Does arthritis cause swelling in ankles?

Arthritis can be a pain, and it’s not just the physical kind that comes with stiff joints or sore muscles. Many people wonder if arthritis could also cause swelling in ankles. In this article, we will explore whether arthritis is responsible for ankle swelling.

What Is Arthritis?

Before diving into ankle swelling caused by arthritis, let’s understand what arthritis actually means. Arthritis is when one or more of your body’s joints are inflamed (therefore causing stiffness and pain) often leading to joint deterioration over time. There are over 100 different types including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis but the most common type associated with swollen ankles is gouty.

Do All Types Of Arthritis Cause Swollen Ankles?

Here comes the answer you’ve been waiting for – No, all types of arthritis do NOT necessarily cause swollen ankles! It varies from person to person based on their specific condition.

Some types of arthritis such as psoriatic have reported cases where patients experience swollen toes instead of swollen ankles (Keep calm toeless footwear enthusiasts). While others like rheumatoid may result in systemic inflammation which inevitably affects other bodily systems beyond our leg area (No related puns; Rheum-A-Lot needs no assistance) whereas Gout attacks usually affect only one joint per episode i.e., most commonly big toe but sometimes other joints too like knee, elbow or even wrist in rare cases!

Gout and Ankle Swelling

Gout is a complex condition characterized by elevated levels of uric acid(produced upon breakdown of purines naturally present in our body) leading to its deposit under cartilage within affected joint ultimately resulting inflammatory response.
Gout-like symptoms affecting external tissues such as skin surrounding painful areas contact dermatitis has also been documented whereby exposure to uric acid triggers allergic irritation.(Feel free now while resting head on your ‘uric-acid-resistant’ pillow)

While an attack usually happens in one joint at a time as mentioned above, Gout can also drain from high to low points resulting in swelling of ankle or foot. Although it might be rare but when combined with factors such as kidney diseases, obesity etc may enhance likelihood (and swelling) of getting the situation down there all swollen up.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankle Swelling

Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation throughout the body and since feet and ankles have 33 joints together thus proving themselves vulnerable places; they are fairly common victims.
Small blood vessels within cartilage get inflamed which leads to fluid leakage causing puffiness around affected areas.

Moreover, joint tissues slowly deteriorate over time prohibiting usual lubrication while requiring additional oxygen flow that causes further inflammation ultimately resulting muscle tissue damage contributing in turn more towards ankle pain- damn you arthritic vicious cycle!

Treatment Of Swollen Ankles Caused By Arthritis

If It’s bothering you enough to read this article then I’m sure for once Dr.Google got tired too! So what steps do we take if our ankles start resembling ballooning animals!

Let’s go through some common remedies which initially act as relevant relief (but never neglect professional advice):

Medications

Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Aspirin or ibuprofen work great for mild cases however prescription-based corticosteroids would be a better choice alongside supervising physician particularly prior using NSAID-containing medicines regularly.

Home Remedies For Immediate Relief

Ice packs acts as immediate aid combating pain & minimising swelling followed by compression bandages applying pressure regulating fluids from accumulating & wound healing creams,-hydrating will eventually increase circulation reducing future risk of fluid build-up.

Physical Therapy And Surgery In Severe Cases:

Physical therapy recommended selectively under qualified supervision can promote mobility although surgery should only be considered in extreme cases.

Conclusion

Arthritis, particularly Gout or Rheumatoid arthritis does include the risk of ankle swelling. In summary, a range of factors such as lifestyle patterns eventually play an imperative role too when devising preventive measures alongside taking required medications under professional guidance to curb the impact of arthritis and its severe complications like swollen ankles. For all those currently dealing with painful arthritic conditions beneath that screen right now unless you are on your treadmill (and even if you were) Stand up, Stretch out- take a walk/Do some light Aerobics I Guarantee Your Ankles would thank you later!

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