Treating Ankle Pain without Surgery
Ankle problems are common for people who’re on their feet a lot. However, there is a fine line between tired feet and an injury, and it is important to recognize when an injury has occurred in order to avoid aggravating the problem. We experience pain for a reason, and when our body experiences pain, it is like a flashing sign to us that something is wrong, and we need to pay attention to it.
The problem is, we often try to ignore and disregard the pain, hoping it will subside with time. It is very easy to turn a minor injury into a major one by not taking proper care, especially if the fear is that surgery is the only option to get better. There are several non-surgical treatments that can treat arthritis, sprains and strains, or even a hairline fracture. These methods include:
1. Casting and braces: For ankle pain or even ankle fractures, surgery is not always the answer. Putting a cast or brace on the injury will provide support and help aid in faster healing. Especially the case with minor sprains and some hairline fractures, support and rest is often the best treatment.
2. Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise are essential tools to help reduce joint pain and stiffness, build strong muscle around the joints, and increase flexibility. While losing weight may not reverse the damage that has been done to a joint, research has shown that even moderate weight loss can have a dramatic effect on the relief of joint pain.
3. Physical Therapy: The goal of physical therapy is to help a person return to daily activities as quickly as possible. Physical therapists use their knowledge of the body to help people do customized movements and exercises to relieve their chronic pain.
4. Medication and Injections: There are many medications out there that can help as an alternative to surgery. Cortisone injections are beneficial in helping reduce pain and inflammation in the targeted area.
To learn more about non-surgical methods that can help treat your ankle pain, call Tucson Orthopaedic Institute at our East Tucson office at (520) 784-6200, Northwest Tucson office at (520) 382-8200, or Oro Valley office at (520) 544-9700. To request an appointment, you can call or use our secure online appointment request form.