Ankle Pain - An Overview

Introduction:

The ankle is a complex structure of the body that is basically a group of bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. It supports the weight while standing, walking, and running. People often experience ankle pain while walking after suffering from some injury or if they have some underlying medical conditions.

What Are the Probable Causes of Ankle Pain?

Mostly ankle pain happens because of an injury to the ankle during physical activities. There are numerous medical conditions that cause ankle pain while walking. Some of them are:

• Gout - This is a type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid does not dissolve into the blood the way it should and gets crystallized and accumulates in the joints, and causes pain. This is why many people suffer from pain in their toes that gradually moves to the ankles, heels, and other joints.

• Osteoarthritis - This is the most common type of arthritis that is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in joints. This can lead to ankle pain, especially in older people or those who are overweight or have previously injured their ankles.

• Peripheral Neuropathy - Any sort of damage to the peripheral nerves can lead to pain in the ankle while walking. Nerve damage can happen because of many issues like tumors, trauma, infections, or other diseases. In the case of ankle pain caused by peripheral neuropathy, there is no swelling. This causes a sharp or burning pain in the affected area and can also cause a tingling sensation and numbness.

• Bruises - Bad bruises on the ankle can also lead to ankle pain while walking without causing any swelling. Bruises are a very common sight for people who are into high-impact sports like football, rugby, and soccer. Baseball players also get bad ankle bruises from contact with another player sliding into a base. This is the type of injury that one can get anywhere, be it at work or in a road accident.

• Achilles Tendon Rupture - This mostly occurs in very active people or people who are into high-impact sports. This occurs when the Achilles tendon is ruptured or torn due to some injury caused by falling or accidentally stepping into a hole while walking or running on uneven ground. Symptoms include calf pain, pain and swelling near the heels, and inability to bear weight on toes that prevent one from walking.

• Heel Bursitis - This causes pain in the heel, pain while standing on toes, and swollen and red skin on the back of the heel.

• Walking or running on uneven surfaces.

• Landing awkwardly.

• Wearing high uncomfortable heels.

• Jamming foot.

• Twisting ankle.

• Wearing improper footwear while playing some sports.

What Are Some of the Ankle Injuries That Can Happen Even While Walking?

Ankle injuries are pretty common and can happen even when individuals are walking. The injuries that commonly result in ankle pain are:

• Sprains or Strains - Sprains or strains occur when there is an injury to the softer tissues in the ankle, which can be a strained ligament or tendon. The sprains and strains both do not take much time to heal and heal in a few weeks.

• Fractures or Breaks - A broken or fractured bone causes intense pain while walking. This pain is generally accompanied by swelling, redness, or loss of sensation in the toes. Ankle breaks take weeks or months to heal completely, and medical intervention is necessary. Fractures or breaks can also lead to arthritis later in life.

• Bruising - In the case of severely bumped ankles caused by some hit or kick, it can cause pain while walking. Pain from this type of trauma diminishes within two to three weeks.

How to Get Relief From Foot and Ankle Pain While Walking?

There are multiple exercises that doctors recommend for getting relief from ankle pain while walking and encouraging pain-free mobility. Some of the exercises are :

• Toe bend.

• Seated foot and heel raise.

• Big toe lift and hold.

• Plantar fascia stretch.

• Sitting plantar fascia stretch.

• Achilles tendon and plantar fascia stretch.

Performing these exercises religiously would help to heal the pain faster.

How Does Ankle Pain Heal at Home?

If one wants to get immediate relief at home, one can follow the R-I-C-E method. This method includes four steps which are:

• Rest - One has to keep in mind that they have to take proper rest without putting much weight on their ankle. They should try moving as little as possible for a few days. Using crutches or a cane for walking or moving is always recommended.

• Ice - One has to begin by putting a bag of ice on their ankle for a minimum of 20 minutes at a go, with 90 minutes between icing sessions. Doing this three to five times a day for three days after the injury helps reduce swelling and numbs the pain.

• Compression - After the first two steps are done, the injured ankle has to be wrapped with an elastic bandage like an ACE bandage. The wrapping should not be very tight; otherwise, the ankle will become numb and turn blue.

• Elevation - It has to be always remembered that the ankle has to be raised above the heart level on a stack of pillows or other high structures.

If the ankle pain happens due to arthritis, the injury will not be healed completely but can be managed by :

• Using topical painkillers.

• Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation.

• Staying physically active and doing regular exercises.

• Opting for a healthy balanced diet.

• Stretching for maintaining a good range of motion in joints.

• Keeping body weight in a healthy range so as to reduce putting more stress on the joints.

Other Treatment Options:

When changes in lifestyle and treatments at home are not providing relief, consulting a doctor is very important. Doctors generally recommend using orthopedic shoe inserts or foot ankle braces. Steroid injections containing corticosteroids are also used to reduce inflammation and pain. Most injections provide relief within a few hours, and the effects last from three to six months.

Conclusion:

Ankle pain is often caused by sprains or medical conditions like arthritis, gout, or nerve damage. The discomfort comes in the form of swelling and bruising for one to two weeks. Generally, the pain subsides with home remedies only, but if it does not, consulting a doctor is a must.