Arthritis can affect many types of joints in a human body. The ankle joint is one of these joints. Many arthritic problems of the knee are as a result of what many people refer to as 'wear and tear' which in other words is referred to as arthritis. Other arthritis ankle forms are inflammatory arthritis the best example of which is rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis ankle as a result of osteoarthritis is normally referred to as asteoarthritic ankle. It is best diagnosed through an x-ray. The space of joint seems to have narrowed drastically. Outgrowths also appear to be encroaching into the joint when one is keen very. Also, the bone that is found beneath the joint is often noted to have thickened as well as acquiring more density.

Understand Ankle Anatomy

A normal ankle joint should be smoothly lined with cartilage which appears to have enclosed the whole joint just in the way a chicken drum stick is often covered. Arthritis ankle complications seem to lead to loss of this smooth cartilage which is often responsible for reduction of friction and enabling weight to be borne more easily.

When cartilage smoothness is lost, this exposes the bone that beneath it to arthritis ankle. The surface of the bone is not ideal for bearing weight and makes people very uncomfortable. Some secondary changes in the bone take place in the form of a red tissue which is painful and highly inflammable. This soft tissue is known as synovitis. This is the tissue that is responsible for all ankle arthritis pain.

As more and more cartilage wears away, there is ankle arthritis loss of cartilage flaps which become partially detached from the ankle joint. This results in a lot of additional pain which can even be accompanied with a locking sensation that people best describe as stiffness.

Which Symptoms Are Associated With Arthritis?

There are very few symptoms that can lead to early or even 'late' detection of arthritis. Most of the symptoms that appear when the situation has worsened are always seen in the localized ankle joint region. Pain is the most obvious symptom of arthritis ankle problems. It is often experienced all around the ankle joint. It often affects the deeper regions of the joint and is often very persistent.

A person with ankle arthritis will find it very difficult to bear heavy weight, including personal body weight for a prolonged period. The pain becomes progressively more persistent and occurs more often one is usually unable to bear weight for even shorter periods of time, meaning that ability to standing for many hours, for instance, is interfered with.

Eventually, pain becomes excessive even when no weight is being borne, such as when one is asleep at night. If the pain is being experienced back region of the ankle, Achilles tendonitis could be responsible for the symptoms. Deformity can result from arthritis ankle complications especially when stiffness sets in. swelling in the joint might become chronic or the joint may develop an inward tilt.