One of the most frequent pains of the body is pain in the ankles; because it is a key area for the movement of the feet and legs , as well as being very sensitive, which makes it prone to injuries such as sprains, strains and simply a bad footprint. The most common causes for ankle pain, and all the treatments that we can choose from below are listed.

Causes and treatment of ankle pain

Ankle pain can have more than one nature or cause. Common causes of ankle pain include sprains or injuries. Rheumatoid arthritis , gout , osteoarthritis, and other types of arthritis         can also cause ankle pain.  Achilles tendonitis is another potential cause. among the most common we have:

Ankle sprains

Causes of ankle sprain:

The sprain is an injury to the ligaments (in this case in the ankle), either due to excessive stretching, a strong blow, tear, twisting or strain. In addition to severe ankle pain, the sprain has as common symptoms some bruising and inflammation in the affected area. A sprain can be the product of a strong blow, also by a fall, and very commonly in the practice of a sport or doing exercises, which unleashes a sudden movement or a movement out of place. There are 3 degrees of ankle injury or sprain.

Treatment for the ankles:

This injury caused by a sprain causes a lot of ankle pain, for its treatment the degree of ankle injury must be determined. If it is a grade 1 injury, the ankle pain is mild, although the discomfort is constant; In these cases, an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen should be applied, ice is placed on the affected area, which should be elevated and rest is recommended and avoid any movement to the patient.

In a grade 2 injury, the ankle pain is more acute, it is important that the affected area is examined by an expert doctor to rule out major damage and determine if surgery should be opted for, anti-inflammatory drugs are usually prescribed and are expected 48 hours to make a decision and see progress on the affected ankle. In case of a grade 3 injury, the ankle pain is extremely acute, this in addition to anti-inflammatory drugs requires surgery, since it is usually due to ligament tears, it usually has a long recovery.

Tears

Causes of ankle tears:

These are usually milder than sprains, they are caused by a blow, a bad step or stretching, the pain in the ankles is temporary, it has some small bruises and inflammation but it must be treated correctly.

Microscopic tendon tears that build up over time without being effectively treated, which can be caused repeatedly during a stretch, and do not heal well, lead to a condition called tendinosis.

Treatment of torn ankles:

To reduce ankle pain, you should apply an anti-inflammatory, you can also opt for an infusion or tea to relieve pain.

Rest : It is important to rest the ankle to avoid further damage and not to put any weight on them.

Ice: Using ice will help reduce swelling and provide a numbing sensation that will relieve pain. Never leave the ice in contact with your skin directly, and do not apply it for more than 15 minutes to 20 minutes at a time to avoid freezing. Wait 40 to 45 minutes before applying ice again to allow tissues to return to normal temperature and feel, and repeat as necessary. You can apply an ice pack using a plastic freezer bag filled with ice cubes and water to mold to your ankle, it is recommended to use a towel between the skin and the plastic bag.

Compression: Wrapping the injured ankle with an elastic bandage will help keep it immobile and supported. Make sure not to wrap the ankle too tightly to avoid poor blood circulation.

Elevate the feet: Elevating the ankle injury at least to the level of the heart will help reduce swelling and pain.

It is important not to put any weight on the ankle until after it has been evaluated by a doctor, which should be done as soon as possible and rule out fractures or more serious damage.

Inflammation of the ankle joints

Causes of ankle swelling:

As its name implies, this condition is due to inflammation of the ankle joints, which can be for various reasons, such as a bad joint, blockage of blood vessels in the leg, or an injury related to the ankle, leg or foot. In this case the symptoms, in addition to ankle pain, is a visible swelling in the ankle and in some cases inflammation of the veins in that area.

Treatment for inflammation of the ankle joints:

In these cases, you should go immediately to a specialist doctor, who will prescribe an anticoagulant and drugs for the joints. The ankle pain will gradually disappear with the swelling, until the joints are regularized.

Tendonitis in the ankles

Causes of tendonitis in the ankles:

Ankle tendonitis can be caused by trauma from injury and overuse or inflammatory diseases.

Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendon. Ankle tendonitis can involve inflammation of the Achilles tendon, the posterior tibial tendon, or the peroneal tendon. Ankle tendonitis is usually the result of some trauma, such as a sudden injury in sports or injury from misusing the ankle joint or straining it with more hours than usual, but it can be the result of inflammatory diseases or underlying diseases such as reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Treatment and prevention for tendonitis in the ankles

  • Avoid walking or running on hard or uneven surfaces.
  • Perform activities or sports with low impact on our lower limbs, instead it is advisable to carry out activities such as riding a bicycle or swimming.
  • Ice the ankle three times a day for 15 to 20 minutes
  • Keep padded heel pads on shoes to absorb shock when walking
  • keep a healthy weight
  • Stretch the ankle gently and regularly
  • Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation, you can try a natural alternative to ibuprofen
  • The use of a brace or a boot to stabilize the joint until the problem is improved.

By Dr. Eric Jackson

Dr. Eric Jackson provides primary Internal Medicine care for men and women and treats patients with bone and mineral diseases, diabetes, heart conditions, and other chronic illnesses. He is a Washington University Bone Health Program physician and is a certified Bone Densitometrist. Dr. Avery is consistently recognized in "The Best Doctors in America" list.

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