What are the causes of morning ankle pain and stiffness?

Question

Hi doctor,

My wife has pain in and around the ankle on both feet after waking up in the morning. She gets some relief after having a walk for a few steps within half an hour. She has a small lump-like swelling on the anterior side of the ankle. It started a year back with mild symptoms. But at present, it is getting worse day by day. If she sits for a long time, the pain recurs several times.

Please suggest.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your wife has symptoms of inflammatory arthritis. Ankle arthritis is seen in different conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, sarcoidosis, and Poncet's disease.

Please mention whether she has other symptoms such as pain in the small joints of the hands, backache, hip pain, fever, weight loss, and cough. A thorough history helps us to have a definitive diagnosis. I would suggest to her some investigations, such as the following:

X-ray of both feet and chest.
ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate).
CRP (C-reactive protein),
CBC (complete blood count),
AST (aspartate transaminase),
ALT (alanine transaminase).
KFT (kidney function tests).

These are some basic investigations that need to be done. She needs to do some specific tests to confirm the diagnosis. For symptomatic relief, she can take a tablet of Naproxen 500 mg or Etoshine 60 mg (Etoricoxib).

I hope this helps you.

Thank you