Arthritis of the ankle 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 lower leg with the foot. In the international classification of diseases (ICD-10), arthritis of the ankle joint is under the code M - 13 (other arthritis).
Causes
Arthritis of the ankle usually occurs as a result of degenerative and dystrophic diseases of the joints. The causes include impaired metabolism, pathologies of systemic origin, as well as an infectious disease. Symptoms and treatment of ankle arthritis depend on specific causes.
- Disruption of metabolism due to parasitic invasion. In this case, arthritis is a secondary disease.
- Damage to the joint with infection and bacteria.
- A specific (infection with gonococcus, chlamydia) and non-specific form is known - for example, after furunculosis.
- Immunity failure - the body considers the joints a foreign inclusion, and acts aggressively against it.
- Joint damage.
In addition, urogenital or intestinal infections: vaginitis, urethritis, or enterocolitis can also be the causes of the development of this type of ankle arthritis in humans. They provoke the appearance of reactive arthritis after the manifestation of the underlying disease.
Also arthritis of the ankle joint can cause:
- overweight;
- hormonal disbalance;
- hypothermia of the joint;
- impaired metabolism;
- flat feet;
- wearing tight and low-quality shoes with an unstable heel;
- heredity;
- low immunity, allergic reactions;
- sports activities.
In childhood, this type of arthritis can occur as a result of respiratory and intestinal infections: for example, flu, dysentery, yersiniosis, salmonellosis, chlamydial or mycoplasma infection. Also important in determining the cause of the disease are allergic reactions, for example, to wool, pollen and food. Rheumatoid arthritis leads to the development of the inflammatory process in the synovial membrane, which is accompanied by its growth, fusion of the joint surface, deformation of bone and cartilage.
Symptoms of Arthritis of the Ankle
In acute arthritis, the disease begins suddenly and most often at night.
The following symptoms are characteristic of this disease:
- Pain in the affected joint and swelling.
- Fever.
- Foot immobility and hyperemia in the joint.
- Headaches due to vasospasm.
Chronic form
It is characterized by a slow increase in symptoms. The pains are mild. In the morning there is stiffness of the joints, the patient can not stand on the affected foot.
Arthritis is divided into several stages:
- Pain sensations only bother with movement and disappear on their own.
- In the second stage of joint damage, pains begin to disturb the patient at rest and hold on for quite some time.
- The third stage of this disease leads to the patient's disability. The patient loses the opportunity for independent movement and can move with the help of a special stick. The affected area is seriously deformed.
These main symptoms of ankle arthritis are most often found in age groups of the population, but are now also observed at a young age.
With proper treatment, there is a positive trend. If pain occurs in the area of any joint, it is necessary to consult a specialist in a timely manner.
Kinds
There are several types of arthritis of the ankle joint. All of them arise for various 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) ;
- stressful.
With 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. The destruction of the joint is progressing gradually, therefore this kind is also called degenerative.
Gouty arthritis of the ankle joint is a type that occurs when metabolic disorders. Due to poor metabolism in the joints, salt deposition begins, and this causes pain when walking. In the case of a gouty type, bad habits (smoking, alcohol, excessive drinking of coffee) worsen the condition.
Reactive arthritis of the ankle joint develops due to human infections:
- intestinal;
- genitourinary;
- nasopharyngeal.
In this case, arthritis develops as a reaction to microbes that cause all of these infections.
With periarthritis, the joint itself is not inflamed, but the tissues around it - muscles, ligaments or tendons. Most often this occurs as a result of overstrain of these tissues or in case of circulatory disturbance in the legs.
As a result of a foot injury, traumatic (or post-traumatic) arthritis can occur. Bruises, sprains, or tearing of ligaments cause blood to enter the joint cavity, which causes aseptic inflammation. This arthritis can appear even a few years after receiving an injury.
Exercise arthritis develops due to a lot of pressure on the joints of the foot. Often this occurs when overweight or constant and frequent load on the legs.
There is also a division of ankle arthritis not because of development, but according to the nature of the course of the disease:
With a simple form, the pain in the joints 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 becomes stronger.
In acute forms, arthritis develops quite rapidly. The pain in the ankle is severe, sharp and sudden (may be shooting or aching), often accompanied by swelling.
Degrees of arthritis of the ankle joint
The ankle joint is the most active and loaded joint, so problems can occur with it quite often, and at any age.
Arthritis of the ankle joint (ICD-10, M-13) is a rather complex disease that is caused by an increased load on the joint, as well as a violation of its stability.
There are 4 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 usually pain disappears after rest. Swelling of the foot is attributed to poor circulation or poor functioning of the kidneys. Pathology at this stage can be determined only after an x-ray examination.
