Ankle and Foot pain is an extremely common complaint with many causes. It is
important to accurately diagnose the cause of your symptoms so you can
get appropriate treatment. If you have ankle pain, some common causes
include:
Ankle Arthritis
Ankle arthritis is most commonly the result of a prior injury to the
ankle joint. In patients who sustain an injury such as an ankle
fracture, the cartilage may be damaged and lead to accelerated
arthritis. When the ankle is injured, it is also susceptible to an injury called
osteonecrosis. When osteonecrosis occurs as the result of an ankle
injury, a portion of the bone has damage to its blood flow.
Osteonecrosis can also lead to ankle arthritis.
Ankle Sprains
A sprained ankle occurs following a sudden sideways or twisting movement
of the foot. An ankle sprain can occur during athletic events or
during everyday activities. All it takes is an awkward step or an
uneven surface to cause an ankle sprain--that is why sprained ankles are
among the most common orthopedic injuries. Orthopedic doctors see
patients for ankle sprains very often, and it is the most common foot
and ankle injury. The most common type of ankle sprain occurs when the foot is inverted,
falling inward. When this type of ankle sprain happens, the outer, or
lateral, ligaments are stretched too far. There are three ligaments
that attach to the outer side of the ankle. About 90% of ankle sprains
are inversion injuries. Pain is always on the outside of the ankle, and
there is usually no pain on the inside of the ankle joint. The other type of sprained ankle is called an eversion injury, where the
foot is twisted outwards. When this occurs, the inner ligament, called
the deltoid ligament, is stretched too far. Patients will have pain on
the inner side of the ankle.
Tendonitis
Sometimes the tendons become inflamed for a variety of reasons, and the
action of pulling the muscle becomes irritating. If the normal smooth
gliding motion of your tendon is impaired, the tendon will become
inflamed and movement will become painful. This is called tendonitis, and literally means inflammation of the tendon.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is an important aspect of treatment of almost
all orthopedic conditions. Physical therapists use different modalities
to increase strength, regain mobility, and help return patients to their
pre-injury level of activity.
Cortisone is a powerful medication that treats inflammation, and
inflammation is a common problem in patients with ankle pain. Discuss
the possible benefits of a cortisone injection for your condition with
your doctor.
Arthroscopic ankle surgery may be a treatment option for certain types
of ankle pain. Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure that involves
inserting a small camera inside the joint. Through other small
incisions, instruments can be inserted to repair or remove damaged
structures.
Posterior Tibial Tendonitis
Posterior tibial tendonitis is an uncommon problem of one of the tendons
on the inner side of the ankle. The posterior tibial muscle attaches
to the back of the shin bone; the posterior tibial tendon connects this
muscle to the bones of the foot. The posterior tibial tendon passes
down the back of the leg, not far from the Achilles tendon,
then turns under the prominence of the inner side of the ankle. The
posterior tibial tendon then attaches to the bone of the inner side of
the foot, just adjacent to the arch of the foot.
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis is a condition of irritation and inflammation of the
large tendon in the back of the ankle. Achilles tendonitis is a common
injury that tends to occur in recreational athletes. Overuse of the
Achilles tendon can cause inflammation that can lead to pain and
swelling. Achilles tendonitis is differentiated from another common
Achilles tendon condition called Achilles tendinosis.
Patients with Achilles tendinosis have chronic Achilles swelling and
pain as a result of degenerative, microscopic tears within the tendon.
Ankle Fracture
If an ankle fracture is suspected you should see your Medical Doctor or go to
the emergency room. X-rays can be done to determine the extent of the
injury.When a broken ankle occurs, the injury may be to the end of the tibia
(the medial malleolus) or to the fibula (the lateral malleolus), or
both.