Ankle Arthritis Treatment in Lenox Hill, NY
Get Pain Relief From Our Expert Team
There are various types of arthritis that can cause joint pain. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common forms of arthritis in the ankles. If you have persistent pain from arthritis in your ankle our specialists in Lenox Hill, NY, offer a variety of surgical relief options.
What Are the Types of Arthritis?
The two most common types of arthritis affecting the joints and the ankles include:
Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in your joints to break down. When the cartilage breaks down, the patient suffers from pain and difficulties with the joint’s mobility. This condition goes by several different names, including degenerative joint disease and degenerative arthritis. Whatever you choose to call it, you are not alone if you have osteoarthritis in your ankles. Approximately 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis every day.
Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes your body to mistakenly attack your joints in the same way it would fight off an infection. This creates inflammation in your joints that negatively impacts your mobility. If not treated, the inflammation can eventually cause the cartilage in your joints to break down, causing significant pain and further hindering your mobility.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects approximately 1.5 million Americans. This condition can affect more than your just joints. It is crucial that you seek treatment right away if you believe you suffer from this condition, as it may cause more health issues down the road.
What Are Some Arthritis Treatment Options?
Treatment methods for ankle arthritis include pain relievers, special supportive shoes, physical therapy, and braces. Surgery can help address chronic cases that do not respond to at-home treatments. These may include:
- Ankle fusion. During this procedure, the arthritic surfaces of the bone are removed. The remaining bone is then fused together with plates and screws. While this procedure is extremely effective for providing pain relief, the patient will lose mobility of the ankle.
- Ankle arthroscopy. This is a minimally invasive procedure for milder cases of arthritis. Our surgeon makes a small incision in the ankle and uses a tiny camera to go into the ankle and remove bone debris or pieces of cartilage from the joint.
- Joint distraction arthroplasty. This procedure involves pulling the joint surfaces apart and using pins and an external frame to hold the bones in place. It stimulates cartilage repair using bone marrow stem cells. The frame is worn for about three months. The patient then switched to a walking boot.
- Joint replacement. Replacing the entire ankle joint is a complex procedure that is generally performed on patients with advanced arthritis that has destroyed an extensive amount of the joint surface. Unlike ankle fusion, joint replacement preserves some ankle mobility. Our surgeon removes damaged cartilage and reshapes the bone surfaces. Afterwards, the surgeon attaches an artificial joint using stabilizing bone grafts and screws.
Recovery & Aftercare
Recovery time depends on the type of surgery that your condition requires. During recovery, patients are recommended to stay off of their feet and avoid physical activity for a period of recovery time, which will ensure proper healing and optimal pain relief. At your visit, our doctor will provide more detail during your consultation and supply more specific aftercare instructions following your surgery.
Contact Us for Ankle Arthritis Treatment in Lenox Hill, NY, Today
To experience our award-winning podiatric care, schedule your New Patient Consultation today by calling (646) 657-0070. You may also click here for our convenient online form. Your appointment includes the following:
- Discuss Your Goals
- Have All Your Questions Answered
- Complete Examination
- Custom Treatment Options
During your appointment, we will take the time to answer all your questions about our advanced treatments, cutting-edge technology, and anything else you may want to know about us!
