Symptoms of Ankle Arthritis and Ankle Tendinitis
Ankle Arthritis is characterized by pain in the joints and typically causes tenderness, reduced mobility, stiffness, and swelling. Diagnosis involves a physical exam and sometimes X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. There are three main types of arthritis:
Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative or “wear and tear” arthritis. This results in inflammation, swelling and pain in the joint. Osteoarthritis progresses slowly and the pain and stiffness it causes worsens over time. Typically, osteoarthritis affects the heel bone, the inner mid-foot bone, the outer mid-foot bone, the joint of the big toe, and the joint of the ankle and shinbone. Kesler Podiatry proudly offers effective, safe and minimally invasive treatment for ankle arthritis and tendinitis to patients in Wayne, Pompton Lakes, Franklin Lakes, Oakland, NJ, Wyckoff, Fair Lawn, Midland Park, North Haledon, West Caldwell, and Paterson.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a system-wide disease. It is an inflammatory disease where the patient’s own immune system attacks and destroys cartilage.
Post-traumatic Arthritis can develop after an injury to the foot or ankle. This type of arthritis is similar to Osteoarthritis and may develop years after a fracture, severe sprain, or ligament injury.
Ankle Tendinitis, also known as tendinopathy, is characterized by pain in the tissues connecting the ankle muscles to the bones of the ankle. While tendons withstand motions such as stretching and bending, they can become inflamed as a result of injuries or as a result of overuse. An example of an overuse injury we often treat is Achilles tendinopathy of the ankle, which is common in runners. If you are experiencing pain in your ankles, a physical exam can help us detect tendinitis. In more advanced cases, an ultrasound or MRI may also be ordered in order to determine the severity of damage.
Treating Ankle Tendinitis and Ankle Arthritis
Many cases of tendinitis heal within 2-4 weeks with rest and care, but in some cases it can take over two months to heal and in chronic cases, the patient may experience restricted range of motion. In any case, the treatment goal is to restore movement, allow tissue to heal, and maintain strength in surrounding muscles. We typically recommend conservative treatment similar to the RICE program often prescribed for sprains and if necessary, an anti-inflammatory medication. In more severe cases, physical therapy and/or corticosteroid injections may be recommended. In rare chronic cases, we perform surgery to repair or release the affected tendon.
While there is no known cure for arthritis, there are several treatments available to help alleviate the symptoms. Among them are physical therapy and exercise, anti-inflammatory medications, injections, custom foot orthotics, custom made shoes, ankle and foot orthoses, and finally fusion surgery or joint replacement surgery. Find out more about Kesler Podiatry’s treatment options in Wayne, Pompton Lakes, Franklin Lakes, Oakland, NJ, Wyckoff, Fair Lawn, Midland Park, North Haledon, West Caldwell, and Paterson by calling (973) 835-8350.