to the foot. In the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), ankle arthritis is coded M - 13 (other arthritis).
Reasons
Arthritis of the ankle usually occurs as a result of degenerative and dystrophic diseases of the joints. The reasons include impaired metabolism, pathologies of systemic origin, as well as a past infectious disease. The symptoms and treatment of ankle arthritis depend on the specific causes.
- Metabolism disorder due to parasitic invasion. However, arthritis is a secondary disease.
- Infection and bacteria affecting the joint.
- Specific (infection with gonococcus, chlamydia) and non-specific form are known - for example, after furunculosis.
- Immune failure - the body considers the joints to be a foreign inclusion, and acts aggressively against it.
- Joint damage.
In addition, the causes of this type of ankle arthritis in humans can also be urogenital or intestinal infections: vaginitis, urethritis or enterocolitis. They provoke the appearance of reactive arthritis after the manifestation of the underlying disease.
Ankle arthritis can also cause:
- overweight;
- hormonal failure;
- hypothermia of the joint;
- disturbed metabolism;
- flat feet;
- wearing tight and poor quality shoes with unstable heels;
- heredity;
- low immunity, allergic reactions;
- sport activity.
In childhood, arthritis of this type can occur as a result of respiratory and intestinal infections: for example, influenza, dysentery, yersiniosis, salmonellosis, chlamydial or mycoplasma infections. Also of no small importance in establishing the cause of the disease are allergic reactions, for example, to wool, pollen and food products. Rheumatoid arthritis leads to the development of an inflammatory process in the synovial membrane, which is accompanied by its growth, fusion of the joint surface, deformation of bone and cartilage tissue.
Symptoms of ankle arthritis
In acute arthritis, the onset is sudden and most often at night.
This disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Pain in the affected joint and swelling.
- Increased body temperature.
- Stability of the foot and hyperemia in the joint area.
- Headaches due to vasospasm.
Chronic form
It is characterized by a slow increase in symptoms. Pains are expressed poorly. In the morning there is stiffness of the joints, the patient cannot stand on the affected foot.
Arthritis is divided into several stages:
- Pain only disturbs when moving and disappears on its own.
- In the second stage of joint damage, the pain begins to disturb the patient at rest and lasts quite a long time.
- The third stage of this disease leads to the appearance of the patient's disability. The patient loses the ability to move independently and can move with the help of a special stick. The affected area is severely deformed.
These main symptoms of ankle arthritis are most common in older populations but are now also seen in young adults.
With proper treatment, there is a positive trend. If pain occurs in the area of any joint, it is necessary to seek help from a specialist in a timely manner.
Views
There are several types of ankle arthritis. They all occur for different reasons.
Depending on these causes, ankle arthritis is usually divided by doctors into:
- rheumatoid;
- gouty;
- reactive (other names: infectious or purulent);
- periarthritis;
- traumatic (post-traumatic);
- load.
In rheumatoid arthritis of the ankle joint, the ankle joint itself becomes inflamed. Most often, this is a genetic disease, that is, it is inherited. Or the disease occurs as an allergic reaction to something. Gradually, the joint is being destroyed, so this type is also called degenerative.
Gouty arthritis of the ankle is a type that occurs when there is a metabolic disorder. Due to poor metabolism in the joints, s alt deposits begin, which causes pain when walking. In the case of the gouty type, bad habits (smoking, alcohol, excessive coffee consumption) worsen the condition.
Reactive arthritis of the ankle develops due to human infections:
- intestinal;
- Urinary;
- nasopharyngeal.
In this case, arthritis develops as a reaction to microbes that cause all of these infections.
With periarthritis, it is not the joint itself that becomes inflamed, but the tissues around it - muscles, ligaments or tendons. Most often this occurs as a result of overexertion of these tissues or in violation of blood circulation in the legs.
Traumatic (or post-traumatic) arthritis can occur as a result of a foot injury. Due to bruises, sprains or rupture of ligaments, blood enters the joint cavity, which causes aseptic inflammation. This arthritis can appear even years after the injury.
