Common Causes of Ankle Pain

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or just getting older, you may find yourself dealing with joint aches and pains.  

 

Ankle pain can come with swelling, stiffness, and mobility issues and might have you asking yourself how serious the cause might be. 

 

“There are several common reasons you may experience ankle pain. It could be an injury or pain from a chronic condition,” WVU Medicine Foot and Ankle Surgeon Seth Eberhardt said. “The good news is, most pain improves with rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE) and pain relievers. And for everything else, we can evaluate and find treatments.” 

 

Here are some common causes of ankle pain, and what to know: 

 

Many times, sudden onset ankle pain is caused by an injury to the ankle bones, ligaments, or tendons.  

 

An ankle sprain happens when one or more ligaments, which connect bones, are injured. Tendons, like the ones that run along the outer ankle bone and the side of your foot, can tear from overseer sports injuries. And a fracture happens when you break one or more bones in the ankle joint. Some fractures heal with time and the help of a brace or cast, while more severe cases require surgery.  

 

“The severity of these injuries can vary. For a mild injury, if the RICE method and other at-home remedies aren’t helping, you should definitely see a provider,” Dr. Eberhardt said. “If you experience severe pain or swelling, see a visible wound or deformity, can’t put weight on your foot or ankle, or notice signs of an infection, seek emergency medical attention. Our goal in any traumatic situation is to preserve function and prevent arthritis within the ankle joint.” 

 

Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation, swelling, pain, and the wearing away of the cartilage in joints.  

 

“We see different kinds of arthritis in the ankle including post traumatic, osteoarthritis, inflammatory and septic most commonly.” Dr. Eberhardt said. “Most degenerative ankle arthritis is considered post traumatic which occurs after an old injury in which the joint degenerates creating pain and inflammation.” 

 

Treatment options depend on the type of arthritis you have and the severity.  

 

“Lifestyle changes, medications, and physical therapy can help a lot of people,” Dr. Eberhardt said. “There are also foot and ankle surgeries we can perform to ease the pain and improve mobility.” 

 

All bodies are different, and sometimes there are structural differences in the shape or position of bones, joints, or muscles that make up our feet and ankles.  

 

Flat feet, high arches, clubfoot, bunions and hammertoes are some common deformities that can cause foot and ankle pain. 

 

“Genetics, injuries, and even years of improper footwear can lead to these deformities and cause pain,” Dr. Eberhardt said. “Regular foot and ankle care is important to monitor your condition, catch problems and changes early, and find treatment options that work for you.  Here we offer the most up to date conservative and surgical treatment for foot and ankle deformities including newer minimally invasive techniques that reduce pain and can get you moving more quickly.” 

 

Learn more about foot and ankle care at WVU Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in the Eastern Panhandle: wvumedicine.org/activepodiatry