📩 Contact us: talkingwithdocs@gmail.com
Ankle arthritis can make every step painful but surgery isn’t your only option. In this episode, Dr. Paul Zalzal and Dr. Brad Weening sit down with orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon Dr. Danny Arora to talk about how to manage ankle arthritis effectively without going under the knife.
They break down what actually happens inside the joint, what causes arthritis in the ankle, and the wide range of treatments available, from simple lifestyle adjustments to advanced therapies that can help you stay mobile and pain-free.
You’ll learn:
– What causes ankle arthritis and how it develops
– Common symptoms and early warning signs
– The role of footwear, braces, and physical therapy in pain relief
– How anti-inflammatory medications and injections can help
– When surgery should (and shouldn’t) be considered
If you’re dealing with ankle pain or stiffness, this episode gives you clear, science-backed guidance on how to protect your joints and improve your mobility, all explained by real doctors.
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🛑 DISCLAIMER:
This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your treatment plan.
#anklearthritis #jointpain #arthritisrelief #orthopedics #anklepain #footsurgeon #DrDannyArora #talkingwithdocs #physicaltherapy #painmanagement #doctorapproved #healthtips
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I had the atfl surgey in may 2025 with an untreated cartilage and it pains really bad, so much so that the surgeon says its better to borrow some from my knee and place it there
What are your thoughts on grounding? I'd love to see you guys address this — there's a few websites out there selling grounding mats, grounding bed sheets, etc…
They promote it as anti-inflammatory & pain relieving. Is there anything to it?
Thanks for doing this work. We love learning from you!
Who’s paying for this?
How does having Cartilaginous talocaneal coalition complicate arthritis? I am 60 fit and would like to continue to participate in all activities thank you I love how educational this program is.
I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis in every joint in my body. Now my ankles and Achilles heal is so painful I can hardly walk. I take injections and medication to keep it somewhat stable but still can barely walk. I use to believe in god but,let’s just say I don’t like politicians,religion or any narcissistic people. I love my kids and my dogs though. I keep hoping for the day I’m pain free and I don’t want to see Trumps stupid face anymore,or any asshole narcissistic politician that has plenty of money and all the healthcare money can buy. The rest of us will just have to get by with what we can afford and if we die from not being able to afford healthcare,then we become the silent tree that fell in the forest that the rich don’t see or hear.
So to be clear, your can't walk it off…lol.
I severely broke my tib/fib right above the ankle and am currently suffering from this big time
Such great advice once again.👍🏻🇨🇦
== DOCS==. : Please discuss VO2 max. Correlation with Healthspan. Methods to increase it. How important of a heath metric is it.
That could have been condensed
My left ankle was replaced in 2021. It was bone on bone and only choices were fusion or a total ankle arthroplasty (replacement :). Had some nerve damage so the top of my left foot has felt a bit numb and tingly ever since – but for the most part it fades into the background and I don’t think about it. So far the replacement has held up and I can hike, mountain bike and not feel limited by it. A fusion would have stopped the pain but left me limping the rest of my life (from talking with surgeon and observing a friend of mine who had a fusion – not exactly a scientific proof 😂).
Love all your videos. I am looking for suggestions on how I can solve the issue of my heel on my left foot always sliding around in shoes must be smaller than other foot. Tried insoles, double socks, pads for back of heel which stick to shoe. Very frustrating..
Although fortunate to not have ankle arthritis, the info shared was also applicable to knee arthritis. The take away for me was re: stem cell. Thank you.
I love your advice! You always have a lot of great ideas and advice. Personally I have had a severe reactions to every injection there is. It makes the pain worse and sometimes puts me down. I would never suggest injections because of my experience.
Thank you so much for your episodes! They are so informative and your humor is so valuable. I'm curious if you have information about Haglund's deformity?
What about PTTD? Would love to know more about that.
I’m a doctor, and it’s refreshing to see someone address what’s wrong in healthcare so directly. Healing Beyond The System by David Collins does it respectfully but truthfully.
