Ankle Arthritis

What is Ankle Arthritis?

Ankle arthritis is the loss of cartilage in the joint where the shin bone meets the talus. As the cartilage wears, the bones move with more friction, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Unlike the hip and knee, the most common cause in the ankle is not age-related wear but an old injury. A previous fracture, dislocation, or repeated sprains can damage the cartilage and lead to post-traumatic arthritis years later. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are other causes, and gout can affect the joint too.

The pain is activity-related at first, flaring with walking and standing and easing with rest. Over time stiffness sets in, the joint may swell, and bearing weight becomes harder. There is no cure for the worn cartilage, so treatment is aimed at controlling pain and keeping the joint working.

Symptoms

• Pain in the ankle that worsens with walking and standing
• Stiffness, especially in the morning or after rest
• Swelling, warmth, or tenderness around the joint
• A reducing range of ankle movement
• Difficulty bearing weight or walking on uneven ground
• More swelling after long periods of sitting

How We Treat It

Our first interventional step is usually an intra-articular injection under image guidance. Placing medication accurately inside the ankle joint, where blind injection often misses, reduces pain and inflammation and keeps you mobile. We use this both to treat symptoms and, where useful, to confirm the joint is the source of the pain.

Where inflammation is the dominant feature, a targeted steroid injection settles a flare and creates a window to stay active. We combine these with footwear and activity guidance to manage the load going through the joint. We are clear about the limits: when arthritis is advanced and pain outruns what injections can offer, we refer for surgical assessment rather than continue indefinitely.