What Are Your Treatment Options for Ankle Arthritis?

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Did you know there are more than 100 forms of arthritis? The disease affects more than 58.5 million people in the US. The symptoms are different for everyone, depending on the type of arthritis. Usually, there is no cure for arthritis but you can manage the disease with various treatments. The arthritis treatment Phoenix specialist Jeffrey McAlister provides various treatment options for arthritis to help restore your health. This piece provides you with details on arthritis treatment at Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute.
What is ankle arthritis?
Ankle arthritis causes pain, swelling, and inflammation of your ankles. However, different types of arthritis cause pain and swelling on your foot and ankle.
What causes arthritis?
The feet and ankles offer shock absorption and balance while walking, standing, or running. They enhance your smooth movements without any problem. However, as time goes by, the joints in your ankles and feet may develop irritation or inflammation, causing pain and discomfort during movements.
Osteoarthritis is among the most typical types of arthritis. It develops when the cartilage covering your joints wears away. With time the protective barrier around your ankle joints withers away, causing the bones to rub each other.
Ankle arthritis may result from the following;
- A family history of arthritis
- Joint infection
- Previous ankle injuries that didn’t heal completely
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Excessive weight gain, putting pressure on the ankle joints
When not treated, ankle arthritis may worsen after some time; older adults experience severe effects. You must seek medical help when you first notice or encounter joint inflammation or pain in your ankle.
What are the available treatment options for ankle arthritis?
Your provider at Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute may suggest the following treatments to restore your health. In some cases, they may combine treatments for better results.
Ankle brace
An ankle brace helps offer support and compression to your ankle to lower inflammation, joint swelling, and pain around the foot and ankle.
Amniotic membrane allograft injections
It’s a modern procedure involving using amniotic membrane allograft or platelets-rich plasma injections to promote tissue repair in your ankle. The injections provide growth factors that promote healing, minimizing pain and inflammation in the affected joints.
The treatment provides relief for pain, among other symptoms, within ten days after the treatment.
Arthroplasty
The procedure involves reconstructing and restructuring your ankle joint using a prosthesis. Arthroplasty lowers the effects of ankle arthritis, promoting your life quality.
Fusion surgery
If you do not get relief from nonsurgical treatments or you have a severe case of ankle arthritis, your provider suggests ankle fusion surgery. The surgery involves your provider using metal implants to hold your ankle joints in position as they heal. It may take about 8 to 12 weeks before you can recover and walk again.
Stryker STAR
It’s a form of arthroplasty that uses a mobile device to repair your ankle joint, enhancing comfort and increasing range of motion compared to a fixed device.
Suppose you have joint pain and inflammation around your ankle, please do not hesitate to reach out to your medical provider. Call Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute to schedule your consultation.