Whether you’ve rolled your ankle while walking, endured a sprain, or experience symptoms in your joints, ankle pain is something that is worth monitoring. Pain in this area can be the result of inflammation or damage to the bones, joints, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, or muscles that make up the ankle. Ankle pain is often accompanied by other symptoms such as swelling, bruising, redness, numbness, tingling, instability, and a reduced ability to bear weight on the affected ankle. The most common cause of ankle pain is an injury, such as a sprain or Achilles tendonitis. Arthritic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout tend to cause pain in the ankle joint as well. Nerve damage or neuropathy can cause lower limb pain and is especially common among diabetics. If you are experiencing ankle pain, it is strongly recommended that you seek the care of a podiatrist, who can diagnose and treat your condition.

Ankle pain can be caused by a number of problems and may be potentially serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with one of our podiatrists from Pennsylvania Foot & Ankle. Our doctors will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.

Ankle pain is any condition that causes pain in the ankle. Due to the fact that the ankle consists of tendons, muscles, bones, and ligaments, ankle pain can come from a number of different conditions.

Causes

The most common causes of ankle pain include:

• Types of arthritis (rheumatoid, osteoarthritis, and gout)
• Ankle sprains
• Broken ankles
• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Stress fractures
• Bursitis
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of ankle injury vary based upon the condition. Pain may include general pain and discomfort, swelling, aching, redness, bruising, burning or stabbing sensations, and/or loss of sensation.

Diagnosis

Due to the wide variety of potential causes of ankle pain, podiatrists will utilize a number of different methods to properly diagnose ankle pain. This can include asking for personal and family medical histories and of any recent injuries. Further diagnosis may include sensation tests, a physical examination, and potentially x-rays or other imaging tests.

Treatment

Just as the range of causes varies widely, so do treatments. Some more common treatments are rest, ice packs, keeping pressure off the foot, orthotics and braces, medication for inflammation and pain, and surgery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our offices located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Port Richmond, Philadelphia, and Hamilton, New Jersey . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot care needs.