By Medicover Hospitals / 23 March 2022
Home | Articles | Arthritic ankle pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Option
Pain in the ankle is not uncommon, especially for the people with arthritis, it is a daily trouble they face. Ankle arthritis is a condition that causes pain, swelling, deformity, and instability in the ankle joint. It affects the tibiotalar joint, which is formed by the shin bone (tibia) and the ankle bone.
Ankle Arthritis Symptoms
- Pain while leg movement
- Severe ankle pain
- Swollen ankle
- Stiffness or loss of mobility
- Swelling around the joint
- Deformity of the ankle
Types of Arthritis that Affect the Ankle
It is important to identify the type of arthritis that's causing pain in the ankle because some types of arthritis require very specific medications and treatments. The following are some of the common types of ankle arthritis.
Osteoarthritis - It is the most common type of arthritis, it happens when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones deteriorates over time. It affects joints, hands, knees, hips, and spine.
Post-traumatic arthritis - It is caused by an injury like a bone fracture or dislocation.
Rheumatoid arthritis - It is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease where the immune system attacks healthy cells of the body, causing inflammation or painful swelling. Psoriatic arthritis and peripheral spondyloarthritis are two other types of inflammatory arthritis that can affect the ankle joint.
Gout - It is a common and complicated type of arthritis that can affect anyone at any age. It is distinguished by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in one or more joints, most commonly the big toe.
Reactive arthritis - This happens due to an infection of the urinary, genital, or gastrointestinal systems. Ankle gets affected from it first.
Author
MBBS, D(Ortho), Fellow Joint Replacement
Consultant Orthopedic Trauma and Joint  Replacement Surgeon
Experience: 8+ years
Location: Aurangabad
The treatment plan is based on previous treatments, type of arthritis, pain, other medical conditions, health history, exam, and X-rays.
Some medications are prescribed for treating it like acetaminophen. Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen and ibuprofen may also be prescribed by a doctor. Other medications may be used to treat more severe types of arthritis.
Most of the time ankle arthritis can be treated with non-surgical ways such as -
Surgery is done when all other non-surgical options do not work, following are the surgeries:
Ankle arthritis can cause a few medical emergencies. This is a chronic condition in most cases. If the ankle becomes stuck and refuses to move, a piece of bone may be trapped in the joint. This would necessitate prompt medical attention. Infectious arthritis may be present if the ankle is hot and swollen, and immediate evaluation is required.