Ankle Artritis.

Cazz

Hello, I am new to this site and am hoping to talk to people with ankle arthritis. I have been told this is quite a rare one, so it would be nice to speak to people in my position. I also have it in my fingers, but the problem is my ankle.

Cazz.

bobbyger

Hi Cazz,

I am recovering from an ankle fusion which was required due to osteoarthritis in the ankle.
Has your doc told you what type of arthritis you have and how far advanced it is?

Rob

suzygirl

Hi and welome to the site. I have arthritis in my ankles, I wasn't aware it was rare. I hope you are on a good treatment plan.

I find mine is worse in the cold and damp unlike my other joints, my ankle seems to hate bad weather.

Which type of arthritis do you have?

stickywicket

Hi Cazz and welcome.

I do have arthritis in my ankles but I don't think my experiences would be very relevant to you as I've had mine since the years before DMARDS were invented. Nowadays they should be able to do much more for you. I hope some of the others can help you.

Cazz

What a lovely welcoming response!

I have osteoarthritis. I will explain what happens best I can.

I can go for long periods of time with no flare ups if I am careful and dont do too much walking!
I stand at work for 5 hours a day, and it aches afterwards, but a half hour sit down settles it again.
If I go down hard on it, walk on cobbles, walk fast, it can be like a deep pain ( i am talking the top of the ankle, on the foot) and then like a locking sensation, it then feels like it is going to cave in.

Last year this time, i was walking as my exercise, I can no longer do that as my foot gets very achey and tired.

I hope this explains a little of what i go through.

I am nearly 60, have had arthritis in my fingers for years, but the ankle started last year.

I dont suppose it is severe as it is not 24/7, but it has changed my life somewhat! ie, I look for a Hotel central to the town when i go away, before, the walk to the town was part of a holiday.

Thank you for your responses.

Cazz.

stickywicket

Cazz, the only things I can think of off-hand that might help you are:

1. When it swells elevate it and put some ice on it. (Bag of frozen peas?)

2. Ask your GP to refer you to a physiotherapist for some exercises for it.

Hope this helps.

Cazz

Hiya, thank you!

I have seen a physio, and he said there was nothing he could really do for me. I asked if I should walk through the pain and carry on with my walking, he said it would'nt do any damage, but it would cause me pain for awhile, so no! dont do it! Tbh. the only time it has really swollen was when it has been really hot, and that added pressure on it and made it hurt.

I have Ibuphoren tablets to take 3 times daily, and Solphodol. I am never sure whether to take them on a daily basis or not.
Cazz.

bobbyger

Hi Caz,

As already mentioned, a bag of frozen peas is good for the swelling.

Do you have full mobility. I found the most pain I got was when I kept my feet flat on the floor and bent at the knees and ankles moving my knees forwards and down.

I had much reduced flex on my bad ankle and the pain was on the top around the front of the ankle.

Like I said before, I have had an ankle fusion and have only just lost the aircast boot today but it all seems very good so far.

sorry to go on, but I hope this helps in some way.

Cazz

Oh please!!! do go on!! I am very interested. Was you in alot of pain alot of the time? My doctor said this maybe something to consider in time, but certainly not yet.
I see what you mean about the pressure and being flat on the floor. I find I am better with a little heel rather than flat shoes.

Cazz

Oh, and yes, I suppose I do have full mobility apart from the fact that long walks are out of the question, and I have to take hills very carefully, especially the down slope. I have got a motorised push bike to use as my pedal one was getting difficult at times.

bobbyger

sounds quite similar to what I had. although uphills was worse for me where I was compressing the front of the ankle joint. It was quite painfull and I couldn't walk for much more than 10 minutes without having to stop. I had 1 arthroscapy in 2002ish to clean the joint out which gave me a good 6 years pain free where I was able to run and play football. 2008 the pain started to return but I was warned this would happen. had another clean out last feb which didn't work and all that was left was the fusion which was the operation of choice for the younger sufferer.

