Ankle Pain

What is ankle pain?

Your ankle, which is the joint connecting your shin to your foot, is prone to damage from overstretching or overuse. The many supportive ligaments and tendons and the cartilage and bone within the joint can experience damage that leads to ankle pain. 

Mild ankle pain that doesn’t make it impossible for you to walk or stand on the joint might be easy to manage at home. The first steps for care should include rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE), or you can take over-the-counter medications to manage the pain.

If your ankle pain doesn’t go away, Premier Foot and Ankle Center & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery offers state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and a range of effective treatments for ankle pain. Your podiatrists find the injury or source of degenerative damage before building a multimodal treatment plan. 

Where does ankle pain come from?

One of the most common causes of pain in the ankle joint is an injury called a sprain. If you roll or twist your ankle outside of its normal range of motion, one or several of the ligaments around the ankle joint can stretch or tear. The same occurrence can cause damage to the tendons, cartilage, or other parts of the joint.

An ankle sprain isn’t the only cause of pain in the ankle. During your diagnostic appointment, Premier Foot and Ankle Center & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery explores these other possibilities:

• Arthritis or gout
• Ankle joint infection
• Tendonitis
• Nerve injuries
• Blood vessel blockages in the leg

To ensure your diagnosis is accurate, your podiatrist might use imaging tests like X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after a physical exam at the office. 

How can I manage my ankle pain?

With an accurate diagnosis, Premier Foot and Ankle Center & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery can create a comprehensive treatment plan using multiple approaches for recovery from your injury and relief for your ankle pain. Some of the best nonoperative treatment options for ankle pain are:

• Orthopedic shoe inserts or orthotics
• Ankle braces
• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy

Surgery is seldom necessary, but your podiatrist might consider it if the damage is extensive and non-surgical care gives you little or no relief. In the most severe cases, arthroplasty or ankle replacement surgery might be necessary to help you use the joint again. 

If you have ankle pain that affects your ability to walk and doesn’t get relief from home care, call Premier Foot and Ankle Center & Elite Upper Extremity and Plastic Surgery for an appointment or book one online today.