An ankle replacement procedure is done to replace a damaged ankle joint with an artificial implant. There are various reasons your ankle joint may get damaged, such as arthritis, injury, aging, etc. However, it has been observed that arthritis is the most common cause of ankle replacement. With time, the cartilage on the bones of the ankle wears, and this can cause a lot of pain, inflation, and swelling. That is why ankle replacement surgery is done to provide relief from this pain.
Situations where you should go for ankle replacement Fort Worth:
- Nonsurgical methods become ineffective: If various nonsurgical treatment options, such as medication, bracing, physical therapy, etc., fail to provide relief from your pain, you should consider getting your ankle replaced. It is not a wise idea to keep spending thousands of dollars despite nonsurgical methods not showing any signs of improvement in your case.
- Extreme arthritis: If you do not get your arthritis treatment started on time, when you reach the end stage of arthritis where you may experience severe pain, swelling, and stiffness in your ankle. In such a situation, ankle replacement is the only option left.
- Accident or injury: Ankle replacement is also done when a person injures his ankle in an accident. When you meet with an accident, your ankle may get fractured, and non-surgical methods such as medications may not be the best possible treatment option for you. Hence, your doctor may perform an ankle replacement surgery to provide you relief from pain and swelling.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: It is an autoimmune disease that is also inflammatory in nature. If you get rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system will begin to attack healthy cells in your body, which will cause inflammation, pain, and swelling. Here, your surgeon will advise you to get your ankle replaced.
In the case of mild or moderate arthritis, most doctors recommend nonsurgical treatment options such as medicines, special types of shoes, physical therapies, lifestyle changes, etc. However, if your symptoms get severe and they begin to interfere with your day-to-day activities, you should consult your healthcare provider and seek ankle replacement. Your healthcare specialist will assess your condition and evaluate your medical history to determine if ankle replacement is suitable for you or not. Factors such as the extent of damage, your health condition, your expectations from the surgery, etc., play a crucial role in deciding on an ankle replacement procedure.
