Arthrosis of the ankle joint is a rather serious disease that always requires a qualified approach to treatment. Unfortunately, coping with this pathology can be very difficult. However, modern medicine offers effective tools to reduce the level of inflammation and slow the progression of the disease.
What is a disease?
The ankle joint connects the parts of the lower leg with the talus of the foot. Basically, it moves along the frontal axis, thereby providing flexion and extension of the foot. Lateral movements differ in minimum amplitude.
Arthrosis of the ankle joint, the symptoms and treatment of which are directly related, is a process of sequential destruction of the joint tissue. Pathology entails a violation of the usual structure of tissues, the death of some cartilage cells, the formation of cracks on its surface, as well as bone compaction. If you do not take the prescribed medicine for arthrosis of the joints, it is deformed, and its normal work becomes really impossible.
The older the person, the higher the likelihood of developing degenerative-destructive changes. In this case, the musculoskeletal system is no exception. According to reports, approximately 10% of the population of our planet over the age of 40 suffers from arthrosis. In developed countries, the number of patients from 65 years of age and older varies from 60 and up to about 80%.
Classification
The first stage of the disease is characterized by a direct narrowing of the joint space, the cartilage itself swells and softens. Osteoarthritis of the 2nd degree differs in that microcracks are formed in the areas of greatest pressure of the articular heads, and in the places of the smallest - obvious protrusions. At the third and fourth stages, cartilage rupture occurs, followed by the formation of cysts, proliferation of so-called bone calluses (osteophytes). As a result, the articular heads themselves are flattened, which prevents the foot from making the usual movements.
Main reasons
Very rarely, the disease is primary, that is, it occurs spontaneously. Most often it is secondary and is explained by the influence of a number of factors. The causes of ankle osteoarthritis can be as follows:
- Damage to the musculo-ligamentous apparatus of the foot and directly to the joint itself (flat feet, dysplasia of the connective tissue of a hereditary nature).
- Post-traumatic arthrosis (dislocation, sprain, bruise).
- Inflammation of the immune nature.
- Infectious lesion.
- Various neurological disorders (osteochondrosis, neuritis).
- Metabolic pathologies (obesity, rickets, gout).
The causes of arthrosis of the ankle joint often lie in the constant wearing of high-heeled shoes. An unnatural arrangement of the foot provokes an increase in the load several times on the ankle itself. Athletes, dancers, and those whose weight significantly exceeds the normative indicators are also included in the risk group.
How is arthrosis of the ankle joint manifested? Symptoms and treatment
First of all, patients note painful discomfort when trying to fully stand on their feet, as well as the appearance of a characteristic crunch during movements. Over time, the pain becomes stronger and remains even at rest. Gradually, the restriction of foot mobility along various axes is aggravated. The joint itself increases in size, the foot is slightly curved. In the advanced stages of the pathology, pain can also be felt in the knee and hip joints.
Conservative therapy
Most drugs that reduce pain include a group of so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As a rule, doctors prescribe the following medicines: Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Nimesulide, Aceclofenac, Diclofenac. The price of such drugs can vary from 20 and up to about 100 rubles. Say, the cost of "Diclofenac" is only 25 rubles.
These drugs can get rid of pain, but they also have some disadvantages. The thing is that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have an extremely negative effect on the gastric mucosa. For example, with prolonged admission, patients often exacerbate gastritis and even have an ulcer. That is why the reception of such funds is prescribed in short courses to minimize negative consequences.
Topical treatment of the affected area involves a reduction in inflammation in the joint. Thus, it is possible to reduce the progression of the disease, that is, to keep the inflammatory process under constant control. Such therapy is prescribed if the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been ineffective.
Local treatment includes the use of gels that include painkillers (Bystrum-gel, Butadion, Deep Relief, Diclofenac ointment). The price of these funds is certainly high (from 200 to 700 rubles). However, this cost is fully justified. Ointments and gels give an excellent therapeutic effect, especially in conjunction with other medications.
Chondroprotectors (Teraflex, Structum, Alflutop) are prescribed for some patients. They help cartilage recover and significantly improve tissue synthesis.
Surgical treatment
Unfortunately, overcoming ankle arthrosis is far from always achieved only through drug therapy. Sometimes medications are ineffective. In this kind of situation, the doctor decides on surgical surgery. The safest way to stop the degenerative process is arthroscopy.
This procedure is carried out using a special tool that is inserted into the affected area through micro-incisions. This operation allows you to remove all bone growths.
Exercise therapy
Exercise therapy is prescribed for many types of arthrosis. Especially such exercises are effective in the post-traumatic variant of the disease. Therapeutic gymnastics with arthrosis is primarily aimed at restoring lost muscle tone, as well as expanding the range of movements in the ankle itself.
Initially, such exercises are selected that require minimal load. They are performed in a supine position (for example, circular movements in the foot). Then the lessons get complicated. Exercises are performed in a sitting position (rolls of the foot without lifting the heel off the floor). Note that in each case, a set of exercises is selected individually by a doctor.
Prevention
First of all, experts strongly recommend avoiding injuries and mechanical damage to the joint. To do this, you should choose shoes with a stable heel, and when playing sports use special protective equipment.
It is very important to control body weight, because it is overweight that is often the main reason that arthrosis of the ankle joint develops. Symptoms and treatment of this pathology should not be ignored. When the primary signs appear, you should seek qualified help, do not try to solve the problem yourself.
Also, experts recommend a diet with a high content of protein foods. Excessively salty and fatty foods, as well as alcohol, should be discarded for a while.
Conclusion
In this article, we described in as much detail as possible what constitutes an arthrosis of the ankle joint. Symptoms and treatment, causes and prevention are just a few of the topics to which the detailed answers are presented. Note that the effectiveness of the treatment of the disease depends not only on its specific stage of development and the presence of concomitant health problems, but also on correctly following all the doctor's recommendations.