Treatment of ankle arthrosis at home

Arthrosis of the ankle joint is a fairly common disease and is most often chronic, which means it cannot be completely cured. It progresses gradually, and in order to achieve improvement, it is necessary to select an individual set of measures, not only medications, but also folk ones. We will tell you in more detail about what arthrosis of the ankle joint is, what its symptoms are and how treatment is carried out at home.

Healthy and damaged joint

Causes of ankle arthrosis

The development of degenerative processes is most often provoked by injuries, inflammation, and congenital disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

There are also risk factors that increase the likelihood of arthrosis:

• Age. Natural aging of the body is accompanied by a slowdown in metabolic processes. Articular cartilage is gradually destroyed, regeneration resources are no longer enough to compensate for natural wear and tear. Tissue trophism is also reduced. As a result, the joint space narrows and osteophytes form. The first signs of arthrosis of the ankle joint can be noticed after 40 years.
• Overweight. The joints of an obese person experience increased stress. The fact of the relationship between excess weight and the formation of arthrosis has been clinically proven.
• Injuries and operations on the joint. Ligament ruptures, dislocations, sprains, and cartilage damage disrupt the functioning of the joint. Even if the injury did not have obvious clinical manifestations, post-traumatic arthrosis of the ankle joint can form over time.
• Genetic predisposition. The tendency to arthrosis is inherited from parents to children.
• Hormonal imbalance. The level of sex hormones matters. With insufficient secretion, the rate of cartilage regeneration decreases. Under load, the joint becomes thinner and osteophytes form.
• Excessive loads. Among professional athletes and people engaged in physically demanding jobs, arthrosis is a common disease. Signs of joint destruction from overuse can occur at a young age.
• Arthritis. Neglected or poorly treated inflammation is a serious risk factor. Arthrosis can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis and other pathologies.

Basic principles of treatment with folk remedies

Clinical manifestations of the pathology include stiffness of the ankle joint, its morning swelling and stiffness of movement. In official medicine, at this stage of osteoarthritis, the use of ointments with NSAIDs is practiced. But, despite their external use, in some cases they provoke the development of local and systemic adverse reactions. Remedies made according to recipes from traditional healers have virtually no toxic effects on the body and have many positive properties:

• eliminate swelling of soft tissues that occurs when they are damaged by bone growths;
• remove waste, toxins, and tissue breakdown products from the ankle joint;
• improve trophism in the joints by eliminating the deficiency of nutrients, vitamins and microelements;
• stimulate the regeneration of soft tissues and connective tissue structures;
• normalize microcirculation, increase the production of synovial fluid.

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the ankle joint with folk remedies is carried out only when stable remission is achieved. At this stage, the patient experiences aching, nagging pain during a sudden change in weather, hypothermia, or after intense physical activity.

Swelling may appear after exercise.

Signs of illness

Arthrosis progresses slowly, and symptoms may increase over several years.

When to see a doctor:

• There was pain. In the early stages, it may simply be discomfort, a pulling, aching sensation after a long walk. Gradually, the pain intensifies and disrupts the normal functioning of the joint.
• Lameness, change in gait. These are the consequences of pain syndrome. The person places his foot in the most comfortable position for him.
• Stiffness of movements. The symptom of arthrosis of the ankle joint is clearly visible in the morning, when after sleep you cannot move your leg. After some time, mobility is restored.
• Joint deformity. Visible changes develop in advanced cases and in the later stages of the disease. Osteophytes form on the articular surfaces, which deform the leg.

Degrees of arthrosis of the ankle joint

The most widely used classification is that of Kellgren and Lawrence:

• Zero stage. There are no signs of arthrosis.
• First stage. The radiograph raises doubts among the doctor. Darkening is visualized in places of tissue changes.
• Second stage. The image shows minimal changes in the structure of the joint.
• Third stage. Signs of pathology are pronounced and are clearly visualized on an x-ray. Changes in cartilage and bone are determined.
• The material is sent for analysis for differential diagnosis with inflammatory arthritis, gout, and infection.

Treatment of ankle arthrosis

Therapy is carried out comprehensively. The result of treatment depends not only on the qualifications of the doctors, but also on the efforts of the patient himself. The patient’s own work significantly increases the effectiveness of all prescribed procedures.

Lifestyle change

It is recommended to get rid of excess weight and remove excess stress from the joint. Walking is alternated with a short rest, if possible, do not carry heavy objects, change the mode and type of nutrition, and give up bad habits. A cane can be used to relieve pressure on the injured ankle joint. Changing lifestyle has a beneficial effect on the general well-being of the patient.

