Ankle pain is one of the most common chief complaints I encounter daily as a podiatric physician. Pain is usually present upon weigh bearing in the lower extremity and is worst with extremes of activity such as exercising. Ankle pain can be debilitating and turn into a chronic problem. Pain can have a profound impact on the individual as a whole and often has a negative impact on a person’s lifestyle, limiting their ability to perform their daily activities. Therefore, it is important to seek podiatric care as early as possible.

Most ankle pain is traumatic in origin, whether it is acute or chronic and most patients relate to a history of recent or old trauma. Furthermore, one must also consider less common causes of systemic origin. Also, most traumatic injuries are associated with simple ankle sprains that go untreated. I advise all my patients to follow a simple guide to initial ankle sprains and that is called “RICE” which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation”. If pain does not improved within 72 hours of the initial injury I recommend the patient seek podiatric care. It is often necessary to take radiographs of the foot and ankle to rule out fractures or dislocation should pain persist. Often patients will need further treatment such as bracing or immobilization with a walking cast. Close monitoring with a specialist of acute ankle sprains is crucial to prevent chronic ankle issues and for optimal recovery.

Another common problem I encounter is chronic or generalized ankle pain. There are multiple causes of generalized ankle pain. Among these are diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, other arthritis, including Lyme disease, HIV-associated arthritis, sarcoid arthritis, tuberculous, synovitis and osteoporosis. Patients usually present with constant, chronic pain and swelling around the ankle exacerbated with weigh bearing. Patients also present with a history of previous ankle pathology or sprain. Chronic ankle pain can be treated both conservatively and surgically in severe cases. Bracing is one of the best ways to treat chronic ankle pain with little recovery time and no down time.

Whether you have recently had an ankle sprain, an ankle fracture, chronic ankle injury or a congenital ankle deformity, ankle pain should not go untreated. There are many innovative treatments that a podiatric physician can use to help alleviate your pain. Seek a podiatric evaluation for any foot and ankle problems that you may have.