Fort Worth
Ankle Arthritis
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Fort Worth, TX Ankle Arthritis Specialists
The foot and ankle joints play a crucial role in helping you move around by bearing your weight. The weight-bearing capacity of the ankle joint makes it prone to damage and degeneration.
Arthritis is a degenerative condition that can seriously damage your joints. Pain, inflammation, tenderness, and changes in the structure of the joint are the main characteristics of arthritis. Various types of arthritis conditions can affect the ankle joint, some of which can progress rapidly. Therefore, it is essential to get an early diagnosis and start treatment.
If you seek treatment for Ankle arthritis in Fort Worth, Be Well Primary Care is your best option. Our ankle arthritis specialists provide the highest quality foot and ankle care to Fort Worth residents and nearby areas!
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Ankle and Foot Arthritis Fort Worth, TX
Foot and ankle arthritis is a major contributor to disability. According to a study, it has a prevalence of 29.2%, with most patients being females.
Symptoms typically include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Bony spurs
- Reduced mobility of the joint
- Deformity of the ankle joint
The symptoms appear as a result of cartilage breakdown in the ankle joint. This wear and tear can develop as a response to multiple causes. The aging process can make your joints prone to degeneration. However, chronic injuries (entailed in a car accident) and underlying auto-immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis can contribute to the development of ankle joint destruction. Infection of the bones can also be an underlying cause.
Our Fort Worth ankle arthritis specialists diagnose the condition using radiographic images such as X-rays and MRI scans. Your healthcare provider will first take a complete history of your symptoms and pair them with a thorough physical examination.
Treatment of ankle arthritis depends on the severity of the condition. For mild symptoms without extensive degeneration, your doctor will guide you about modifying your lifestyle, like losing weight, remaining physically active, or taking prescription medications.
Stretching and physical therapy are also effective non-medicinal procedures for reducing pain.
Surgery is reserved for severe, non-resolving cases of ankle and foot arthritis.
Common Types of Arthritis Affecting the Ankle and the Feet
Experts believe there are around a hundred types of conditions collectively termed arthritis. The most common types of arthritis affecting the ankle and the feet include:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of joint degeneration condition. It refers to the wear and tear of joint cartilage between the bones over time. Accordingly, it usually affects older adults, with about 1% of the adult population suffering from the disease.
Osteoarthritis pain and stiffness lead to disability and reduced quality of life. As the disease progresses, cartilage destruction leads to loss of space in the joint and the formation of painful bony spurs.
Gout
Excessive uric acid in the blood can lead to the accumulation of crystals in the joints. This condition is called gout or gouty arthritis. It mostly affects the big toe but can also cause the formation of crystals in the ankle. The painful condition presents as sharp pain, stiffness, redness, and joint swelling.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
It is an auto-immune disease in which auto-antibodies attack the ankle joint. Most physicians offer symptomatic management for the condition. The clinical guidelines for foot and ankle rheumatoid arthritis are not up to the mark; therefore, patient-specific treatment plans work best.
Psoriatic Arthritis
Another condition that can affect the ankle and foot joints is psoriatic arthritis. As the name indicates, this type develops in patients with psoriasis (skin pathology).
What Causes Arthritis In the Feet and Ankles?
There can be various underlying conditions for arthritis in the feet and ankles. Suffering an injury to the joint is the most common reason. A roadside accident can cause blunt trauma to the joint, which triggers cartilage damage.
There is a genetic predisposition for ankle and foot osteoarthritis. Hyperuricemia (excessive uric acid in the blood) may also lead to ankle joint inflammation. The aging ankle joint can also contribute to arthritis. Individuals with high flat feet and high foot arches have poor foot mechanics and a higher propensity for ankle injuries and arthritis.
Fort Worth Treatments for Ankle Arthritis
At Be Well Primary Care, we offer effective prevention and management of foot and ankle arthritis.
Mild cases can be treated with activity modifications such as switching to low-impact exercises instead of intense workouts. Remaining physically active to decrease bone loss and strengthen the joints will be a humble suggestion if you lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Non-surgical treatment modalities typically include injection therapy like PRP, cortisone injections, and NSAIDs to reduce swelling and pain. Physical therapy, stretching, and massage also help alleviate stiffness and improve flexibility.
We also guide patients about the ideal anti-inflammatory diets for them. Patients with disabilities are provided custom orthotics and ankle bracing that reduce pressure on the joints.
Bone spurs develop in ankle arthritis that needs surgical interventions. We offer cheilectomy, a surgical procedure to remove bony spurs. Severe cases of ankle and foot osteoarthritis may need total joint replacement surgery. For management of your arthritis, call Be Well Primary Care, or schedule an appointment online today!
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