ASK THE DOCTOR - RA in my ankles. Will braces hurt or help?

[Guest guest]

HealthTalk.com

Ask the Doctor

December 24, 2007

Answered by Tina Chadha Bunch, M.D.

RA in my ankles: Will braces hurt or help?

Q. I have rheumatoid arthritis and for the past several months have

had severe pain in both ankles. I asked my rheumatologist about braces

for my ankle, and he said that he did not want me to use braces

because they cause muscle atrophy. The pain had gotten so bad that I

could hardly walk, so after doing research on RA ankle arthritis, I

purchased ankle-foot orthotics for both ankles. They help me walk with

less pain, but will this eventually cause muscle atrophy and damage my

leg muscles?

A. An ankle-foot orthotic is a special brace that's designed to limit

motion of the ankle while supporting the foot. If you wear these

devices for prolonged periods of time, you will limit the movement of

the foot at the ankle, and you may indeed end up with some atrophy of

the muscles you are no longer using.

Braces aren't your only option for controlling the pain in your

ankles. In addition to using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs to

get the RA disease activity under control, you and your doctor should

consider other treatment options such as cortisone injections and/or

surgery.

http://www2.healthtalk.com/go/rheumatoid-arthritis/ask-the-doctor/content/ra-in-\

my-ankles-will-braces-hurt-or-help

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Not an MD

[Guest guest]

I have worn braces for many years. First only my left ankle but last year I went

to using braces for both ankles.

 

I love the fact that I can walk with out pain (most of the times). Yes, my left

ankle has frozen to an extent but, I had an orthopedic guy tell me that I could

either wear the brace and let the ankle fuse itself or have surgery. I opted for

the brace and have never looked back.

 

With the braces I have been able to continue to do some hiking with my husband.

Without the braces, I was left behind.

 

So it is a personal choice and depends on many things. But I have to say that

wearing the braces has been the best choice for me.

 

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