Drug therapy

The doctor selects medications to reduce pain, inflammation, stimulate metabolic processes, and treat concomitant diseases.

To relieve pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are most often prescribed. The drugs are effective, but require parallel administration of proton pump inhibitors (to protect the gastric mucosa) and H2 histamine receptor blockers.

To restore ankle function, chondroprotectors are prescribed. The products improve cartilage regeneration and prevent its destruction. Chondroprotectors are taken in long courses of several months.

In severe cases, local treatment is indicated - intra-articular and periarticular injections are prescribed. The doctor selects glucocorticoids, hyaluronic acid or anti-inflammatory drugs. Additionally, ointments and gels help relieve symptoms.

Therapeutic exercise (physical therapy)

Gymnastics is effective in the treatment of arthrosis of any degree, including post-traumatic pathologies. A course of exercise therapy is prescribed after the exacerbation has resolved. A set of exercises is compiled by a doctor taking into account the condition of a particular patient.

After rehabilitation in a specialized center, you can do exercise therapy at home on your own. Regular exercise will help maintain joint function and improve mobility.

Physiotherapy

For arthrosis, the following procedures are prescribed:

• Electrophoresis. The current improves the penetration of the medicine to the diseased joint.
• Phonophoresis. Active substances are delivered to the site of inflammation using ultrasound.
• Magnetotherapy. Inductors act on the affected joint on both sides.
• Thermal applications. Drugs are selected to stimulate cartilage regeneration. Applications are also performed with paraffin and therapeutic mud.

Surgery

Surgeries are performed in extreme cases of arthrosis of the ankle joint, when it is impossible to cure the patient with conservative methods.

Arthroscopy

Minimally invasive treatment method. A video camera and microsurgical instruments are inserted into the joint cavity. The doctor conducts a thorough examination of the joint, removes particles of osteophytes, destroyed cartilage, and scar tissue. Arthroscopy helps to temporarily relieve pain and restore joint mobility.

Endoprosthetics

The operation is indicated for complete destruction of the joint. After installing an artificial joint, the mobility and weight-bearing ability of the limb are restored, and the pain syndrome gradually regresses.

What to give up

In case of acute, piercing pain in the ankle, any thermal influence on them is strictly prohibited. Do not use alcohol rubs, ointments with turpentine and essential oils, hot foot baths, applications with paraffin and ozokerite. Acute pain indicates inflammation of the soft tissues located near the joint. When exposed to heat, blood circulation will accelerate, and toxic compounds will penetrate into the systemic circulation.

You should not use folk remedies with questionable therapeutic effectiveness - compresses with oatmeal, eggshells, activated carbon. They do not contain ingredients that can improve ankle function.

On the Internet you can often find recommendations for consuming large amounts of jellied meat, fish jellied fish or berry jelly. It contains collagen, which has chondroprotective (stimulating cartilage regeneration) properties. However, almost all of the collagen from gelatin is broken down in the digestive tract and is evacuated from the body. Eating large portions of jellied meat high in fat and cholesterol will lead to deterioration of blood vessels and increased body weight. And this will significantly reduce the functional activity of the joint.

Compresses

Compresses with vodka or 96% ethyl alcohol diluted in an equal volume of water have a warming, distracting local irritating effect. Carrying out the treatment procedure at home is very simple. A sterile bandage is folded into 5-6 layers, soaked in vodka, wrung out and applied to the sore joint. The top of the compress is covered with plastic wrap and thick cloth, and the bandage is secured with gauze or an elastic bandage. After drying, the compress is removed and the skin is generously lubricated with nourishing cream. Using the same principle, you can carry out the procedure with medications sold in any pharmacy:

• medical bile. A viscous dark liquid with impurities of ethanol and furatsilin has a pronounced analgesic, anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effect;

• bischofite A thick brown solution, saturated with magnesium chloride, stimulates tissue regeneration, improves blood circulation, and replenishes the reserves of microelements necessary for the proper functioning of the joint.

In folk medicine, compresses with sea salt are used to eliminate pain and morning swelling of the ankle. Unlike ordinary stone, it contains a lot of iodine. This microelement exhibits antiseptic and analgesic activity and removes accumulated fluid from the joint. To prepare the solution, dilute a tablespoon of sea salt in 0.5 cups of warm water. Then moisten a sterile napkin in it and apply it to the sore joint once a day until completely dry.

