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Ankle Pain
Do You Suffer From Ankle Pain?
When you suffer from ankle pain, you feel it with every step. Swelling,
tenderness and pain often will not go away without treatment by a licensed
professional. The Foot & Ankle Institute offers you ankle specialists
who have seen and successfully treated cases similar to yours. Whether
your problem arises from a fracture, arthritis, or common injury such
as an ankle sprain, the Foot & Ankle Institute uses the most current
techniques and technology to diagnose and treat your problem.
What Causes Ankle Pain?
Recurring or persistent (chronic) pain on the outer (lateral) side of
the ankle often develops when there is incomplete healing after an ankle
sprain. When you sprain your ankle, the connecting tissue (ligament) between
the bones is stretched or torn. Without thorough and complete rehabilitation,
the ligament or surrounding muscles may remain weak, resulting in recurrent
instability. As a result, you may experience additional ankle injuries.
Other causes of chronic ankle pain include:
- An injury to the nerves that pass through the ankle—the nerves may be stretched, torn, injured by a direct blow, or pinched under pressure (entrapment).
- A torn or inflamed tendon
- Arthritis of the ankle joint
- A break (fracture) in one of the bones that make up the ankle joint
- An inflammation of the joint lining (synovium)
- The development of scar tissue in the ankle after a sprain—the scar tissue takes up space in the joint, thus putting pressure on the ligaments.
What Treatments are Available?
Treatment will depend on the final diagnosis and should be personalized
to your individual needs. Both conservative (nonoperative) and surgical
treatment methods may be used. Conservative treatments include anti-inflammatory
medications, physical therapy, an ankle brace, a corticosteroid injection,
and in the case of a fracture, immobilization to allow the bone to heal.
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If your condition requires it, or if conservative treatment doesn’t bring relief, your doctor may recommend surgery. Many surgical procedures can be done on an outpatient basis. Some procedures use arthroscopic techniques; others require open surgery. Rehabilitation may take 6 to 10 weeks to ensure proper healing. Surgical treatment options include:
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CASE STUDY – “A Bad Sprain”
Like many of our patients, Barbara J. had first seen other doctors for
her ankle problem. “I slipped and fell at work and injured my left
ankle. My x-rays did not disclose any fracture or dislocation. My doctor
stated that I had a bad sprain and treated me with a cast. After 4 months,
I still had pain, swelling and weakness. My doctor stated, “It takes
time to heal.” I was uneasy with that explanation and sought a second
opinion from The Foot & Ankle Institute. They told me that although
the x-rays did not reveal any problems, there is frequently damage to
cartilage that can only be seen with the use of an arthroscope. After
an arthroscopy of my ankle, they found that the cartilage in the ankle
had been severely damaged. They used minimally invasive surgery to successfully
repair my ankle. Had I not had the surgery, I would still be suffering
from a “bad sprain.”
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of the West, A Podiatry Corporation.