Clearwater, FL - (727) 462-5582
Beverly Hills, CA - (310) 975-7033

When Both Ankles have Arthritis, Look Into Ankle Surgery Alternatives

Having one ankle hurt from arthritis is bad enough, but one when both ankles hurt from arthritis, life can’t be troublesome and difficult. There are not many good options to choose from. Ankle replacement surgery is not as successful, like knee replacement surgery or hip replacement surgery.

Ankle fusion limits your motion and results in an abnormal gait or walking pattern. Having both ankles fused is highly difficult to walk, you almost have to shuffle your feet. Patients then look for alternatives to ankle surgery, often this journey brings them to Dennis Lox M.D. a Sports and Regenerative Medicine expert.

Normal Ankle Motion in Gait

Your ankle is very important to a normal walking or gait pattern. Your forefoot pushes off during moving the one leg, and then as the other leg moves forward it lands on the heel or heel strike. This is efficient in smooth normal walking. There is less impact on the rest of the body. Alter this, and abnormal stress is transmitted to the rest of the foot and ankle. Limping for long periods can then create abnormal stress and wear, not just on the foot and ankle, but also adjacent joints such as the knee, hip, and spine. A set up for progressive arthritis of the foot and ankle, compounded when both ankles are involved. Additionally bad when it causes eventual arthritis in other joints.

Weight Gain and Compounding the Problem Further

Often due to lack of being able to walk far from both ankles having degenerative arthritis, patients gain weight. Some are runners who distance running overtime wore the ankle from repetitive stress. Trauma is often a cause. Breaking both legs can do this. Frequently sprained ankles, seen in other sports such as basketball is common. Both Professional Basketball Players Bill Walton, and Kevin McHale Player with ankles during their professional career, and had great problems after they retired.Dr. Lox not uncommonly, sees patients with ankle arthritis gain 20 pounds or more adding more force to an already compromised area. For every 10 pounds of weight gain, there is more like a 50-pound force vector transmitted downwards. This affects the hip, knee, ankle, and foot. 20 pounds is more like a 100-pound backpack.

Not a good scenario long term. Add in limping, and it becomes easier to understand, why the spine, knee, and hips can then be affected as well. A strategy to help the situation is to lose 20 pounds or more.

Find alternative exercise nonstressful to your leg. There are many options hen discussed with Dr. Lox. If other body parts are also arthritic, having an expert experienced physician, such as Dr. Lox, is also very helpful to assist in a personalized medicine approach to address diet and appropriate exercise. Hiring a personal trainer who lacks understanding of degenerative progressive arthritis can’t typically understand the challenges. Add in Regenerative Medicine and Ankle Stem Cell Therapy, and they have no experience in this arena. There is a reason each professional sports team has an experienced professional athletic trainer who understands that sport. Most do not understand Regenerative Medicine and Ankle Stem Cell Therapy.

Dr. Lox does works with professional sports athletic trainers and has a great relationship with the local ones, and one works with professional athletes, and patients wanting a better quality of life. Decreasing repetitive stress to both ankles is especially important.

Ankle Avascular Necrosis

Ankle Avascular necrosis (AVN), also referred to as osteonecrosis, is often exasperating, as unloading stress on the area of bone with necrosis or bone cell death, becomes often impossible. This is because the weight-bearing load is transmitted downward to the foot and ankle. Dr. Lox has helped several athletes, who were told they needed ankle fusion surgery for their ankle and foot AVN or osteonecrosis, without surgery, by using an alternative to ankle surgery strategy, Regenerative Medicine, and Ankle Stem Cell Therapy. One who was 14, a soccer player, was told to have ankle fusion therapy. This Nile would have ended her soccer career, and also affect her ability to wear high heels. Ending her high school soccer and dreams of a college scholarship, and professional soccer career. Did the surgeon think about her life also as a young woman going to prom? Women’s desire to wear heels out to dinner etc.? Dr. Lox did. She now plays soccer with a college scholarship. After treatment with Dr. Lox and Ankle Stem Cell Therapy.

She also made the local Orlando news TV for her story.

