What causes ankle pain?
Your ankle contains a complex network of bones, tendons, and ligaments. Ankle pain can start in any of them. Many different things can cause ankle pain, with some common examples including:
Ankle sprain
An ankle sprain occurs when you stretch or tear one of the ligaments that connect your ankle bones.
Bone fractures
An ankle bone fracture is a crack or break in the tibia, fibula, talus, or any of their individual sections.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is inflammation in a tendon, such as the Achilles tendon at the back of your ankle. You can have tendonitis in the flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum, peroneal tendons, posterior tibialis tendon, or anterior tibialis tendon. Your tendon can also rupture to cause more intense ankle pain.
Arthritis
Arthritis occurs in many forms, with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis being the most common in the ankle joint.
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome is posterior tibial nerve compression, which may trigger ankle pain. It often occurs following an injury, such as an ankle sprain.
Any type of wear-and-tear or injury in the lower leg, foot, or ankle can potentially cause ankle pain.
How is ankle pain diagnosed?
Your West Suburban Podiatry specialist skillfully examines your ankle, foot, and leg while assessing your pain level and other symptoms.
There's also an on-site X-ray machine for imaging. You may also need an MRI or CT scan in cases of complicated damage or hard-to-see soft tissue injuries. By narrowing down the source of ankle pain, your podiatrist can recommend the most effective treatment options.
How do you treat ankle pain?
Treatment differs according to the cause of your ankle pain. Common treatments include:
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Cortisone injections
- Immobilization with a splint or brace
- MLS laser therapy
- Physical therapy
Acute ankle injuries like ankle sprains and Achilles tendonitis typically improve with nonoperative care, although severe damage could require surgery.
For chronic conditions like arthritis, a combination of non-invasive therapies can restore range-of-motion and relieve ankle pain. Because arthritis is a progressive condition, you may need regularly scheduled care to avoid ankle pain recurrence.
If ankle pain doesn’t go away after a day or two of rest, you could have a serious underlying issue. Let the West Suburban Podiatry experts determine the cause of your pain so they can get you back to normal fast. Book an appointment online or by phone today.