Doesn't ankle cortisone shots weaken your bones?
Great episode again!😊
Take electrolytes everyday, especially if you’re 60 or over.
Very informative and comprehensive presentation. It also struck a chord, as I have a severely degraded ankle. Near the end, a comment was made that Talking with Docs will be doing a surgical based presentation. Is there a schedule as to approximately when we will be able to view it?
I have some minor ankle joint damage from rheumatoid arthritis. Toes had joint fusion reconstruction surgery. Small rods in big toes. I’m not overweight.
I wear a arizona brace for my ankle trauma. To much to list. I wear gavioto hokas only.
Thanks for this as i suffer from this. Shots didn't help me at all so I stopped them. I do wear an Arizona brace which helps some
Women’s stilletto heel styles have also been higher in recent decades, which presumably leads to more sprained ankles and more stress on ankle joints. Combined with carrying excess weight, not surprising ankle is suffering more these days.
Also lots more folks in adulthood, participating in radical sports like marathoning, or whichever sport it might be, pushing themselves to the max. It all takes a toll.
U docs r so goooodddddd❤
Battling high grade cartilage loss in my ankle now. Wow, what a difference a cortisone shot makes. But I need them every 2-3 months at this point.
I really enjoy watching your videos, even when it’s a condition that has nothing to do with me. I always learn something new. This episode hit home with me. About 30 years ago I broke the fibia and tibula directly above the ankles, IN BOTH ANGLES, at the same time. My surgeon did a fantastic job on reconstruction. Had a normal life till about 10 years ago. Then arthritis sent ankles into steep decline. 11 months ago I had ankle replacement and fusion in left ankle. Unfortunately didn’t help the pain as much as I hoped. When I get the left ankle in good enough shape I’ll get work done on the left. Summery; don’t take walking and running for granted, I did, now I’m jealous of people who just walk without thinking about it. Keep the great videos coming!
What do you guys think about Glucosamine supplement for joints and cartilage ?
Now to the more serious things in life, boys I am so so sorry we didn't pull it out, we had our chances, and that unmentionable team on the west coast was lucky beyond their charms … in my opinion Jays could have and should have won all 7 games. Had them dead to rights on the ropes way too often, and let them like a fish on a hook escape.
Schneider was great on how he handled Ohtani. The ending was painful. Also that catch by Pages just inserted (what was the chances) and the play at the plate where IKF barely took a lead, painful, like Mets losses to watch.
But here is my thought especially being old school, do the players of today not know the basic fundamentals on how to bunt? I would have won 2 or 3 games with less than 2 outs and guys about to score with a suicide squeeze attempt or a drag bunt, would have caught them by surprise. But can't look back, what's done is done, but painful for the entire winter to think of Will Smith and guys like Miguel Rojas erasing the great moment of Bichette's HR knocking Shohei (overrated) out.
Was an epic series, perhaps one of if not the best of all time, just didn't end to my liking. Sorry boys, everyone dislikes the Dodgers.
I like this video did you see it? Where Gausman and Schneider think Ohtani and the Dodgers cheat (I'm sure they do, but Manfred and MLB is slanted crooked and would never do anything about it) –
but for what it's worth – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6DzJEAb7z4
A shout out and thanks to Dr. Arora for coming along today, thank you! Good show
Since you brought up stem cells (usually $$$$) how much autophagy in fasting would need to take place to see an effect if any?
BioFreeze seems to help.
yes I do hear the bare foot/shoe thing – when i get home for the night or in the morning i will tend to be barefooted without discomfort, but i am aware not to do it much outside or at the pool/jacuzzi much. I will wear footwear as I see an improved disposition or a delay to further onset.
