There are a huge number of serious diseases associated with limiting the movements of the lower extremities. Such ailments are very unpleasant, since the patient is constantly forced to ask others for help, lead a very limited life, and sometimes he can’t do without a wheelchair at all. One of such dangerous diseases is deformed arthrosis of the ankle joint. This article will present the causes of this pathology, as well as symptoms and treatment methods.
What is this ailment?
Deformed arthrosis of the ankle joint is a dangerous chronic disease, accompanied by degenerative and dystrophic changes in the shape and structure of cartilage. The disease manifests itself gradually. In the beginning, cartilage begins to lose its functionality, and eventually collapse. In such conditions, the bones need to exist somehow, so they begin to twist, forming osteophytes around themselves. Thanks to this, a person does not completely lose his ability to move, although this process becomes very complicated.
Unfortunately, it is far from always possible to determine and start treating such a disease in a timely manner. Sometimes it does not make itself felt even a whole decade, while slowly and gradually progressing. The disease simply begins to “eat” the cartilage. Incorrect treatment can only aggravate the situation and ultimately lead a person to complete disability.
Deformed arthrosis of the ankle: the main symptoms
In fact, such a disease can make itself felt with the help of a wide variety of signs. If you notice at least one of them, do not delay the trip to the doctor. Do not forget that deformed arthrosis of the ankle joint is a very dangerous pathology that can lead to a wheelchair. So, how can we understand that a person began to develop this disease:
- The presence of pain, which is greatly enhanced by physical exertion.
- The patient often has a crunch in the joints. Usually, people rarely pay attention to such a symptom, but only it indicates the presence of the initial stages of arthrosis.
- Deforming arthrosis of the right ankle joint can also be felt with the help of overwork, which is observed even after minor physical exertion. Great fatigue can occur even when moving over short distances.
- Muscle tissue in the lower extremities begins to gradually atrophy.
- Deforming arthrosis of the left ankle joint is very often accompanied by dislocations of the lower extremities, as the functionality of the tendons and muscles begins to be impaired.
- The area around the joint begins to swell. Especially often this occurs after a long stay in a standing position.
- Damaged areas begin to become inflamed, which leads to an increase in temperature.
- The supporting and motor functions of the lower extremities are impaired.
As you can see, the symptoms of deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint (ICD-10 disease assigned code M19) are huge. It is strongly recommended that you take care of your health, and even if you have one of them, immediately seek advice from a qualified doctor.
The main causes of the development of pathology
Usually deforming arthrosis of the 1st degree of the ankle joint does not occur on its own. For its appearance, the necessary prerequisites are needed. Here are the reasons why such a dangerous and painful disease can occur:
- The presence of very strong physical exertion. Quite often, this pathology occurs in athletes professionally involved in sports. This should include both the implementation of strength exercises, and motor.
- The presence of a person overweight. Excessive body weight puts a huge strain on your joints. This is especially true for the lower extremities.
- Incorrect load distribution on the legs. It also includes wearing uncomfortable shoes, especially with excessively high heels.
- Getting injured can lead to deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint (the symptoms and treatment of such a disease are described in this article).
- The disease very often begins to progress in elderly people. This is due to the fact that cartilage tissue begins to thin out gradually. They become less and less elastic and, over time, simply crack.
- Also, a disease can occur if a person works in difficult conditions, for example, is forced to stand for a very long time or walk constantly.
- Also, the disease can be hereditary and occur against the background of other inflammatory and chronic diseases.
First degree of disease
There are three stages to such an ailment. Each of them is characterized by certain symptoms, as well as treatment features.
So, in the first stage, the patient has mild pain. If you conduct hardware diagnostics, you can see that the talus has become denser, and the joint cracks began to narrow. Usually, the first stage of such a pathology is accompanied by severe discomfort in the joints during movement, as well as during physical exercises.
Second stage
Deforming arthrosis of the 2nd degree of the ankle joint is accompanied by already severe deformation of the joints. In this case, the patient complains of ongoing pain. This stage is accompanied by fatigue during the performance of any physical exercises.
Treatment of deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint of the 2nd degree can still be carried out using conservative methods. However, such techniques may not always produce excellent results.
Third stage
Deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint of the 3rd degree is the most dangerous and most painful variety of this pathology. This degree is characterized by very pronounced symptoms. A person’s joint mobility is completely lost, and at the same time there are very severe pains that cannot always be relieved even with the most effective pain medications. Usually in this case, the treatment of the pathology is carried out with the help of surgical intervention.
Therapy Features
Treatment of deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint usually begins with the second stage, since the first proceeds with minimal symptoms, therefore, correctly identifying the disease is a very difficult task. There are simply a huge number of methods for treating this pathology, but it’s definitely not worth it to self-medicate, as you will only aggravate your situation. Be sure to contact the orthopedist, and he will already determine your further actions, based on the individual characteristics of your body.
What is the traditional approach?
