As people age, their chance of getting arthritis goes up. Joint inflammation is what arthritis is all about. There are many different kinds of arthritis, but the most common is osteoarthritis, which usually happens as people get older. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says that 54.4 million adults have been diagnosed with arthritis. It often happens to people 65 and over, but anyone can get it. Most people think of how arthritis affects their hands, hips, or knees, but the disease can also affect your ankle. Ankle arthritis can make it hard for you to move around and hurt your quality of life. But what does it feel like to have arthritis in the ankle?
What are the different types of arthritis?
As you get older, your joints tend to wear down, and you will lose the cartilage that keeps bones from rubbing against each other. Once that cushion and other soft tissues around your joints are worn down, the bones start to rub against each other, which can cause pain and inflammation. After a while, your joints won’t work or move as they used to. Some of the most common types of arthritis that can affect your ankles are listed below.
Osteoarthritis: It is often called “wear and tear” arthritis because it worsens with age. As you age, your joints and the tissue around them can weaken and cause inflammation. Most of the time, this happens at the joint where your ankle bone and shinbone meet.
Post-Traumatic Arthritis: This kind of arthritis is caused by an injury, usually a bone break or dislocation. If you get hurt, you might not notice the problem immediately because it can take years to show up. However, arthritis you get later in life could be caused by an injury you got in the past.
Rheumatoid arthritis: It is one of the more severe types of arthritis. It is caused by an autoimmune disease that attacks your joints. It usually affects both sides of your body, so the symptoms will probably appear in both ankles.
What does Arthritis in Ankle Feel Like?
Since arthritis can hurt your ankle, it’s essential to know the signs so you can get it checked out and treated. Here are some of the most common signs that you have arthritis in your ankles.
- Tenderness
- Pain can make it hard to walk, move, or put weight on your ankle.
- Joint stiffness
- Feeling hot or swollen
- Pain and swelling get worse after you rest, even if you just sit or sleep.
If you have more than one of these signs, you should make an appointment with a foot and ankle specialist. Once you know what’s wrong, you can start thinking about how to treat it.
What are the treatments for ankle arthritis?
A foot and ankle doctor can tell you if you have arthritis in your ankle if you think you might. A physical exam, X-rays, an MRI, or a CT scan are all ways to find out what’s wrong with you. Once the doctor knows what’s wrong, he or she can give you treatment options that are right for you. Here are some of the most effective ways to treat arthritis in your ankle.
Injection: Cortisone, homeopathic, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or amniotic injectables are used for injections (stem cells)
Ankle fusion: This is when rods, pins, screws, or plates are used to join the bones together.
Total ankle replacement: It is a surgery in which the damaged bone and cartilage in your ankle joint are completely replaced.
Before getting those treatment’s you should visit to a physiotherapy doctor. Because you have to do some specific exercises for your ankle arthritis that may help to reduce your pain.
How to Find Out If You Have Ankle Arthritis?
If doctors think you have ankle arthritis, they will start by looking at your medical history to figure out what’s wrong. They will ask you when you first noticed your symptoms, where they hurt, and how they affect your life. They will look at your ankle to see if there are any signs of arthritis in the joints, like swelling or pain.
Other tests, like blood tests or tests of joint fluid for uric acid crystals, if gout is thought to be the cause of the ankle pain, can find out if other types of arthritis are to blame. X-rays and other imaging tests can help confirm a diagnosis and find out how bad the joint damage is.
Are there any complications with Ankle Arthritis?
Arthritis can sometimes cause other problems with your feet that may get worse if the condition isn’t treated.
Hallux rigidus
If you don’t treat osteoarthritis in your feet, the cartilage can wear away all the way. This could cause your foot bones to grow together. This is called hallux rigidus when it happens in the big toe.
This can make it hard to move your big toe, which can make it hard to walk. On the top of your toe, bony growths can sometimes form.
Bunions
This toe can lean toward your other toes if you have hallux rigidus or osteoarthritis in your big toe. This is called a bunion or hallux valgus when it happens.
Then, you might get a bony bump on the side of your big toe. It can sometimes make your skin red or swollen, and it can also make your skin hard. When you stand up and walk, you might feel unsteady.
Corns and calluses are rough spots on the skin
Corns and calluses can grow on your feet in places where they are constantly pressed on or rubbed. This could be because of shoes that hurt. Corns are small, hard bumps of skin, and calluses are thicker, rougher patches of skin.
Corns and calluses can sometimes be brought on by other foot problems, like bunions.
Final Words
Walking is the most effective technique to build strength and improve mobility, but it takes time. Walking every day is the best approach to noticing progress that can help with your discomfort and reduced mobility if you have arthritis in your ankle.
