Ankle Joint Pain

What Can Cause Ankle Joint Pain?

Ankle joint pain can be caused by any number of things. The most common however is a sprain or fracture of the joint. However, when the pain does not subside with healing or gets worse over time, the pain may no longer be related to a specific injury and may be the result of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis - two common joint attacking problems.

Osteoarthritis

The first cause of ankle joint pain is the breakdown of the joint over time due to wear and tear and common use. This can be the result of the body aging, too much weight being put on the body or long term damage not being properly treated.

The symptoms of Osteoarthritis usually include prolonged ankle joint pain that will not get better with time and that tends to be worse in the morning. Treatment for osteoarthritis should be conducted by trying to supplement and support joint health with herbs and supplements like glucosamine sulfate or SAM-e. These will help restore the natural protective coatings of the joint and reduce pain significantly.

Additionally, physical therapy, weight loss, and regular doctor visits should be included to ensure the ankle does not become more damaged or need permanent replacement.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

The second cause of arthritic ankle joint pain is rheumatoid arthritis which is a much more complex and harder to treat problem that can cause joint problems. It is often genetic and results from an autoimmune disorder in which the body starts to attack the joints directly, treating them as foreign, invading bodies. This can cause a great deal of pain and deformation of the joint.

The most common ages to fall victim to Rheumatoid Arthritis are between 40 and 60 and women tend to suffer from the condition up to 3 times as often as men. However, rheumatoid arthritis can occur in older and much younger patients.

To treat this form of ankle joint pain, the best routes are to reduce inflammation with natural products or NSAIDs while seeing a doctor regularly. Maintaining a healthy diet can be highly effective as well in ensuring the body has whatever it needs to treat the condition itself. This can mean anything from the direct application of glucosamine to support joint health or supplementation in diet of Essential Fatty Acids that help move the necessary amino acids through the body to work on joints and muscles.