Torn Cartilage in Ankle

The Achilles' heel too, sometimes leads to a downfall in some circumstances, in spite of possessing immense strength and power. The Achilles tendon connects the muscles of the lower leg with the heel bone. If the ankle, calf, or foot undergoes a major injury or a direct blow, it can cause the tendon to rupture.

There are a number of injuries which our ankles are vulnerable to, especially if someone is an athlete or sportsperson. One such problem faced by athletes is a torn cartilage.

You would be thrown off balance, literally in this case, because the weight-bearing surface of the ankle has taken a beating. As a result, you will not be able to put weight on the ankle, which will result in the ankle giving way. This will lead to instability, a major symptom of a sprained ankle.

Needless to say, if there is a torn cartilage or torn ligament in the ankle, you are bound to experience pain. Although the degree of pain will depend on the severity of the injury, pain is going to be there. It is the case with all sprains and strains associated with the ankle.

When there is an injury, fluid begins collecting around the affected area. This sometimes can be so bad that it leads to complete immobility of the ankle. In such cases, where there is a lot of ankle swelling and pain, the underlying cause can be something beyond a cartilage tear.

Footballers are people who must have experienced this 'popping' sound at the time of injury. This happens because of torn ligaments, and it can be compared with snapping of a stretched rubberband.

Bruising is another very common symptom of torn cartilage in the ankle. If a cartilage or ligament is torn, blood starts pooling under the skin, resulting in bruising. It normally does not happen till a day or so after the injury; it begins at the injured area, and spreads all over.

The treatment for this, in most cases, involves RICE-rest, ice, compression, and elevation. However, that depends on how bad the tear and the injury is. In addition to that, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines are prescribed. In extreme cases, the person may have to go for an arthroscopy.

A torn cartilage in the ankle joint can be prevented by proper warm up before performing any strenuous activities. In addition, ensuring that proper footwear is used, and being careful about the surfaces you walk, run, and work on can help avoid ankle injuries in general. Recovery rime ranges from a week to a month, depending on the severity of the injury.