Applications

In the treatment of osteoarthritis, cosmetic clay is used, which contains various microelements - chromium, manganese, copper, iron, molybdenum, phosphorus. For appliqués, it is better to purchase blue or green clay. It is diluted with ordinary or mineral water to a thick sour cream and applied in a thick (1-1.5 cm) layer to the sore joint. Cover the top with a film or thick cloth and secure this structure with a bandage. The duration of the treatment procedure is 1-3 hours. The following applications are also used to treat osteoarthritis:

• about 50 g of ozokerite is melted in a water bath and cooled to 50°C. Using a brush or spatula, apply several layers of thick liquid to the affected joint, while waiting for the previous one to dry. Secure with film, insulate with cloth and leave for an hour;
• 30-40 g of crystalline paraffin is melted in a water bath, cooled to a comfortable temperature and applied in several layers to the ankle. Paraffin retains heat well, so the application does not need to be insulated. The duration of the procedure is 1-3 hours.

Dimexide is used to relieve swelling and eliminate pain. It is diluted with an equal amount of water and rubbed into the skin over the joint. Then soak a wide sterile cloth in the solution, wring it out lightly, and apply it to the ankle until completely dry. The therapeutic course consists of 10-15 daily applications.

Homemade ointments

Pharmacies sell a variety of biologically active supplements for external use. They often contain more than two dozen ingredients of plant and animal origin - phytoextracts, bee and snake venoms, camphor, menthol and other organic and inorganic compounds beneficial for joints. Such components “clog” each other’s medicinal properties, which negatively affects the effectiveness of dietary supplements. Traditional healers recommend preparing ointments at home. The concentration of ingredients can be varied, excluding some components and increasing the concentration of others.

To prepare an anesthetic ointment, you will need two large young leaves of horseradish. They are ground in a mortar until a paste forms. During the grinding process, add 2 drops of fir, eucalyptus and juniper essential oils. Then, with constant stirring, 200 g of medical Vaseline is introduced in small portions. The resulting green mass is transferred to a dark glass container, tightly closed with a lid and stored on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. If aching pain occurs, rub the product into the ankle joint 2-3 times a day.

Mustard ointment helps eliminate morning swelling and stiffness of movement. Place a tablespoon of thick honey and cosmetic almond oil into a mortar and mix thoroughly. Without stopping rubbing, add a teaspoon of mustard powder and 50 g of baby cream in parts. The ointment can be stored in the refrigerator for no longer than a month. Used once a day during the remission stage of osteoarthritis.

Rubbing

To improve the condition of the ankle joint, rubbing is used that has a warming, local irritant, and analgesic effect. A remedy containing turpentine oil (turpentine) has proven itself well in the treatment of arthrosis. To prepare it you will need a teaspoon of turpentine, 2 drops of thuja essential oil, 50 ml of any vegetable oil. All ingredients are placed in a bottle, capped and shaken thoroughly. If the joint is stiff, rub a small amount of the product into it 1-2 times a day. Traditional healers recommend preparing a rub that eliminates almost all symptoms of osteoarthritis:

• from the beginning of spring to the end of summer, collect and dry young leaves of dandelion, horseradish, wormwood, burdock, plantain, elecampane, St. John's wort;
• at the beginning of autumn, fill an opaque container with plant material without compacting it and fill it with vodka;
• leave in a dark place for 2 months, shaking occasionally.

Rubs with hot capsicum are very popular in folk medicine. This product is suitable for treating people with oily or normal skin types. To prepare the rub, 5-7 pods are placed in a liter jar, filled with vodka, and left for 2-3 weeks in a dark place.

Drink plenty of fluids

To cleanse the cavity of the ankle joint from harmful substances, you should drink at least 2 liters of liquid daily. You can use regular or mineral water, sweet and sour berry, fruit jellies, fruit drinks, compotes, vegetable juices. In folk medicine, infusions from dry plant materials are used:

• yarrow;
• oregano;
• lemon balm;
• thyme;
• fireweed

You can brew each herb separately, but the herbal mixture has the greatest therapeutic effectiveness. A tablespoon of dry leaves or flowers is placed in a ceramic teapot, poured with 1.5 cups of boiling water, covered with a lid and left for an hour. Strain, drink 0.5 cups 3 times a day after meals. After brewing, a basic infusion is obtained, to which you can add flower honey, citrus slices, apple slices, and lightly crushed berries.

Propolis, collected by bees from tree buds, has a general strengthening, tonic, and antiseptic effect. To prepare a healing drink, boil 2 glasses of milk, add 0.5 teaspoon of crushed propolis and simmer in a water bath for 10 minutes. Take 100 ml 3-4 times a day after meals.

Before treatment, you should consult with an orthopedist. They are skeptical of most folk remedies because of their unproven clinical effectiveness. But some mixtures for compresses and applications, herbal infusions contain ingredients that increase the functional activity of the ankle. The doctor will select just such remedies, which will save not only time, but also money spent on initially unpromising treatment.