Ankle pain can stem from a variety of injuries to the bones, muscles, and soft tissue structures that support the ankle.
Depending on the cause Podiatrist Dallas, Tx, the pain can feel like sharp, shooting pain, or a dull ache. People may also notice swelling around the ankle bone.
Minor injuries, such as ankle strains and sprains, are a common cause of ankle pain. People can often treat minor injuries at home, but they should see a doctor about suspected medical conditions or injuries that get in the way of their daily life.
Symptoms of Ankle Pain
Ankle pain may be accompanied by a wide range of symptoms, including haematoma an accumulation of blood under the skin, redness, swelling, stiffness or clicking sounds, misshapen bones, and tenderness or difficulty in moving your ankle.
The pain could come on after an injury, Podiatrist Dallas, Tx during exercise or exertion, or even for no apparent reason. It may also come on suddenly or gradually, during a specific movement, or when you are resting.
In addition to pain, an injury to the ankle will usually result in swelling, and sometimes bruising, too. Often, an individual will not be able to bear any weight on his or her ankle.
If you cannot put weight on your ankle, can see swelling or redness, or are having moderate to severe ankle pain, you should stay off of your foot and seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Diagnosis of Ankle Pain
During a physical, your doctor will examine your ankle, foot and lower leg. The doctor will touch the skin around the injury to check for points of tenderness and move your foot to check the range of motion and to understand what positions cause discomfort or pain.
If the injury is severe, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following imaging scans to rule out a broken bone or to evaluate in more detail the extent of ligament damage:
· X-ray. During an X-ray, a small amount of radiation passes through your body to produce images of the bones of the ankle. This test is good for ruling out bone fractures.
· Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRIs use radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed cross-sectional or 3-D images of soft internal structures of the ankle, including ligaments.
· CT scan. CT scans can reveal more detail about the bones of the joint. CT scans take X-rays from many different angles and combine them to make cross-sectional or 3-D images.
· Ultrasound. An ultrasound uses sound waves to produce real-time images. These images may help your doctor judge the condition of a ligament or tendon when the foot is in different positions.
Treating ankle pain
The treatment for ankle pain depends on its cause. For example, if your pain is the result of an injury, applying a cold compress to the painful area, taking painkillers, immobilising and elevating your ankle, and resting will help to relieve it. For pain caused by a joint condition, treating this condition will help to relieve your pain.
There are also some solutions that help to relieve or reduce joint and muscle pain without the need for medication. This is a key feature of the OMRON HeatTens range of pain relievers, which combine soothing heat with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Risk factors of Ankle Pain
By Podiatrist Dallas, Tx Factors that increase your risk of a sprained ankle include:
Sports participation.
Ankle sprains are a common sports injury, particularly in sports that require jumping, cutting action, or rolling or twisting of the foot such as basketball, tennis, football, soccer and trail running.
Uneven surfaces.
Walking or running on uneven surfaces or poor field conditions may increase the risk of an ankle sprain.
Prior ankle injury.
Once you’ve sprained your ankle or had another type of ankle injury, you’re more likely to sprain it again.
Poor physical condition.
Poor strength or flexibility in the ankles may increase the risk of a sprain when participating in sports.
Improper shoes.
Shoes that don’t fit properly or aren’t appropriate for an activity, as well as high-heeled shoes in general, make ankles more vulnerable to injury.
Complications of Ankle Pain
Failing to treat Podiatrist Dallas, Tx a sprained ankle properly, engaging in activities too soon after spraining your ankle or spraining your ankle repeatedly might lead to the following complications:
· Chronic ankle pain
· Chronic ankle joint instability
· Arthritis in the ankle joint
