Non-surgical treatments
Severe joint pain due to arthritis can detract greatly from feelings of wellbeing and quality of life. Most successful treatments consist of a combination of approaches designed to take account of your own individual circumstances, needs and lifestyle, focusing on identifying ways to manage your discomfort and improve joint function. It is essential that the source of your ankle pain is first diagnosed by a medical practitioner to ensure correct treatment protocol. If ankle osteoarthritis is diagnosed, the following non-surgical treatment options are available, depending on the degree of joint disease:
- Exercise and physiotherapy
- Footwear, orthotics and bracing
- Injection therapy
- Medication
- Diet and weight management
Whilst these non-surgical options for treating arthritis can help to provide short-term relief, if what you really need is an ankle replacement, they may only offer limited effectiveness compared to the long-term gains afforded by surgery.
Exercise and physiotherapy
Physiotherapy covers a wide range of different treatments. Your therapist may recommend mobilisation of the joint (to prevent the muscles around the joint from weakening) or perhaps strength and proprioceptive retraining. Proprioception refers to the body’s sensory system that tells your brain where your joints/limbs are in space – standing on a wobble board is often used to retrain or increase proprioception abilities following ankle injury. Electrotherapy (the use of electrical energy as a medical treatment) may also be advised. The principles of ‘RICE’ – Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate – provide an effective home treatment for the first 24 hours, particularly for ankle injuries such as sprains.
Footwear, orthotics and bracing
Ensure that you are receiving as much support from your footwear as you need. Whilst good quality shoes incorporate an arch support to prevent pronation (the tendency of the foot to roll inwards, putting pressure on the ankles) some sandals/high heels or lesser quality shoes don’t. Cushioned insoles can also help provide additional support for your ankles, particularly if you are on your feet all day. Your doctor may even recommend wearing an orthotic – a special foot supporting device to control joint motion. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may also receive a short-leg cast, a lightweight supportive boot with a curved ‘rocker’ sole (to encourage a rocking gait, minimising impact on the joint), crutches or a brace to keep your ankle from moving and to provide additional stability.
Injection therapy
Injection therapy involves the use of a needle and syringe to inject anaesthetic or medication into the damaged joint, soft tissues or other areas to relieve pain. It is typically used only when less invasive forms of treatment fail to relieve symptoms.
Medication
Painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be used to treat the symptoms of arthritis. Medications though can only provide temporary relief as they do not prevent further damage to the joint.
Diet and weight management
Unfortunately the painful effects of osteoarthritis often lead to decreased activity, making weight loss difficult. Carrying less body weight though reduces stress on your ankle and a higher level of activity also increases its function. Heavy lifting should be avoided as this puts additional pressure on the joint. Certain foods such as dairy, kidney, liver, shellfish, nuts and alcohol can also contribute to higher levels of uric acid, increasing the likelihood of gout. Avoiding these and drinking plenty of water will help to prevent this condition.
Important: The information and guidance provided here is general in nature and should not be considered as medical advice in any way. You should always seek detailed advice from a qualified medical practitioner.
