New York City Arthritis Treatment for Ankles
Expert Surgeons Relieving Your Pain
There are multiple forms of arthritis that cause pain in the joints and hinder your ability to walk. The most common types of arthritis associated with the ankles are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. If you have been suffering from arthritic ankle pain and haven’t found relief with at-home treatments, our experts for ankle arthritis treatment in New York, NY, offer surgical relief options.
What Are the Types of Arthritis?
The most common types of arthritis that affect the joints of the ankles include:
Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in your joints to break down, causing pain and inhibiting a joint’s ability to move. This condition goes by a few different names, including degenerative joint disease and degenerative arthritis. Whatever you choose to call it, you are not alone if you suffer from osteoarthritis in your ankles. Approximately 27 million Americans live with 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 condition creates inflammation in your joints that inhibits their mobility. If left untreated, the inflammation can eventually cause the cartilage in your joints to break down, causing significant pain and further hindering your mobility.
Rheumatoid arthritis afflicts approximately 1.5 million Americans. It can also affect more than just your joints. It is crucial that you seek medical treatment right away if you believe you suffer from this condition.
What Are the Treatment Options for Arthritis?
Conservative ankle arthritis treatment includes pain relievers, braces, special supportive shoes, and physical therapy. Surgical intervention can help address chronic cases that do not resolve with conservative treatments. Surgical procedures may include:
- Ankle fusion. During this procedure, the arthritic surfaces of the bone are removed and the remaining bone is fused together with plates and screws. While this procedure is extremely effective at providing pain relief, the patient will lose mobility of the ankle.
- Ankle arthroscopy. This is a minimally invasive procedure for mild 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 surgery involves pulling the joint surfaces apart and using pins and an external frame to hold the bones in place. It stimulates cartilage repair though the use of bone marrow stem cells. The frame is worn for about three months and then the patient is 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 most of the joint's surface. Unlike ankle fusion, joint replacement preserves some mobility of the ankle. In this procedure, our surgeon removes damaged cartilage, reshapes bone surfaces, and attaches an artificial joint using stabilizing bone grafts and screws.
Recovery & Aftercare for Arthritis
Your recovery period depends on which procedure you have done. Our experts recommend that patients stay off their feet for a certain period of time and avoid physical activity to ensure proper healing and optimal pain relief. Our doctor will provide more detail during your initial evaluation and provide more specific aftercare instructions following your surgery.
Contact Us for Ankle Arthritis Treatment in New York, 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!