Ankle pain is a very serious and debilitating condition that affects the lives of thousands of people all over the United States and many more across the world. It has many different causes but some of the most common are arthritis, trauma or previous surgery. Those who suffer from ankle pain often seek the help of a podiatrist. They then try many conventional methods to try to stop or control the pain, and are either very happy or very defeated. Luckily for them, a podiatrist knows that there are many other types of more intense treatment options available if the basic methods fail.  One such method is ankle injections.

If a patient complains of pain and it is accompanied by the following symptoms, than they may be a good candidate for a corticosteroid joint injection that uses a steroid to help target and control the pain in the ankle:

• Warmth to palpation
• Erythema
• Pain
• Disability
• Restriction of motion

An x-ray can be used to confirm that an ankle is suffering from trauma, arthritis or another diagnosis that would warrant an ankle injection as treatment. These are noninvasive and can be done during a regular appointment at an office visit. In the x-ray room, you will be asked to take specific positions so that the technician can get the best pictures possible. These x-rays will then be reviewed by the podiatrist.

How is an injection given?

The patient is asked to lay down on their back with their ankle relaxed. The podiatrist will then feel around the ankle to find the right area to enter with the needle. Once the site is identified, they will sterilize the chosen site and the needle. The injection will be slow and careful so that the medicine works properly and spreads appropriately.

Once the injection is done, the individual will be asked to stay in the same place for 5-10 minutes. They will also be asked to stay in the office for 30 minutes after the injection to be sure that they do not have an allergic reaction or that any other adverse side effects appear.

Are you experiencing a lot of pain in your ankles? Has arthritis, a traumatic injury or another cause lead you to ankle pain so severe that traditional remedies just aren’t working? It is time to seek alternative options with a podiatrist you can trust. Call Joseph C. Stuto, DPM and Joseph A. Stuto, DPM of Stuto Foot & Ankle Group, located in Brooklyn, New York. Making an appointment is easy - just call 718-624-7537 or make an appointment online today. You do not have to suffer from ankle pain, there are options available that can help!