Regenerative Medicine and Ankle Stem Cell Therapy

Dr. Lox has treated many athletes and patients with ankle problems. Including Avascular Necrosis or AVN. Both ankles with degenerative arthritis need to access with a personalized approach, as no two patients are alike, there is no one size fits all cookie-cutter approach that many clinics pitch with their Products claiming younger stem cells in a vial when there are no stem cells. Umbilical or Amniotic products that are really tissue decellularized grafts not stem cells in a vial, which would be an FDA approved drug is not personalized medicine. Taking each patient’s unique history, goals, needs, desires into play with their degree of arthritis or problem area is needed with a complete examination to arrive at a complete plan of action. This is how Regenerative Medicine and Ankle Stem Cell Therapy, is done by an experienced expert like Dennis M. Lox M.D.

This is how to determine if alternatives to ankle surgery, such as ankle replacement surgery or ankle fusion is best approached. Having both ankles with arthritis is more challenging, but Dr. Lox has dealt with many such patients including Dentists and Business professionals who both continue to travel frequently. Including overseas and walking, not just sitting on a cruise ship.

This is real life Medicine, done by someone who understands not just the patient’s perspective, but also the real science behind degenerative arthritis, Regenerative Medicine, and Ankle Stem Cell Therapy. Dr. Lox is also a patient with degenerative arthritis from multiple sports injuries, like most of his patients he wishes to avoid knee surgery replacement. Understanding the science, true experience, and practicing what you preach gives a unique perspective into patients with pain, it also gives compassion and true caring about their well being.

Dennis M. Lox M.D. Sports and Regenerative Medicine

Dr. Lox has been practicing in the area of sports medicine and degenerative arthritis, traumatic injuries for over 25 years. He has special expertise in the nature of how arthritis is progressive in degenerative arthritis and Rheumatologic conditions and In Avascular Necrosis or AVN. Patients from around the world have traveled to see Dr. Lox. A concert pianist in London with a wrist problem, a ballerinas toe, a Wealthy businessman and Author in India, a soccer player in Australia, and Belgium have all consulted with Dr. Lox.

Experience allows a better understanding of many different types of injuries, situations, and treatment options for each unique person. This is truly personalized medicine.

Dr. Lox has edited 2 medical textbooks, 8 medical textbook chapters, authored numerous scientific articles and abstracts, as well as lectures Nationally and Internationally to University Professors, researchers, and other doctors.

Dr. Lox does not give seminars to the public as many new clinics do. He relies on word of mouth and has a reputation.

Dr. Lox practices Sports and Regenerative Medicine in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, and the greater Los Angeles LA metropolitan area with an office in Beverly Hills, California.


Dr. Lox

Whether you are a professional athlete, weekend warrior, or have arthritis from aging, Dr. Lox can help. Dennis M. Lox, M.D. is an internationally renown Sports and Regenerative Medicine specialist. Dr. Lox incorporates Regenerative Medicine techniques such as cell science applications, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), and Tissue Engineering aspects, to help patients from around the world with a vast array of problems. Dr. Lox is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Lox lectures extensively and has edited two PM&R textbooks, the prestigious A State of the Art Review (Star) on Low Back Pain, and Soft Tissue Injuries: Diagnosis and Treatment. Dennis M. Lox, M.D. maintains an active practice in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, and in Beverly Hills, California.

Are You Looking to Avoid Surgery?

If you haven't found joint relief should schedule a personal consultation with Dennis M. Lox, M.D., to learn if you are able to get joint relief without the need for invasive surgery.

Stem Cell Therapy in Clearwater, FL and Beverly Hills, CA

Dr. Lox treats the Tampa Bay Metro Area including Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa , Pinellas Park, Palm Harbor, Orlando and Sarasota as well as the Los Angeles Metro Area including Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.

Call our office in Clearwater, FL or Beverly Hills, CA to schedule a consultation with Dr. Dennis Lox.

Clearwater, Florida Office

2030 Drew St.
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 462-5582

Beverly Hills, California Office

450 N Roxbury Dr. #602
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 975-7033

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*DISCLAIMER: Like all medical procedures, those performed by Dennis Lox, M.D. have a success and failure rate. Patient reviews and testimonials on this site should not be interpreted as a statement on the effectiveness of our treatments for anyone else.