Osteoarthritis
If the bursae are fluid-filled sacs that can help ease the tension of moving joints, cartilage is the tissue that covers the edges of most bones, allowing the bones to rub together without issues. While cartilage can help protect your bones and ensure they don’t become inflamed due to friction, there comes a time when the tissue starts to wear out. Eventually, the cartilage protecting a bone fades away, making it possible for various bones around the body to rub against each other and potentially cause problems. When the bones rub against each other without any cartilage, it can lead to a lot of pain, especially around the ankles.
Osteoarthritis can also cause loss of movement, especially for those who can’t stand the pain of their bones rubbing together due to a lack of cartilage. When the bones rub together for too long, it can cause very painful swelling, which can be challenging to keep in check. Treatment for osteoarthritis can include anti-inflammatory drugs or steroid shots. In some cases, surgery is necessary to give you back full function. Osteoarthritis can be frustrating, but it is still treatable.
