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Ankle Pain

What is Causing Your Ankle Pain? Find Out Now

Your ankle is the joint where your foot and leg meet. It is an intricate network of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles that is strong enough to bear your body weight, which makes your ankle more prone to injury and pain. There may be instances where you feel ankle pain on the inside or outside of your ankle or along the Achilles tendon, which connects the muscles in your lower leg to your heel bone. Since your ankle pain can sometimes indicate a serious problem, your podiatrist should evaluate severe ankle pain, especially if it follows an injury. Although mild ankle pain often responds well to home treatments, it can take time to resolve. Visit your podiatrist in Easton, PA when any ankle pain does not improve within a few weeks.

Ankle Sprain

Caused by an unnatural twisting or force on the ankle bones of the foot, ankle sprains may result in excessive stretching or tearing of one or more ligaments on the outside of the ankle. The severity of the sprain can significantly impact the degree of damage as well as the type of duration of treatment. If your ankle sprain is not properly treated, it may develop into long-term problems, such as chronic lateral ankle pain. The primary symptoms of a sprained ankle often include swelling and bruising.

Treatment commonly includes resting and elevating the ankle in addition to applying ice to reduce swelling. Compressive bandages are also used to immobilize and support the injury during the healing period. Serious ankle sprains, particularly among competitive athletes, may require surgery to repair and tighten the damaged ligaments. To prevent an ankle sprain, try to maintain strength, balance, and flexibility in your foot and ankle through exercising, stretching, and wearing properly-fitting shoes.

Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain

Chronic lateral ankle pain is recurring or chronic pain on the outside part of the ankle. This pain often develops after an injury such as a sprained ankle. Some of the signs and symptoms of chronic lateral ankle pain include:
• Ankle instability
• Difficulty walking on uneven ground or in high heels
• Pain, sometimes intense, on the outer side of the ankle
• Repeated ankle sprains
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Tenderness

Although ankle sprains are the most common cause of chronic lateral ankle pain, other causes may also include:

• A fracture in one of the bones that make up the ankle joint
• Arthritis of the ankle joint
• Inflammation of the joint lining
• Injury to the nerves that pass through the ankle
• Scar tissue in the ankle after a sprain
• Torn or inflamed tendon

Osteochondritis

Osteochondritis is a lesion that typically causes pain and stiffness of the ankle joint and affects all age groups. It is commonly caused by a twisting-type injury to the ankle with symptoms of swelling and ankle pain. Immobilization of the foot and ankle for a period of time usually helps to relieve the pain and resolve the problem. In more severe cases, surgery may be prescribed. During surgery, loose fragments of cartilage and bone are removed from the ankle joint and, in some cases, small holes are made in the defect to stimulate new blood vessels and to help form scar tissue that will fill the defect.

If you are experiencing ankle pain, talk to your Easton, PA podiatrist for further diagnosis and treatment options. Remember, pain is not normal. If at-home treatments don’t eliminate your pain or discomfort, then a trip to your podiatrist for proper treatment is needed.

Are you Experiencing Ankle Pain?

Call our Easton, PA Office at (610) 810-0800 to book an appointment today!