Ankle Pain Surgery is an Option For People With Severe Arthritis

Ankle pain surgery is an option for people who have severe arthritis that causes pain, stiffness and loss of mobility. This can occur with aging or with injuries to the ankle joint that cause chronic (repetitive) damage to the joint.

Ankle arthritis is a condition that happens when the cartilage in the ankle joint wears down and erodes over time. As a result, the bones in the joint rub together. This is called "end stage" arthritis, and it can lead to serious pain and stiffness, limiting your ability to walk or do many daily activities. Visit this website: https://ankleandfootcenters.com/gout-in-ankle to read more on the benefits of having an Ankle Pain Surgery.

This type of arthritis can occur in people of any age, but it is more common in older adults. In the early stages, your doctor may suggest anti-inflammatory drugs and steroid injections to help relieve pain and swelling, braces to keep the ankle from moving too much, and physical therapy to teach you exercises that strengthen the muscles in the joint.

In severe ankle arthritis, the ligaments that connect the two sides of the joint may be damaged or torn. Depending on your condition, your doctor may recommend reconstructing these ligaments by tightening them with either one or two ligaments from the other side of the body, an allograft tendon, or both.

Reconstruction procedures are usually performed under general anesthesia, and you may be given a nerve block that helps control pain for the first 12 to 24 hours after surgery. You can expect to stay in the hospital for at least one night, and you will be put in a cast or splint that supports your ankle while it heals.

You will also need to wear a supportive boot for about four weeks. During this time, you can begin using crutches for walking, and you will be taught how to use them properly.

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves removing bone spurs, cartilage fragments, or other tissue that is causing pain in your ankle. This is done by inserting a thin, flexible tube with a fiber-optic video function into your ankle through a small incision. The video monitor transmits the images of your joint to your surgeon, who can then use surgical tools to remove the damaged tissue.

If your condition does not respond to arthroscopic treatment, or if your X-rays show that the bone spurs or cartilage are too large for this procedure, you may need an open surgery. The Ankle & Foot Centers of America doctors will provide you with numbing medicine that makes you sleepy during the procedure.

Recovery from ankle surgery takes about 8 weeks to 4 months. You can usually return to a normal lifestyle within this time period. Some people experience some discomfort for up to 2 months after surgery.

During the recovery period, you can take over-the-counter pain medication to reduce inflammation and pain. You may need to use crutches or a walker for about 10 days, then you can switch to a removable boot for another two weeks.

Before your surgery, you will need to tell the surgeon about any medications you are taking, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements. You may also need to stop taking certain medicines, such as blood thinners, for a few weeks before the surgery. Check out this related post to get more enlightened on the topic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_podiatry.