Stress arthritis develops due to a largepressure on the joints of the foot. Often this occurs when overweight or constant and frequent stress on the legs.
There is also a division of arthritis of the ankle not due to development, but according to the nature of the course of the disease:
- simple;
- chronic;
- spicy.
In the simple form, joint pain is not severe, but causes only slight discomfort.
In the chronic form, the disease develops slowly over time; often the symptoms are not pronounced. But over time, the pain in the foot gets worse.
In acute forms, arthritis develops quite quickly. Ankle pain is severe, sharp and sudden (may be shooting or aching), often accompanied by swelling.
Degrees of ankle arthritis
The ankle joint is the most active and loaded joint, so problems can often arise with it, and at any age.
Arthritis of the ankle joint (ICD-10, M-13) is a rather complex disease that is caused by increased stress on the joint, as well as a violation of its stability.
There are 4 known stages that require immediate medical attention.
First degree
At this stage, arthrosis is rarely detected, since the symptoms are mild, and they are attributed to a slight sprain or fatigue, and after rest the pain usually disappears. Swelling of the foot is attributed to poor circulation or poor functioning of the kidneys. It is possible to determine the pathology at this stage only after an X-ray examination.
Second degree
When moving the foot or walking in the second degree of the disease, a dull crunch can be heard, which may indicate a deficiency of hyaluronic acid in a person. As a result of this, the intra-articular fluid turns, in fact, into water, and may even disappear completely. The joints are poorly lubricated, often causing them to break down.
Third degree
Symptoms of arthrosis of the ankle joint at this stage are clinically pronounced: pain occurs even at rest, almost constantly. The joint is deformed, protrusions appear on the foot, ossification of the ligaments provokes a curvature of the foot relative to the lower leg.
Restricted mobility noted:
- Virtually impossible to flex and rotate the ankle.
- X-ray shows completely destroyed hyaline cartilage, which is replaced by osteophytes.
- All tendons and ligaments are deformed and calcified.
Fourth degree
At this stage, the patient feels severe pain, limited movements are blocked. Moreover, neither painkillers nor active physiotherapy stop the pain.
The disease can have 2 options:
- Ankylosis, in which the ankle joint is completely fused.
- Neoarthrosis is the development of a deceptive (false) joint, which is located at the ends of displaced bones.
Independent movement at this stage is impossible if arthrosis has passed into thisdegree, we can talk about disability. There is a complete destruction of cartilage and bone tissue. It is possible to perform arthroplasty, in which damaged ankle joints are replaced with ceramic, plastic or metal prostheses.
Diagnosis of arthritis
Proper diagnosis allows you to identify this disease at an early stage. First of all, the doctor collects an anamnesis of life from the patient, and, based on complaints, prescribes additional laboratory tests.
Basic laboratory diagnostic methods:
- Complete blood count. Its indicators show whether there is an inflammatory process in the human body.
- X-ray of a diseased joint. This study is the most informative, with the help of it the stage of the disease and changes in the tissues are determined. Also, if various formations are present, this method will help determine their size.
- Ultrasound is the safest type of research, it helps to determine the state of the ligaments and their pathology.
- MRI is the most accurate type of study, which determines not only tissue damage, but also deep layers of bones.
- A detailed biochemical blood test will help determine the presence of chemicals in the human body.
With the passage of this list of tests prescribed by a doctor, arthritis can be cured at an early stage. After all, only the correct diagnosis is the key to a successful recovery. After diagnosing, identifying symptoms, and treating arthritisankle joint, proceed directly to treatment.
Diet
For the successful treatment of arthritis of the ankle joint (code M-13), proper nutrition is of no small importance.
Undoubtedly, sticking to a diet for arthritis will be quite difficult, but avoiding certain foods can significantly speed up recovery! Cooking should be either steamed or baked to preserve all the beneficial substances.
