Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage around your joints to wear down and often affects the joints of your big toes, heels and ankles. When cartilage wears down, you can experience joint inflammation as the bones have no protective layer and are left to rub against each other every time you use those affected joints. Foot pain caused by osteoarthritis can be treated with prescription painkillers and corticosteroid injections, which bring down inflammation, but there are alternative treatment options that don't involve taking medication.
If you look down and notice that your ankle is swollen, it is important that you not ignore it. While it could be harmless, there are also some serious medical conditions associated with swelling. Here are some potential causes for ankle swelling so you know whether or not immediate medical treatment is necessary.
You Injured the Ankle
A common reason to have a swollen ankle is due to an injury of the ankle or foot.
Muscle weakness is commonly experienced by those with multiple sclerosis and can impact the health of your feet. Here's an overview of two foot problems you're at risk of developing if you have multiple sclerosis:
Flat Feet
The joints of your feet can be damaged when muscle weakness puts them under too much strain. When this happens, your foot arches can collapse as the supporting structures aren't strong enough to maintain the lift in the arches.
Pregnancy causes all sorts of changes to happen to your body, and while you might expect morning sickness and back pain, you probably aren't thinking you'll need to see a podiatrist during your pregnancy. However, a combination of your growing bump and the production of the pregnancy hormone called relaxin, which softens your blood vessel walls and ligaments in preparation for labour, can put excessive strain on your feet. Here's an overview of two reasons to see a podiatrist when you're pregnant:
High heels can be found in most women's wardrobes. While stylish, they force you to walk in an unnatural position where too much pressure is applied to your toes and the bottoms of your feet. The fat pad on the bottom of a foot also decreases with age, and this reduces the natural cushioning necessary for comfortable walking. This means that wearing high heels can become less comfortable as you get older.
