Do You Suffer from Ankle Pain?
When you suffer from ankle pain, you feel it with every step. Swelling, tenderness and pain often will not go away without treatment by a licensed professional. We offer you ankle specialists who have seen and successfully treated cases similar to yours. Whether your problem arises from a fracture, arthritis, or common injury such as an ankle sprain, Dr. Burkett uses the most current techniques and technology to diagnose and treat your problem.
What Causes Ankle Pain?
Recurring or persistent (chronic) pain on the outer (lateral) side of the ankle often develops when there is incomplete healing after an ankle sprain. When you sprain your ankle, the connecting tissue (ligament) between the bones is stretched or torn. Without thorough and complete rehabilitation, the ligament or surrounding muscles may remain weak, resulting in recurrent instability. As a result, you may experience additional ankle injuries.
Other causes of chronic ankle pain include:
- An injury to the nerves that pass through the ankle—the nerves may be stretched, torn, injured by a direct blow, or pinched under pressure (entrapment).
- A torn or inflamed tendon
- Arthritis of the ankle joint
- A break (fracture) in one of the bones that make up the ankle joint
- An inflammation of the joint lining (synovium)
- The development of scar tissue in the ankle after a sprain—the scar tissue takes up space in the joint, thus putting pressure on the ligaments.
Treatment Options for Ankle Pain
Treatment will depend on the final diagnosis and should be personalized to your individual needs. Both conservative (nonoperative) and surgical treatment methods may be used. Conservative treatments include anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, an ankle brace, a corticosteroid injection, and in the case of a fracture, immobilization to allow the bone to heal.
If your condition requires it, or if conservative treatment doesn’t bring relief, your doctor may recommend surgery. Many surgical procedures can be done on an outpatient basis. Some procedures use arthroscopic techniques; others require open surgery. Rehabilitation may take 6 to 10 weeks to ensure proper healing. Surgical treatment options include:
- Removing (excising) loose fragments
- Cleaning (debriding) the joint or joint surface
- Repairing or reconstructing the ligaments or transferring tendons