ANKLE PAIN BLOG

Answer by Ross Hauser, M.D.

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I Have Chronic Ankle Pain. I Have Pins, Can Prolotherapy help?
In our experience when someone has pins placed or gets a joint fused, more strain is placed on the area above and below the original problem area.

This is due to the pins or fusion stabilizing only that segment. This means the movement for that joint has to come above and below the fused joint. If the fracture did not involve bolts and nuts to stabilize it and you still have pain, most likely it is just from ligament injury that occurred during the trauma that hasn't healed...Remember casting or surgery for severe fractures does not strengthen the ligaments and tendons that were weak or stretched in the initial injury.

Prolotherapy strengthens and repairs weak or painful areas by addressing the underlying cause of the pain which is typically weak ligaments and tendons.

 

Ankle Injuries and Prolotherapy
Twisted Ankle
Acute ankle sprains are typically treated by immobilization, presumably to help the injured ligaments heal. Nothing could be further from the truth. Immobilization is the quickest way to cause a dramatic decline in ligament function and strength. Anti-inflammatory medications are often given after an acute injury, but should definitely be avoided during this time. Anti-inflammatory medication may actually prevent the body's own healing process from occurring. 

Ankle Injuries and Prolotherapy
Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains are a common and often aggravating injury. Although most sprains are generally minor and heal quickly, a recent study conducted at the orthopedic department of the University of Basel Switzerland showed that in 20% to 40% of patients, sprains lead to chronic ankle instability, and that 70% to 80% of this patient subset eventually develops osteoarthritis in the affected ankle. The basic mechanism in a sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament which helps hold bones together and which prevent excessive movement of the joint. The most common method of injury is when the foot comes down on an uneven surface or on its edge rather than flat down. The most common ligaments that are injured are those on the outside of the ankle. Failure to obtain complete healing in torn ligaments is not uncommon because of their poor blood supply. When this happens, ankle instability that permits an abnormal side to side motion, and ultimately arthritis in the joint are the result.

Ankle Injuries and Prolotherapy
Ankle Fusion
It is common for Prolotherapists to see people with continued pain complaints after surgery. This is a very common occurrence in our office in Oak Park, Illinois. Often overlooked causes of this post-surgery pain are that the surgery itself may cause ligament injury or the surgery may not repair the ligament injury. When performing surgery, the ligaments are stretched and pulled in order to gain access to the joint.

Disclaimer: The information on this website is presented as information only and not a self-help guide NOR AS SPECIFIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS. The physician you are visiting has had the benefit of performing medical examinations and laboratory tests to determine the degree of your symptoms. Important tools in not only prescribing a treatment plan but also in determining your response. If you have concerns about your treatment, please direct your questions to your physician because that is the proper course to take. Prolotherapy may not be effective for every individual and there are risks involved, these risks should be discussed with your physician. Results achieved with some may not be typical of all. Please consult a physician.