Second degree
When moving in the foot or walking in the second degree of the disease, a dull crunch can be heard, which can indicate a person's deficiency of hyaluronic acid. As a result, the intraarticular fluid is converted, in essence, into water, and may even completely disappear. The joints are poorly lubricated, which often becomes the cause of their destruction.
Third degree
Symptoms of ankle arthrosis 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 curvature of the foot relative to the lower leg.
There is a limitation of mobility:
- It is almost impossible to bend and rotate the ankle.
- X-ray shows completely destroyed hyaline cartilage, which is replaced by osteophytes.
- All tendons and ligaments are deformed and calcined.
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 fully 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 moved to this degree, we can talk about disability. There is a complete destruction of cartilage and bone tissue. It is possible to perform endoprosthetics in which damaged ankle joints are replaced with ceramic, plastic or metal prostheses.
Arthritis Diagnosis
Proper diagnosis allows you to identify this disease at an early stage. First of all, the patient collects a medical history from the patient, and on the basis of complaints, prescribes additional laboratory tests.
The main laboratory diagnostic methods:
- General blood analysis. His 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 most secure type of study, with its help determine the condition of the ligaments and their pathology.
- MRI is the most accurate type of study, which determines not only tissue damage, but also the deep layers of the bones.
- A detailed biochemical blood test will help determine the presence of chemicals in the human body.
With this list of studies that your doctor has prescribed, arthritis can be treated early. After all, only the correct diagnosis is the key to a successful recovery. After diagnosis, determination of symptoms and treatment of ankle arthritis, 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, adhering to a diet for arthritis will be quite difficult, but refusal to consume certain foods can significantly speed up recovery!
The patient is not recommended to eat smoked meats, salted foods, spicy and fatty foods, canned food, as well as vegetables that contain a lot of starch. To the same list are too hot and cold dishes, dairy products and saturated broths. Only vegetable fat is allowed!
Highly allergenic products should be avoided:
- 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, decoctions of rose hips, lemon and currants, sea fish, chicken, turkey or rabbit will be useful.
The diet should be saturated with omega-3 acids, which prevent the onset of the inflammatory process, while restoring the cartilaginous tissue of the ankle joint.
Arthritis Gymnastics
Gymnastics should best start with a warm-up. Regular exercises, where there are tensile elements along with strength, helps to reduce pain and stiffness of the joints.
You need to sit on a chair, cross-leg and slowly turn with your free foot, describing circles. Then change legs and repeat another exercise.
- Exercise number 1. Stand with the back against the wall, feet shoulder width apart, feet should rest on the floor. With two hands you need to rest against the wall and tilt the body forward. Do not tear your left leg off the floor, do not lift your heels, take a step forward with your right foot. Do not bend the left foot, bend the right knee and slightly extend the hip joint forward. Gently pull forward and stay in this state for two to five seconds. You need to feel a little tension in the area of the left ankle joint, but if you suddenly feel pain, then immediately end the exercise. Repeat with the other leg.
- Exercise number 2. Sit on a soft chair, put your feet on the floor. As soon as you can raise your fingers on the left foot high, do not tear the heel off the floor.
Drug treatment
Often, only medications help get rid of severe pain, inflammation and swelling with arthritis of the ankle joint.
Drug treatment involves the use of the following means:
- Antibacterial drugs: Levomycetin or Tetracycline. Effective in the presence of a bacterial infection.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of gels, ointments, injections or tablets to relieve inflammation, swelling and pain: Diclofenac, Difonizal, Nimesulide, Aspirin, Ketoprofen, Ibuprofen, Nabumeton, "Indomethacin", "Voltaren" and others.
- Painkillers: Oxycodone, Oxycontrin, Morphine, Methadone, Tramadol, Vicodin.
- Vitamin therapy to produce collagen and stimulate metabolic processes.
- Chondroprotectors for restoring the integrity of cartilage and ankle tissue: Chondroitin.
- Antipyretic and restorative drugs, which 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 reason that provoked this disease.
Herbal treatment
Treatment of ankle arthritis with herbs is possible only with a joint dose 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. In the case of arthritis, this is also possible. Moreover, cedar also has the property of increasing immunity, which is important in the treatment of arthritis. How to cook? Getting ready is easy. Cedar bark is poured with alcohol and allowed to infuse in a dark place for a day. This tincture needs to be rubbed on a sore spot. Also, cedar 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 analgesic effect, after a while the pain will return again.
- Herb tea. Or as it is also called herbal tea. It helps relieve inflammation and improve metabolism in the joint. 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, dog rose, mountain ash. Herbal tea is consumed in the first symptoms of arthritis, with inflammation subsiding within five days.
There are other herbs that successfully relieve inflammatory processes.