Ankle pain: causes and treatment

The ankle joint has a rather complex structure. The foot has a talus, which is connected to the bones of the lower leg. Three groups of ligaments hold this compound. The joint surface is covered with cartilage, and the synovial fluid fills the cavity. The main function of the ankle joint is to provide flexion of the foot. Pain in the joint bag is most often caused by dislocations and subluxations, since the joint does not produce lateral rotations. There are several causes of pain in the ankle joint.

Dislocation

Any injury is usually accompanied by painful discomfort. With a fracture, the foot is significantly shifted to the side. In this case, you can feel the bone fragments with your fingers. Vascular rupture occurs and an extensive hematoma appears. Often an ankle fracture is accompanied by a dislocation.

Damage to the ligamentous apparatus is found in the practice of a traumatologist quite often. X-ray diagnostics help determine the location of the joint. Observed:

• increase in joint volume;
• swelling;
• redness;
• acute pain when moving.

The cause of dislocation of the ankle joint is a rupture of the ligaments. In this case, the ligaments may not be completely torn. Partial ligament rupture occurs with tibia fractures. Displacement of the articular bag can occur with the integrity of the ligamentous apparatus. Not a single person is insured from getting injured in everyday life, on the street or at work. However, older people are more likely to experience similar injuries due to age-related features and bone fragility. Dislocation is also diagnosed in women - lovers of high-heeled shoes.

Fat people often have subluxation of the foot. An ankle tear occurs. The leg does not lose its mobility, but it hurts very much. In the damaged areas, blood begins to accumulate, the foot swells. The main symptom of dislocation is the inability to stand on the foot due to pain.

The cause of dislocations are:

• bad turn;
• hit;
• a fall;
• sprain;
• incorrect setting of the foot;
• pathology of the tibia muscles.

Dislocation is often a consequence of the presence of dangerous diseases that lead to the development of bone fragility and joint mobility. Such ailments include diabetes, tuberculosis, arthrosis, osteoporosis, paresis of muscles, and cancer.

Deforming arthrosis

Such a serious ailment as arthrosis can deprive a person of mobility. At the beginning, the disease is manifested by joint pain and stiffness of movements. As the disease develops, a complete loss of working capacity occurs, a person becomes disabled.

The characteristic signs of arthrosis are pain, swelling, limited movement. The destruction of the joint occurs gradually, which is accompanied by deformation of the bone and cartilage tissues. A person’s ability to work is sharply reduced. At the very beginning of the disease, pain manifests itself when walking. Often a crunch occurs during movement. Human mobility with arthrosis is sharply reduced.

Arthritis

• severe pain;
• swelling;
• ligament weakness;
• stiffness of movements.

Arthritis of the ankle develops against the background of lesions of other joints. Almost all human joints are very inflamed. At night, the pain is more intense. Pain is clearly felt when walking. With gout, mineral deposits are deposited in the joints, cones and gouty granulomas develop.

The development of arthritis can occur against the background of disorders of the immune system.Natural wear of the joint occurs in old age, with excess weight, a sedentary lifestyle. The cause of arthritis can be an infection. Microorganisms have a negative effect and develop inflammation in the tissues.

Achilles

Pain in the ankle can accompany an ailment such as achillitis. The disease develops due to congenital pathology of the tendon or as a result of trauma. A tendon shortening is diagnosed, which causes painful discomfort in the ankle. Athletes are especially prone to permanent injury to the ligamentous apparatus.

As a result of the constant load on the ligamentous apparatus, it undergoes some changes in the structure - deposits of mineral salts are formed, fibrous formations appear, and the blood flow of the joint is disturbed.

Treatment

With a dislocation
If there is pain in the joint, you must definitely visit a doctor and establish the cause of the symptom. You can not warm the injured area with an injury. This can contribute to the rapid development of the inflammatory process and lead to increased pain and swelling. It is required to exclude any thermal procedure for a diseased joint.

It is necessary to exclude massages and rubbing of the diseased joint. Mechanical exposure of the affected area also exacerbates the injury. In the first day of the dislocation, it is required to put an ice bubble on the sore spot. An alternative is a cold salt compress.

If a sprain occurs, it is important to limit motor activity for several days. Apply cold to a sore spot and take an anesthetic. In case of injury, take analgesics, apply a tight bandage to the ankle joint, and if necessary wear a plaster cast. Serious injury may require surgery.