The first thing to do on the advice of doctors is to restore the cartilage to its previous elasticity. Treatment of deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint is most often treated with conservative methods. These include:
- The use of special drugs in the form of injectable solutions that can restore cartilage to its former flexibility. These include drugs such as Mukatrin, Rumalon, Arteparon, and many others. Which medication is right for you, your doctor will tell you.
- Also during treatment, drugs are used that can improve metabolic processes in the muscles and have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures have a good therapeutic effect.
- It is very important to reduce physical stress on the joints. To do this, it is worth starting to struggle with excess weight, as well as adjust the performance of physical exercises. It is necessary to develop a complex in which the load on damaged joints will be minimal.
- Also, according to doctors, special massages and mud wraps have a good healing effect.
Power Features
Deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint, whose photo can sometimes be frightening, will be much easier to cure if you adhere to the correct principles of nutrition. It is very important to consume products that contain gelatin, as it is responsible for the elasticity of the joints.
These products include jelly and aspic. It is also very important to provide your body with all kinds of vitamins. If you can’t fully eat, be sure to take an additional vitamin-mineral complex, which will be suitable specifically for people suffering from joint diseases.
Features of alternative treatment
Many people think that an unpleasant disease such as arthrosis can be eliminated using only alternative methods. In fact, this is far from the case. Traditional medicine, of course, can speed up the healing process, but only if you use it simultaneously with other therapeutic methods. The following are the most effective folk recipes intended for external use:
- Buy herbs such as ginger, barberry, nettle, thyme, and saber from a pharmacy. Take one tablespoon of each component and pour the resulting mixture with one hundred milliliters of sunflower oil. Now put it on fire and wait until it boils. After that, immediately remove it from the heat and cool. Rub this product over your damaged joints overnight. Be sure to insulate them.
- Try making a compress of vodka, honey and aloe juice. Take one part of vodka and aloe juice and add to them two parts of fresh liquid honey. Mix these components and make a compress out of them, applying gauze to the affected joints. Such compresses can be done daily.
- It is also recommended to take warm baths, adding needles or malt to them.
Physiotherapeutic methods
Today, treatment of deforming arthrosis of the ankle joint of the 2nd degree with the help of physiotherapeutic procedures is very popular. This technique allows the patient to remove painful sensations and inflammatory processes, as well as to establish blood flow in damaged tissues and to stop destructive processes. In addition, this method will have a positive effect on the muscles that are attached to the ankle joint.
However, this method cannot be used by people suffering from cancer or chronic infections.
Physiotherapy
Also, the treatment process should be accompanied by special gymnastic exercises. If you neglect them, then achieving remission will be very difficult. Exercises should be performed daily, giving it about thirty minutes a day. The load will gradually increase. Exactly which exercises are right for you, the orthopedist will tell you for advice. After all, do not forget that each case is individual and requires a special approach.
Doctors recommend that their patients also sign up for a pool. Swimming has a very good effect on the joints.
Features of surgical treatment
Usually, surgery is prescribed to patients in cases where the disease has already passed to the third stage. There is no sense in using any conservative methods, since they will not bring any result. If the operation is not performed on time, the patient runs the risk of spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Consider the main types of surgical intervention:
- Arthroplasty. This type of operation involves the preservation of part of the cartilage tissue, while the joint is immobilized by an artificial method.
- Endoprosthetics. In this case, the damaged joint will be completely replaced by a quality prosthesis. Despite the fact that such an operation is rather difficult, the effect of its implementation is still stunning.
Preventative measures
The health of their joints must be taken care of at a young age. After all, over time, the cartilage tissue wears out, which means your condition will gradually deteriorate. Therefore, each person must comply with preventive recommendations in order to ensure the mobility of his joints for many years. Consider what orthopedists recommend in order to ensure excellent health of the musculoskeletal system:
- Carefully monitor your diet. Eat healthy foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Proper nutrition will also allow you to lose weight. Do not forget that extra pounds are one of the main causes of problems with joints of the lower extremities.
- Be sure to contact the hospital and begin to treat on time all the inflammatory and chronic processes in the body.
- Perform only those exercises that are safe for the joints and will not lead to injury.
- Be sure to warm up before you exercise.
- Lead an active and healthy lifestyle: move more, spend more time in the fresh air, get rid of bad habits.
- Regularly take vitamin supplements designed for the health of the musculoskeletal system.
A few words in conclusion
Deformed arthrosis of the ankle joint is a very dangerous disease, which can lead to extremely disastrous consequences. Do not forget that your health is in your hands, so follow all preventive measures in order to keep your joints mobile and elastic for many years. If the doctor has diagnosed you with "deformed arthrosis of the ankle joints", immediately begin treatment, otherwise you may simply be late.
Only comprehensive measures can lead to a good therapeutic effect, so do not self-medicate. Follow all the doctor’s prescriptions, because your further condition will depend on this. Do not get involved in alternative medicine. Prescriptions from a people's first-aid kit should go as an addition to complex medical treatment and only after consulting a specialist.