The types of treatment for ankle pain
Our ankles support our body weight and help us in movements involving the lower body. However, strenuous movement can sometimes affect the ligaments and tendons present inside them, causing them to swell or get inflamed. While this is one of the reasons for ankle pain, it often subsides with time. Some other causes of pain may require a more serious consideration. Given below are common causes and methods for ankle pain – treatment.

What are the common causes of ankle pain and can it be cured easily?

• A sprained ankle is a common cause of ankle pain, and it can easily be cured by following the RICE approach. R stands for rest, I stands for an ice pack, C for compression, and E for the elevation of the ankle.
• Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are other common causes for this pain, and this cause requires a combination of exercise and physical therapy for treatment. It may sometimes even need drugs in order to provide relief.
• Flat feet can also be attributed as a common cause of ankle pain and can be controlled with the help of supportive shoes and the proper use of arch supports.

What are the medications available for ankle pain treatment?

• The medications available for ankle pain treatment aim at easing the pain, providing relief from inflammation, reducing the rate of bone loss, and providing further joint support.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have different varieties, and some of them can be brought without a prescription too. They help in relieving inflammation, and they can also be used for the treatment of arthritis pain.
• Corticosteroids act quickly; they act similar to the cortisone produced by the human body and help in reducing inflammation. It comes in two forms, which are oral and injections.
• Analgesics are one of the most common medicines provided for arthritis pain relief and can be used for the treatment of ankle pain as well. It mainly targets the pain and is not for people who are suffering from inflammation.
• Some of the other options for medicines available for ankle pain treatment disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, Osteoporosis medications, biologic response modifiers, and gout medications.

What should you do in the case of an ankle fracture?

• Ankles are prone to fracture. A plaster can be placed if the fracture is not too severe.
• However, if the bone injury is too severe, an ankle repair surgery may be required.
• Surgery may require hardware placement, which includes placing metals or screws in the affected region. This helps in holding the bones in the right place so that it can heal faster and reduce ankle pain.

What is the surgery used to repair ligament damage in the ankle?

• The most common method to repair ligament damage in the ankle is ankle arthroscopy.
• Narrow instruments and lighted scopes are inserted in the skin above the ankles with the help of small incisions.
• Additionally, surgeons may also use this method for ankle pain treatment for the removal of cartilage pieces or for extracting bone debris from the space of a joint.

When is ankle replacement necessary?

• An ankle replacement may be your primary option if the pain is not being relieved by medication or other conventional methods.
• It is also required when the joint pain starts to interfere too much with the movement of the ankle and no other basic method such as medication or ankle arthroscopy works.

How is ankle distraction arthroplasty performed?

• While performing an ankle distraction arthroplasty, the doctor may require a frame and an external fixator.
• The frame is further assembled around the foot and the lower part of the body. It is surgically attached with wires and pins.
• The frame pulls out the affected surface of the joint apart and helps in softening the dense bone of the cartilage. This allows the lost cartilage to regenerate via the body’s natural healing process.

We suggest taking multiple opinions before undertaking a complex surgery, as expertise is required to carry out the ankle pain – treatment efficiently. If it goes wrong, the damage may be irreversible.