The patient is not recommended to eat smoked meats, s alty foods, spicy and fatty foods, canned food, and vegetables that contain a lot of starch. The same list includes too hot and cold dishes, dairy products and rich broths. Only vegetable fat is allowed!
It is worth avoiding highly allergenic foods:
- whole milk;
- bell pepper;
- chocolate;
- eggs;
- coffee;
- persimmons;
- nuts;
- bananas;
- honey;
- mushrooms.
If arthritis of the ankle started due to poor metabolism, fruits, linseed oil, rosehip, lemon and currant decoctions, sea fish, chicken, turkey or rabbit meat will be useful.
The diet should be maximally saturated with omega-3 acids, which prevent the occurrence of the inflammatory process, while restoring the cartilage tissue of the ankle joint.
Gymnastics witharthritis
Gymnastics is best to start with a warm-up. Regular exercise, where there are stretching elements along with strength, helps to reduce pain and stiffness of the joints.
You need to sit on a chair, cross your legs and slowly turn your free foot, describing circles. Then change legs and repeat the exercise with the other one.
- Exercise number 1. Stand with your back to the wall, feet shoulder-width apart, feet should rest on the floor. With both hands you need to rest against the wall and tilt the body forward. Do not take your left foot off the floor, do not raise your heels, take a step forward with your right foot. Do not bend the left foot, bend the right knee and bring the hip joint forward a little. Gently pull yourself forward and stay in this state for two to five seconds. You need to feel a slight tension in the area of \u200b\u200bthe left ankle joint, but if pain is suddenly felt, then immediately end the exercise. Repeat the same steps with the other leg.
- Exercise number 2. Sit on a soft chair, put your feet on the floor. As soon as you can lift your toes high on your left foot, do not lift your heel off the floor.
Medicated treatment
It is not uncommon to get rid of severe pain, inflammation and swelling in arthritis of the ankle joint only with medications.
Drug treatment involves the use of the following means:
- Antibacterial drugs: Levomycetin or Tetracycline. Effective in the presence of bacterialinfections.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs of non-steroidal origin in the form of gels, ointments, injections or tablets to relieve inflammation, swelling and pain: Diclofenac, Diflonisal, Nimesulide, Aspirin, Ketoprofen, Ibuprofen, "Nabumeton", "Indomethacin", "Voltaren" and others.
- Painkillers: Oxycodone, Oxycontrin, Morphine, Methadone, Tramadol, Vicodin.
- Vitamin therapy for collagen production and stimulation of metabolic processes.
- Chondroprotectors to restore the integrity of cartilage and tissues of the ankle joint: "Chondroitin".
- Antipyretic and tonic drugs that are prescribed taking into account the underlying disease and the general condition of the person.
It is important that all medicines are selected exclusively by the attending physician, taking into account the cause that provoked this disease.
Herbal treatment
Treatment of ankle arthritis with herbs is possible only when taken together with medications. With the help of herbs, it is possible to remove a strong inflammatory process, but this disease cannot be completely cured.
- Cedar. With the help of cedar, healers have long been helping to relieve pain in muscles and joints. This is also possible in the case of arthritis. Moreover, cedar also has the ability to increase immunity, which is important in the treatment of arthritis. How to cook? It's easy to prepare. Cedar bark is poured with alcohol and allowed to infuse in a dark place for a day. This tincture should be rubbed on the sore spot. Alsocedar tincture is sold in a pharmacy, but it will need to be taken orally. It does not relieve pain, but improves immunity. When using homemade tincture, the pain will go away within half an hour. But this will only be an anesthetic effect, after a while the pain will return again.
- Herbal tea. Or as it is also called herbal tea. It helps relieve inflammation and improve joint metabolism. How to cook? The pharmacy sells a ready-made collection, which is brewed with boiling water and drunk three times daily. The collection includes willow bark, succession, wild rose, mountain ash. Herbal tea is consumed at the first symptoms of arthritis, while the inflammation resolves within five days.
There are other herbs that successfully relieve inflammation.
