How A Podiatrist Can Help With Arthritis Pain In Your Ankle
Arthritis can affect any joint in your body, including your ankle. When you have arthritis in your ankle, it can make walking painful enough to interfere with your daily activities. A podiatrist can help you manage the arthritis so you can live as well as possible with the foot and ankle pain that comes along with this medical condition. Here are some of the treatments a podiatrist may offer.
Ankle Exercises
Ankle exercises can help by keeping your ankle as flexible as possible and helping it to maintain a normal range of motion. Flexible ankle movement is important for a normal gait and to recover quickly when you lose your balance or trip. Exercises also make the ankle muscles stronger so there is more support for your damaged ankle joint. This helps relieve some of the shock and pressure the joint receives from each impact as you walk.
Braces And Orthotics
When your ankle is stiff, swollen, and painful, it can't move properly during the motions of walking. It may be necessary to offer support to your foot and ankle so you have some pain relief and to reduce the risk of damage to tissues in your feet that would compound your pain. A foot and ankle brace is like a stiff boot you wear that offers support to your ankle. Orthotics can be custom made to offer the precise support you need. These can be arch supports or heel cushions. Your podiatrist may even recommend special shoes with rocker soles that absorb impact when you walk.
Ankle Surgery
Surgery is sometimes performed on arthritic ankles. Different procedures are done depending on the condition of your ankle. Parts of damaged cartilage and bone might be removed or bones might be fused together. Bone fusion surgery will permanently affect the way you walk since ankle movement will be limited after the procedure, but it could be a solution for pain relief. If you have a severely worn out ankle joint, your podiatrist may even recommend ankle replacement surgery.
Your podiatrist, such as Advanced Foot & Ankle Centers of Illinois, can also offer suggestions for lifestyle changes when your arthritis is still mild that may help slow the progression of the condition. For instance, you may need to give up running and take up swimming instead, since it is gentler on your ankles. Also, losing weight might help too, since the more you weigh, the more stress is placed on your feet and ankles with each step you take.
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