
What is Ankle Pain?
Ankle pain refers to any form of pain or discomfort affecting the ankle joint. Your ankles are more prone to injury and pain since they bear the weight of your entire body. The ankle joint is composed of three bones: the tibia, fibula, and talus. It connects the leg to the foot. The tibia or shinbone, and fibula or calf bone, are lower leg bones that articulate with the talus or ankle bone. These bones are held together by a wide range of ligaments, tendons, and muscles which allow foot mobility.
What are the Causes of Ankle Pain?
Common causes of ankle pain include:
- Sprains due to stretching of ligaments
- Arthritis
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)
- Flatfeet
- Direct trauma
- Foot Tumors
- Fractures
- Infection
What are the Symptoms that Accompany Ankle Pain?
Some of the common signs and symptoms that accompany ankle pain include:
- Ankle swelling and redness
- Bruising
- Numbness or tingling sensation
- Stiffness and weakness
- Instability
- Inability to bear weight on the affected ankle
Diagnosis of Ankle Pain
Your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history and a physical examination of the ankle will be conducted. Your doctor may also recommend the following diagnostic tests:
- X-rays: This study uses electromagnetic beams to produce images of the bones and can detect fractures.
- CT scan: A CT scan uses ionizing radiation to better delineate bone architecture in multiple planes. The amount of radiation is greater than that of a plain X-ray, which is negligible, because it generates more-detailed information about bone.
- MRI Scan: An imaging study that uses a large magnetic field and radio waves to detect any damage to the soft tissues.
- Ultrasound: This study uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the tissues while moving the ankle.
What are the Treatments for Ankle Pain?
Treatment for ankle pain is based on the reason for the ankle pain.
Trauma and Fracture related pain will be treated based on fracture patterns, the need to realign bones etc. Non-fracture related care will be influenced by the cause and severity of the problem, whether it is acute or chronic, and may include:
- Medications: Your doctor may prescribe analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen to relieve pain and inflammation caused by an ankle injury.
- Icing: Your doctor will advise you to apply an ice pack over a towel on the affected area for several minutes a day to relieve pain and swelling.
- Physical Therapy: Strengthening and stretching exercises may be recommended if you have arthritis to help improve range of motion and strengthen ankle muscles.
- Cortisone Injections: Injection of corticosteroid medication may help relieve pain and swelling.
- Bracing
Chronic pain treatment may be geared toward diminishing inflammation, supporting and treating chronic ligament injuries with modalities such as Lasers, PRP, “Prolo-PRP” and MFat to jump start the healing.
Arthritis, unfortunately, can develop after certain ankle injuries, or after significant ankle fractures. Early in the course, suppling better biology to the joint and diminishing inflammation is far preferable than corticosteroid injections, which are known to provide a “quick fix” for pain, but is detrimental to the joint and can degrade the joint. Modalities such as Laser and PRP can help with longer reduction of inflammation and pain control. There is variability with arthritis, and so unfortunately in some persons, it can progress more rapidly. As arthritis progresses, more aggressive interventions may be needed if all cartilage is lost.