Ankle pain treatment: injection

Ankle Pain treatment in Paris, ile-de-france

Ankle pain?

A ankle is a highly complex joint, made up of several structures. Mechanical damage (pain that increases with physical activity and decreases at rest) or inflammatory damage (inflammatory pain which increases at rest and especially at night) of any structure can cause a range of symptoms.

What is an ankle injection?

An Ankle Pain Treatment involves injecting a drug into the painful joint.

  • Ankle infiltration can be used for diagnostic purposes, when there are several possible causes of ankle pain.
  • A therapeutic goal: as a general rule, painful ankles are first treated with non-medication (rest) and more or less medication (analgesics and anti-inflammatories). If pain persists despite these first-line treatments, an ankle injection will be indicated.

Which ankle sites are suitable for injection?

Ankle pain treatment can be performed in several regions of the ankle, depending on the etiology. These include :

  • A tibio-talar joint The joint between the tibia and talus.
  • A subtalar joint This is the joint below the talus.

In general, these two injections are under radiological control.

  • Injection of the plantar fascia: The plantar fascia is a thick, elastic tissue that cushions the sole of the foot and contributes to its arched shape. It fans out from the heel towards the toes. It forms part of a complex system, the suro-achilleo-plantar system, extending from the knee to the toes.
  • Tendon injection

In general, these two injections are performed under ultrasound control.

As with other joints, injection can be either intra-articular (within the joint) or periarticular (around the joint).

How does this therapeutic technique work ?

Our radiologists are experts in this field.

The procedure takes 10 minutes.

You will lie on your back. This procedure sometimes requires a local anaesthetic.

In general, this procedure requires radiological guidance (ultrasound or X-ray, as explained above). An ankle injection radioguided treatment means that the needle's path and position can be continuously monitored. As a result, the procedure is more precise and targeted.

Many patients question the performance of this test.

Ankle Pain Treatment Appointment

Make an appointment for an Ankle Pain Treatment at our centers:

> Clinique Bachaumont 75002

> Clinique Drouot 75009

Make an appointment on Doctolib

Is ankle pain treatment by injection always effective?

Efficacy is not immediate. It takes 3 to 4 days for the pain to diminish. Rest is therefore indicated to increase the likelihood of treatment efficacy. Moreover, efficacy is not certain. In the event of failure, re-injection is indicated. A maximum of 3 injections is recommendedA maximum of 3 injections is recommended. If, despite these attempts, the pain persists, other therapeutic strategies will be considered by your General Practitioner (GP).

What's important to know is that pain should not be ignored if it persists.

What are the risks associated with ankle infiltration?

There are several reasons why your doctor may recommend steroid infiltration to relieve ankle pain. This procedure may be considered when drug treatments or physiotherapy have failed to alleviate your symptoms. Steroid infiltrations can offer fast, targeted pain relief, especially when inflammation is present in the joints or surrounding tissues. In fact, steroids are effective in reducing inflammation and can improve mobility, enabling you to pursue other forms of rehabilitation, such as physiotherapy.

Steroid infiltration is also an option to consider before contemplating ankle surgery. Many patients prefer this approach, as it has fewer side effects than oral steroids taken systemically.

However, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with this procedure. Steroid injections into the ankle can lead to complications such as the risk of infection at the injection site, or accidental puncture of a vein. In addition, repeated use can weaken tendons and lead to deterioration of articular cartilage. Another potential effect is bone thinning, which can contribute to osteoporosis or localized bone deterioration, known as osteonecrosis.

Because of these risks, your doctor may recommend limiting the number of injections to a few treatments per year, to maximize benefits while minimizing potential complications. This ensures that your condition is properly monitored and managed.

When should I consult a radiologist?

Any pain that persists from 6 weeks to go should prompt consultation of a radiologist.

What tests does the doctor order for ankle pain?

In general, the radiologist will perform a clinical examination of your ankle. Then, if necessary, he will order additional tests such as X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs and arthroscans.

 

What causes ankle pain?

  • If you have a special shape of foot or knee (hollow foot, varus foot: foot and ankle twisted inward, valgus foot: foot and ankle twisted outward, flat foot), you can have a ankle misalignment and then pain.
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Inflammatory disease: rheumatoid arthritis or others.
  • Bone pain following a fracture
  • Joint pain
  • Ligament pain in case of sprain.
  • Tendon pain in the case of tendinopathy (tendon pathology).
  • Circulatory pain (edema and swelling)

What symptoms can accompany such pain?

  • Along with the pain, other symptoms can occur:
  • Lameness: difficulty moving
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Ankle stiffness

This can help with ankle pain:

  • Application of ice to reduce pain.
  • Analgesic and anti-inflammatory.
  • At ease.
  • Rehabilitation sessions.
  • Compression can reduce swelling.

Last update: November 1, 2024
Controlled by Dr Laurence Bellaiche

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