Subtalar Arthritis
Subtalar Arthritis is generally categorized as pain in the hindfoot. The subtalar joint is the joint that lets you rotate your foot back and forth and bend it back and forth. Patients who suffer from Subtalar Arthritis will feel pain when walking or moving the ankle.
What causes Subtalar Arthritis?
Subtalar Arthritis is usually caused by a fracture in the foot, usually the heel bone. It can also be caused by excessive wear and tear on the joints resulting from too much activity.
How Do I Know if I have Subtalar Arthritis?
What are the symptoms of Subtalar Arthritis?
The most common symptom of Subtalar Arthritis is pain. This pain is usually located in the ankle and back of the foot and is aggravated when the ankle turns inward or outward. In addition to pain you may also experience stiffness and swelling of the ankle joint as well as a feeling of general instability in the ankle joint.
How is Subtalar Arthritis Diagnosed?
Subtalar Arthritis is usually diagnosed through a physical examination from your physician or podiatrist along with X-rays.
What Can I do from home for Subtalar Arthritis?
What can I do to prevent Subtalar Arthritis?
You can prevent Subtalar Arthritis by taking precautions when it comes to physical activity. Wearing a brace or wrap will protect your foot and prevent Ankle Sprains and fractures.
What treatments can I do from home for Subtalar Arthritis?
If you’re suffering from Subtalar Arthritis there are several things you can do from home to prevent it including adequate rest between physical activity. Overworking your joints will cause fatigue. You can also take an anti-inflammatory to help reduce swelling and pain.
When should I see a doctor for Subtalar Arthritis?
Seeing a doctor as soon as you think you may have Subtalar Arthritis is a good idea. Your doctor will be able to help you overcome this foot condition.
Treatments your doctor may recommend for Subtalar Arthritis
Non-Surgical:
- Rest - Get off your injured foot as soon as possible. Relieving weight and pressure will help your foot heal faster and avoid further injury.
- Ice - Rest or wrap your injured foot with ice as soon as possible. Ice helps prevent swelling and promotes faster healing time. Wrap the ice in a towel and avoid putting ice directly on the skin.
- Compress - Immobilize the injured foot with a bandage or ankle brace. This gives your ankle stability and protects it from further injury. Make sure you don’t wrap your foot or ankle too tightly. You don’t want to cut off the blood supply to your foot.
- Anti-inflammatory medications (such as OTC ibuprofen or naprosyn). These can help reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain.
- Wearing an ankle brace is another way to help treat Subtalar Arthritis. The ankle brace creates support and stability to an otherwise unstable joint.
- Monitoring your activities. Allow your ankle time to heal and avoid heavy activity. Low impact sports such as biking or swimming will allow you to stay active without putting excess pressure on your ankle joint.
- Monitoring your weight. Too much weight on your ankle joint can cause premature wear and tear.
- Cortisone injections
Surgical:
Your surgeon will fuse your ankle joint together using pins and plates. This option is non-reversible and should only be done if the other non-surgical options do not work.