Still waiting for Dr. Zalzal to come up with a ball bearing steel or metal or aluminum 6 million dollar man cure, come on man, more research, lol. Get cracking
Now Brad, did Dr. Zalzal go on your KALE diet to lose some of that weight your guest talks about? LOL
Ankle Arthritis rudely introduced itself this summer to me like a 1980s Mike Tyson left hook followed by a devastating debilitating upper cut. Actuallly reminiscent of the Thriller in Manila, down goes Frazier, nearly down goes yours truly.
Having been a marathoner, an aerobic instructor, a Zumba teacher in a galaxy far far away, I have been on the comeback from retirement (resting home – lol) and morgue workout rehabilitation center – with barely any issues ever, healthy … but this summer I was thinking our monsoon season and extreme hot/cold weather had something to do with it.
Out of nowhere I'd feel this pain, and normally I would do the old Jack LaLanne rotate the ankles, or brake accelerate and foot and band exercises and for a bit it helped but not much. I found out that wearing flip flop sandals didn't help that with decent fitting shoes that gave ankle support helped greatly because for awhile I got these ankle support braces and wore two of them, because without them I thought I'd need to get a cane, because it was painfully debilitating.
Old age sucks boys. LOL – but I did find wearing proper shoes has pretty much alleviated almost all the problem, and the pain is now dormant, seemingly gone away as long as I don't do any of those high impact crazy jump exercises you recently shared.
But yes, this is a topic I am interested in. I don't visit doctors much unless it is life and death, and even then maybe not as much as I ought, but nearly did call the regular doc for a referral as my wife had to get a shoulder steroid injection for her pain (rotator) this past summer, so I know it is helpful.
Thanks for posting these. Helpful
there are a lot of influencers out there, and who has the time to see them all, but I tell you, if you want a well spent 10-12-15 minutes TALKING with DOCS is the ticket, love the different guests and topics these guys come up with on a daily basis, and to think they are on call (stat) like 24-7 – they are some pretty high quality AMAZING people indeed, wish they were a few 1,000 miles closer, would definitely stop by to get to know these guys personally, but for now virtual video works.
Now I've been a subscriber since the Spring before you got to the big 1M – but I just stumbled upon your website and signed up for your newsletter, Impressive my boys, my favorite Canadian sons.
I have ankle arthritis!! My ankle hurts a lot. I walk and ankle hurts when I walk. Now my knees hurt when I walk too. I am not overweight so I dont know 😢 I need to get an ankle brace to see if it helps when I walk.
I remember reading something about blue light used in hospital in thr 1960's Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) uses red or near-infrared light to stimulate cellular function, promoting tissue repair, pain relief..would help to some degree😊 good video..
🙋🏻♀️ Cuboid fracture last year 😩. Orthopedic Dr said I didn’t need surgery, but to expect arthritis, and pain from time to time. He wasn’t kidding. There’s days where it’s ok, and others where it hurts a lot in the spot it was fractured. I’m still surprised by how bad the pain and ache can be.
I tore my ligaments and small fracture playing that silly game hockey. I don't know how my foot turned so much in a blade, but it did. As I am an Australian, no one thought much of it including the doctor.
I was lucky my boss was a strapper for one of our Rugby league teams. He strapped it and it repaired very well.
But as time has gone by and I'm still coaching and reffing, it has deteriorated over time and now I also have Morton's Neuromas.
I run and keep fit at 67, but it is a challenge .
I had the ligament surgery 13 years ago and just recently rolled my ankle in a bad way. Ended up with an ankle replacement 7 months ago. Still not ‘normal’ but getting there. Loooong road but definitely better.
2 years ago I had foot/ankle surgery for torn tendons, stretched ligaments and ankle arthritis. Over the years, I had repeated severe injuries including a huge wound, many sprains and a fibula fracture that wasn't diagnosed for over a year. UC caught the hand fx and did sutures on my forehead but ignored my ankle pain. A great, young podiatrist operated on me and cleaned out the ankle joint. He could not even see the head of the tibia when he entered the joint. I still have pain and take a narcotic at bedtime but I am so much better than before my procedures.
Is Dr Arora taking new referrals??
Good info! Thank you!