Periarthritis of the ankle joint is a serious lesion of the ligaments and muscular apparatus of the joint, which is accompanied by severe pain, limitation of 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 in that it affects only the soft periarticular tissues. The joint itself is not damaged, so its functionality is not limited. The main cause of the lesion is considered to be excessive physical load on the ankle, as well as concomitant pathologies of the supporting apparatus.
Most often, the disease is observed in women who have crossed a 40-year milestone. The place of tendon fixation in the calcaneus is affected. The pathological process is degenerative-dystrophic. Periarthritis of the ankle joint requires combined treatment, and it is not worth delaying it.
Development reasons
Before treating this disease, it is necessary to find out why it appears. The causes of periarthritis of the ankle 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. Such a pathology is often diagnosed in athletes.
- Excessive body mass, 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.
- Soft tissue trauma to the joint.
- Congenital pathology of the supporting apparatus.
- Complication of infectious diseases.
- Difficult working and living conditions.
- Lack or excess of motor activity.
- Diabetes.
Periarthritis of the right ankle joint can be provoked by a genetic predisposition (muscle weakness, ligamentous apparatus). If the therapy is appointed 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 joint are usually bright. The following signs of the disease can be distinguished:
- Severe pain in the affected area at the time of movement.
- Constant muscle tension.
- Severe edema that limits limb mobility.
- The appearance of painful nodules and seals in the ankle.
- Lameness, impaired gait.
If the disease is not treated, then it progresses rapidly. The patient develops a heel spur, and he may become disabled.
Types of disease
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, tendonitis, capsulitis, fasciitis.
- By the nature of origin: primary, secondary (resulting from 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 bright and intense symptoms.
Diagnostic Features
The treatment of joint diseases, foot periarthritis, in particular, begins with a full examination of a person, including procedures such as:
- X-ray Thanks to him, the presence of other pathologies is excluded.
- Ultrasound (determined by swelling of the tendons).
- MRI or CT. Such a study is considered the most informative. Specialists have the opportunity to examine the affected tissue in layers, assess their condition. 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 should be negative.
Also, the specialist records the patient's complaints, collects his anamnesis.
General principles for the treatment of periarthritis
Treatment of periarthritis of the ankle should be comprehensive. It is carried out according to the following principles:
- getting rid of symptoms;
- relief of pain;
- 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 methods of therapy.
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 ointments, tablets, gel. The duration of their use does not exceed 7 days.
- Painkillers: Nise, Analgin, Spasmolgon.
- Steroids: Diprospan, Hydrocortisone. They are introduced into the periarticular cavity and remove the inflammatory process. Such injections are often not possible.
- Chondroprotectors: Don, Arthra. They normalize the metabolism in the joint itself, prevent the destruction of cartilage tissue.
- Multivitamin preparations.
If a person feels intense pain, then Novocain injections are prescribed.
In addition to taking medications, the patient needs to perform physical therapy exercises. They are selected by the attending physician. At first, the execution intensity is low. Thanks to the complex, you can quickly develop a limb. Physical education improves the flow of blood and lymph, relieves swelling. It is enough just to bend and unbend the joint, make them circular movements.
No less effective is the treatment of periarthritis of the ankle joint with ointments.
Physiotherapeutic treatment
In addition to drugs, the patient is prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures:
- Mud applications. They allow you to eliminate pain in the affected part of the limb, improve local immunity.
- Pharmacopuncture. This procedure involves the targeted administration of medications.
- Laser and magnetic therapy. Treatment in this way allows you to improve defenses, reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process, stimulate blood circulation, lymph outflow. These procedures help reduce puffiness.
- Electric and vibration massage. It normalizes muscle tone, therefore, reduces the strength of pain.
- UVT. Here, the affected tissues are cleansed of harmful substances, and lymph outflow is restored.
- Electrophoresis with medications. Due to the electrical effect, the medicine enters deep into the tissues and is more effective.
Acupuncture and acupressure are considered a good method to combat periarthritis. Thanks to these procedures, metabolism is established in the affected tissues, limb mobility improves.
Surgery is rare, as the disease can be managed in traditional ways.
Treatment with folk remedies
You can fight with pathology not only with drugs, but also with folk remedies. They are able to weaken the intensity of inflammation, to establish metabolic processes and tissue nutrition. But before using this method of treatment, you need to consult a specialist.
Such recipes will be useful:
- It will take a bucket of water and a pound of hay dust. The raw materials must be boiled over low heat for several minutes. It takes half an hour to insist. The liquid is filtered and poured into the basin. The tool is used for foot baths. Take them for 30 minutes. In this case, you must ensure that the water is constantly warm.
- Honey. This tool contains a huge amount of useful substances that allow not only to eliminate symptoms, but also to restore the affected tissue. A compress is made from honey, which is fixed on the ankle for the whole night and is tied with a warm scarf.
- Horseradish-based compress. It has a warming effect. Use it 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. Keep it should be no more than an hour.
- Infusion with the use of calendula or nettle. Need 1 tbsp. l pour the selected crushed plant with a liter of boiling water. Insisting takes 20 minutes. Next, the liquid is filtered and used for grinding. You can use it inside.
Folk remedies are not a panacea. They can not always fully cope with the disease, so they are used in combination with medications prescribed by a doctor.
Possible complications
The lack of therapy does not pass without a trace. The inflammatory process becomes stronger, the symptoms are brighter. If you do not take any measures, then such complications of pathology are possible:
- constant presence of pain;
- inability to move freely, as each turn of the leg causes unpleasant symptoms;
- loss of motor ability of the ankle joint.
Incorrect treatment or its absence will lead to tissue necrosis. In this case, a person may become disabled.
Pathology Prevention
Information about periarthritis, causes, signs, symptoms and treatment is important to know for all patients who have a genetic tendency to pathologies of the supporting apparatus or have a history of injuries. But there is an opportunity to prevent the development of inflammation. To do this, it is important to comply with the following recommendations of specialists:
- Do not allow body weight to go beyond the norm. Extra weight increases the load on the joint, leading to microdamage of soft tissues.
- Keep track of nutrition. The diet should contain foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Additionally, it is recommended to use biologically active additives.
- Wear comfortable shoes. In some cases, it is better to choose orthopedic things.
- In the presence of foot pathologies, they need to be treated in a timely manner. In this case, self-medication can lead to disastrous results.
- Avoid traumatic damage to the ankle.
- To live an active lifestyle. Simple exercises should be done for the ankle, especially if a person has sedentary work. The load should be dosed.
- Carry out an independent massage of the joints of the foot.
Compliance with preventive measures will avoid the development of the inflammatory process.
Ankle periarthritis is a rare disease that, however, significantly reduces a person’s quality of life. Any inflammatory process in this area must be treated promptly and correctly.