Talar dome lesions cause excessive suffering and may be hard for many people in Land O' Lakes, FL, to tolerate. Thankfully, Dr. George Tjamaloukas and Dr. Kathy Tjamaloukas of Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center can help Wesley Chapel, FL, residents with ankle pain manage this problem and get long-term relief.
What are Talus Dome Lesions?
Before discussing these lesions, it is vital to understand the nature of the talus. The talus is your ankle bone and is covered with cartilage all along the top. This cartilage helps to provide smooth movement for the ankle and minimizes pain and other issues. However, if it gets worn out or damaged through excessive use, you may experience what is known as a talus dome lesion.
Often, a lesion affects the cartilage on not only the foot but also the bone within the ankle joint. Typically, this type of injury occurs with an ankle sprain or a different kind of severe strain. Unfortunately, lesions may not heal properly and could soften and break, causing a lot of ankle pain. Those in Wesley Chapel, FL, with ankle pain may experience many symptoms.
These symptoms include chronic pain in the ankle, trouble bearing weight on that foot, clicks when walking, the ankle giving out as you walk, a sudden locking sensation in the joint, excessive swelling of the joint, and sharp jolts of pain that come and go. Treatment of this issue often goes through a multiple-stage process to ensure that you get the most comprehensive and high-quality care possible.
Treating Talar Dome Lesions
Diagnosis starts with a series of questions about recent ankle injuries that help your podiatrist better understand where your lesions may exist. The doctor then provides a variety of examinations, including moving the ankle and watching you for pain and listening for clicks within the ankle. X-rays and MRI scans also help to give a better understanding of the extent of your injury.
Treatment starts with the least invasive option first. Often, immobilization, pain medications, and physical therapy are all you'll need to manage this condition. However, you may also need surgery for some lesions. Usually, this happens if there is a lot of loose bone around the injured site or cartilage floating throughout the ankle that may worsen this condition or make it more painful.
Surgeons will carefully remove these fragments and stabilize the joint and cartilage to make your recovery more effective. Without this kind of treatment, your ankle cartilage could be further injured and cause more suffering. Thankfully, your podiatrist can assess your ankle pain as you go through recovery to decide if more extensive treatment is necessary for your ultimate recovery from this painful condition.
Recovery is Possible
If you have ankle pain and want relief from this problem in Land O' Lakes, FL, call Dr. George Tjamaloukas and Dr. Kathy Tjamaloukas of Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center, PA, right away. So if you live near Wesley Chapel, FL, and have ankle pain, call 813-909-0865.