I never got that much swelling either, just a little to the front and outside of the ankle (Under the boney bit on the side)

Have you asked to see a specialist yet as that would be my first port of call as a physio can't really do much for you, at least a specialist could give you a better idea of what can be done even if it is just injections into the joint to start with.

hope this helps

hileena111

Hi Cazz
Welcome to the forum.......you've had plenty of people answer about ankles up to now.....You'll get plenty of advice here......I'm not much help
Got OA in hips {have had one replacement} and lower spine and neck.
I do have arthritis in one ankle but that is a trauma one.......not wear and tear or RA.....Car drove over my ankle a couple of years ago and now I have arthritis in it but its not bad.....misshapen because of the plates screws and pins in it and swells in the heat but not much more than that at the minute

Love
Hileena

prefabkid47

Hi Cazz
Apologies for not picking up your posting straight away.
I have both OA and RA in my ankle and have been posting regularly on here having had an ankle replacement operation just a few weeks ago.
The first symptoms were a few years ago when my left ankle swelled badly,this was put down to RA and was put on methotrexate (also at the same time had RA in the hands).Control was good and had no real problem for a year or two.
About 18 months ago my ankle became increasingly painful when putting weight on it,but fortunately little pain when resting it.X rays showed moderate damage to the ankle joint due to OA (and subsequently the surgeon said there was also damage due to RA).
The pain appeared to centre on the ankle bones either side then in an arc across the top of the foot.The pain was either like a deep seated stabbing to a burning sensation,often a mix of the two.It was usually worse when taking the first few steps after sitting or resting,and especially if trying to walk on a slope.It reached the stage where an operation was the only option (fusion or replacement).
I am still in plaster following my operation,but hope to be out of it in a few weeks,when it will be the moment of truth!
Please keep us posted on what happens,we are a sympathetic crowd here and speak from personal experiences.
Regards
Ron

dreamdaisy

I have PA in both ankles (psoriatic arthritis) and I am now beginning to wonder if OA has crept in too: it has in my PA-affected knees and the pain in both ankles has changed over the past few weeks. I use crutches because I have to, and they help to a certain extent but walking for any length of time is now not possible. Would you consider using a stick (on the oppostie side to the affected joint)? This can really help to take the strain when things are playing up.

If your ankle is swelling from time to time it may be worth mentioning this to your GP and asking about having some form of anti-inflammatory med, the pain killers you take should also be helping on that front but maybe the ibo isn't strong enough now to be of much help.

Gentle exercise can be good for OA-affected joints, especially the non weight-bearing ones such as swimming. I wish you well and I hope that things improve for you soon. DD

DebraKelly

I think I this as well, I have noticed a difference in my ankle over the past few weeks, particularly with swelling!

Will see what my Consultant says next week.

stickywicket

Cazz wrote:

I have Ibuphoren tablets to take 3 times daily, and Solphodol. I am never sure whether to take them on a daily basis or not.
Cazz.

Always best to check with your doc on meds, Cazz. I know nothing about the second one you mention but, as for the Ibuprofen, if the pain's constant I'd take it regularly to try and stop it in its tracks: if it only comes on after exercise, take it before the exercise. Whenever you take it, take it with food to protect your stomach.

As for downhill walking being difficult - I'm not sure whether you mean street walking or hill walking. If the latter I'm told by Mr SW that proper walking sticks take a lot of pressure off knees (not sure about ankles) but they must be secure at the adjustment point.

prefabkid47

I agree with what DD says about using a stick,should have mentioned this in my posting.
Have used a walking stick some months before my op,it did certainly help take some of the pressure off the affected ankle.Though at times immediately before the op had to resort to crutches (but did give me practice before being in plaster!!!)
Hope all this helps,have you had an X-ray.
Ron

Cazz

Once again, thank you for all your replies.

Ron, it will be interesting to see how you get on, i wish you well and do hope it is a sucess.

Cazz.

frogmorton

Hi Caz

Pleased to meet you

isnt the solpadol like paracetamol and codeine....l am sure it's one l have had in the past...

l think you should take them as directed, but if you dont want to trouble your GP the pharmacist is likley to be able to advise.

Apart from my DMARDs l tend to take anti-inflams and painkillers as and when l need to and when times are bad l often take the max dose l am allowed.

Love

Toni xx

Cazz

I am sorry for not replying before, I havn't been getting the e mails to let me know that I have replies! Does anyone know why this would be? I got them at the start!

bubbadog

Hi Cazz, I do suffer with my ankles and suffering at the moment they are swollen and sore and having to keep them raised at the moment. I have Osteo-porosis so have to be doublely careful!! Take care.Amanda/bubbadog.

Cazz

Hello Amanda,
thank you for replying!

Can I be a nuisance and ask a few questions please?

What meds do you take?

I tend to take Solphodol first thing in the morning, then again later on and 2 brefore bedtime, unless I am drinking, maybe twice a week. Then I stop taking them in the afternoon.