With deforming arthrosis
Drug therapy of the disease is aimed at the return of disability, the elimination of pain and the inflammatory process. Initially, it is required to exclude a strong load on the articular apparatus. In especially severe stages of arthrosis, endoprosthetics are indicated.

Basically, treatment comes down to the use of drugs that reduce the inflammatory prosthesis. Local external ointments are used that have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Diclofenac ointment, as well as chondroprotective agents, are applied to the affected ankle. Drugs regenerate cartilage of the articular apparatus, restore fluid volume, improve blood circulation. In some cases, injections into the joint are indicated. Intra-articular blockade helps relieve pain and discomfort, leave the inflammation process.

Various physiotherapy procedures help in the restoration of the joint. Magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, therapeutic baths, laser treatment are prescribed. An extensive set of measures will allow you to quickly get rid of joint pain. Laser therapy is an innovative technique in eliminating the inflammatory process. The light beam affects only the affected area of ​​the joint. High laser intensity allows you to generate significant energy. The generated impulses have a beneficial effect inside the joint bag. The laser helps to get rid of pain; it penetrates deep into muscle and bone tissues.

Laser Therapy:

• relieves swelling;
• eliminates pain;
• anesthetizes;
• improves tissue nutrition;
• stimulates metabolic processes;
• enhances biological reactions in the joint;
• accelerates cell regeneration.

For arthritis
The elimination of pain in the inflammatory process is possible with:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• physiotherapy;
• spa treatment.

It is necessary to abandon bad habits and lead a healthy lifestyle. A very negative effect is exerted by a sedentary lifestyle. In this case, the microcirculation of blood in the joints is disturbed, the muscle-ligamentous apparatus is weakened.It is necessary to regularly exercise, moderate gymnastics and daily walks in the fresh air.

Drug therapy comes down to the use of ointments, corticosteroids, which eliminate inflammation in the joints. In the treatment of arthritis are used:

• Diprospan;
• Nimesulide;
• Nurofen;
• Meloxicam.

With infectious arthritis, the doctor prescribes a course of antibiotics. The drugs eliminate pathogenic microorganisms that cause the development of the inflammatory process. The drugs of the group of cephalosporins, penicillins, aminoglycosides are used. If the pain is caused by prosthetics, then the artificial joint must be removed.

Ointments such as can relieve arthritis pain:

• Diclofenac;
• Artradol;
• Arthra
• Glucosamine.

In the fight against the disease effective chondroprotectors are used, which eliminate inflammation and restore the cartilage structures of the joint. The action of the funds is aimed at reducing inflammation and restoration of articular tissue and synovial fluid.

Physiotherapy procedures are selected individually. With arthrosis help:

• massage;
• therapeutic baths;
• hirudotherapy;
• laser treatment;
• electrophoresis.

Comprehensive treatment reduces pain, increases the stamina of an affected joint, and returns tone to atrophied tissues and ligaments. Special gymnastics helps to improve joint mobility, develop flexibility and eliminate stiffness of movements.

Physiotherapy exercises include various exercises:

1. Bend the leg at the knee and make neat rotations with the ankle joint.
2. Bend the leg and pull the heel to the buttock.
3. On bent legs, sit on the floor, spread your legs at the knees as much as possible. Zoom in and hold your feet together.
4. Perform the exercise "bike" for about 10 minutes, focusing on the movements of the ankle and knee joints.

It helps in the treatment of arthritis massage. It activates the blood supply to the joint, normalizes blood flow, and triggers the necessary recovery processes. Massage eliminates the stiffness of movements, eliminates swelling, helps to remove excess fluid from the body. Damage to the ankle provokes changes in the structure of cartilage. Massage helps to regenerate cells and increase the stamina of the affected area. As a result, metabolic processes in the joint improve and inflammation is relieved.

With achillitis
The disease often overtakes athletes. In case of Achilles tendon injury, it is important to immediately seek medical attention from a doctor. With bruises and sprains, anti-inflammatory and analgesics are prescribed. Ointments are applied externally to the affected area until the tendon and joint are completely restored. It is also necessary to limit strong motor activity and provide the necessary rest to the tendon.

Video: Ankle Repair Exercise