Causes of Ankle Pain and Treatment Options
There are many potential causes of ankle pain, ranging from acute injuries, such as a sprained or broken ankle, to chronic conditions such as ankle arthritis. In turn, the way in which this type of pain is experienced can vary: it can burn, hurt or throb, and it can appear suddenly or gradually. Your doctor will be interested in this information, as it provides initial clues as to what may be the cause of your ankle pain.
After a physical examination and possibly imaging, you will move forward with a treatment plan that may include simple measures such as resting and freezing the ankle or more time-intensive measures, such as physical therapy or, rarely, surgery.
The ankle joint consists of bones, muscles, cartilage and tissues called ligaments and tendons. Injuries or diseases that affect any of these ankle structures can cause pain.
In the end, familiarizing yourself with these unique diagnoses can help you prepare for the visit with your doctor, be it your primary care physician, podiatrist, orthopedic surgeon or an emergency care provider.
If you or a loved one experiences ankle pain, there is a good chance that it is due to one of these common causes:
An ankle sprain refers to an injury to one or more ligaments (hard and fibrous tissues that connect bone to bone). Ankle sprains are common injuries that can occur when you get off a sidewalk, walk on an uneven surface, a fall or when playing a sport, such as tennis or basketball, where a rapid change of direction causes the ankle to roll or rotate into.
The lateral ligament, located on the outside of the ankle, is the most common ankle ligament sprain. With a lateral ligament sprain, a person develops a throbbing pain in the outside of the ankle. Swelling, bruising and / or a feeling that the joint may give in can also occur, especially if there is a complete tear through the ligament.
Medial and high ankle sprains occur much less frequently than lateral ankle sprains. The medial sprains of the ankle cause a sharp pain inside the ankle and result from the ankle bearing outward.
High sprains in the ankle cause pain above the ankle, where the ligaments connect the two lower bones of the leg. They are the result of the rotation of the foot with respect to the leg and are more common in people who practice impact sports such as football.
Tendonitis of the ankle occurs when tendons, the joints of the muscle to the bone, become irritated and inflamed.
A common type of ankle tendonitis is peroneal tendonitis, which refers to the lesion of the long peroneal tendon or peroneal brevus tendons. These two tendons run along the outside of the ankle joint. People with long or short peroneal tendonitis often report a history of running on an irregular or slippery surface, or playing sports that involve rapid changes of direction.
Long or short peroneal tendon pain, often described as a dull ache or a feeling of tension, is outside the ankle, develops over a period of several weeks, and worsens when standing or walking. Swelling may occur with more severe cases of tendonitis. Also, sometimes people describe a feeling of bursting on the outside of the ankle.
There are three main types of arthritis that affect the ankle:
Osteoarthritis is the type of "wear" arthritis in which the cartilage in the ankle joint gradually deteriorates. Over time, the loss of cartilage causes the bones to rub each other. Bone growths (osteophytes) can also develop. The pain of osteoarthritis varies, but often begins as a painful and intermittent sensation that progresses over time in more acute and constant pain.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which a person's immune system attacks multiple joints throughout the body, including, in most cases, the foot and ankle. In addition to other joint conditions, a person with rheumatoid arthritis may experience whole body systems such as fatigue or involuntary weight loss.
Posttraumatic arthritis can develop after any ankle-related injury and is similar to osteoarthritis in that the cartilage inside the ankle joint begins to wear out.
A fracture of the ankle bone (fracture) is common and refers to a rupture in one or more of the following bones:
1. Tibia (a bone in the lower leg)
2. Fibula (a bone in the lower leg)
Similar to ankle sprains, twisting or rolling the ankle, tripping over a sidewalk or falling can cause an ankle fracture.
In addition to immediate and very acute pain, other typical symptoms of a broken ankle are swelling, bruising and inability to put weight on the ankle. If the ankle joint dislocates in addition to a bone fracture, the ankle may appear deformed.
