Suffering from Ankle Pain?
Learn Common Causes of Ankle Pain and How City Step Podiatry Can Help You Recover
Nothing can throw you off your game like ankle pain.
Whether the result of an old ankle injury acting up or a new concern—ankle pain can stop you from living your life your way.
When you're a busy, active Chicagoan, you don’t have time for ankle pain to slow you down.
Thankfully, City Step Podiatry is here to offer you the insight and options you need to understand your ankle pain and banish it to the past tense—where it belongs.
As an avid runner and active professional, Dr. Alison Young is no stranger to ankle pain. As a podiatrist, she’s made it her mission to help her fellow Chicago residents overcome foot and ankle issues—so they can keep up with life’s demands.
Dr. Young and City Step Podiatry are here to help you understand the possible causes of ankle pain and to support you with diagnostic and treatment options to stop ankle pain from slowing you down!
You can also book with us anytime to get the personalized support and comprehensive guidance you need to feel your best and get back to living your best, pain-free life. From cutting-edge treatments to expert care, we’re ready to give you what you deserve in a trusted podiatry provider.
Common causes of ankle pain
Ankle pain has many causes. From ankle pain after running, ankle pain from walking, and ankle pain in the morning or evening—folks experience it at different times and occasions.
Ankle pain may come with or without swelling. It may affect your ability to walk and bear weight, or it may just make walking feel more difficult and uncomfortable.
It’s important to learn the common culprits of ankle pain, so you can understand the reasons for yours.
It's also key to have a trusted professional to help determine the causes of your ankle pain and the best course of treatment—so you can effectively manage your ankle pain and get back to living your full life.
Your ankles are vital to your mobility—so you don’t want to take any chances when diagnosing and treating your ankle pain.
City Step Podiatry is your trusted partner in ankle health and wellness. Our convenient downtown Chicago office, expert support, and cutting-edge treatments will give you what you need to heal from ankle pain and injuries.
Your ankle is a complex joint that involves many important moving parts. An injury or strain to any of its components can cause pain that radiates throughout your ankle joint and negatively affects your gait and mobility.
Your ankle joint includes:
Bones
Muscles
Ligaments
Tendons
Nerves
And blood vessels
All these parts must work harmoniously for your ankle joint to function freely and without discomfort and pain.
The most common causes of ankle pain include—
Ankle injuries
If an injury is the source of your ankle pain, you can likely pinpoint when and how your ankle issues occurred. This can help assess your condition and plan your treatment.
Even if you know the specific event that led to your ankle pain, it’s still important to determine the extent and nature of your injury. A doctor can help you assess whether you’re dealing with an ankle sprain, strain, or an ankle fracture.
Ankle injuries can be caused by sudden events or repetitive stress, as in the case of some sports injuries.
Ankle sprains often cause damage and tears in your ankle ligaments. Your ligaments are strings of connective tissue that connect the bones of your ankle to one another. When they’re damaged and torn, it can cause ankle bruising and swelling and make it difficult for you to bear weight on the affected side.
If you injure your ankle, you’ll likely experience swelling. Inflammation and swelling in the ankle joint are often a response to injury and stress. Ankle swelling can also be caused by conditions like sinus tarsi syndrome.
Your sinus tarsi forms part of your ankle joint where your ankle and heel bones meet. When swelling occurs in this joint, it can impact your nerves, blood vessels, and ligaments. It can cause pain and discomfort, especially when moving your ankle from side to side.
Ankle sprains often cause this issue but can result from anything that irritates the tissue in this crucial ankle joint, causing it to become inflamed and swell.
If you experience an ankle injury, it’s important to seek assessment from a podiatrist. This specialist can help you determine the exact cause of your ankle injury and its extent. Your podiatrist can then develop an appropriate treatment plan to get you back on your feet again—pain-free.
Ankle arthritis
Ankle arthritis is a chronic condition of the ankle joint. It can cause stiffness, tenderness, and pain. Ankle pain from arthritis can come and go and range from mild to severe.
Three main types of arthritis can affect your ankle—osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
Arthritis is a progressive condition that leads to the breakdown of connective tissue in your joints. This can cause your bones to come into direct contact with one another. Ankle arthritis can lead to limited mobility, chronic pain, and ankle joint deformity.
While the normal aging process is a risk factor in osteoarthritis, your risks for other types of ankle arthritis may be impacted by prior injuries, body mass, genetics, and your unique body shape and natural alignment.
Ankle tendinitis
Tendons are fibrous strands of tissue that connect muscle to bone. Whether through injury, overuse, or the effects of the normal aging process—your tendons can become inflamed and swollen, causing pain, tenderness, and stiffness.
Ankle tendinitis is often associated with sports, which can combine injury with overuse of the ankle joint.
Achilles tendinitis (also sometimes spelled tendonitis) and peroneal tendinitis are two types of tendinitis that impact your ankles.
Achilles tendonitis is more common and involves the tendon that connects the back of your leg to your heel.
Peroneal tendinitis is inflammation of the tendons that connect your lower leg muscles to the bottoms of your feet. It can cause pain and swelling on the outside of your ankle and the side of your foot.
Ankle nerve injuries
Nerve injuries can cause pain and negatively affect how your ankles work. Injury and compression of your peroneal and tibial nerves (the primary nerves of the ankle) can lead to pain, numbness, weakness, and a tingling sensation in your ankle.
Examples of ankle nerve injuries include tarsal tunnel syndrome, sural nerve entrapment (a pinched nerve), and sciatica.
These are some common causes of ankle pain, but there are many others. From bursitis to flat feet to normal wear and tear—your ankles work hard and have a big job that makes them susceptible to pain and injury.
This helpful list from the Mayo Clinic outlines other possible causes of ankle pain, including chronic conditions like lupus and gout.
If you’re experiencing ankle pain, it’s important to seek out expert support to determine the exact cause of your issues. Dr. Alison Young has extensive experience as a podiatrist diagnosing and treating ankle issues and injuries. When you’re dealing with ankle pain—she’s here for you.
Treatment for ankle pain
When you’re suffering from ankle pain, you want to find a way to heal fully and quickly—so you can get back to living your life.
As you’ve learned, there are many causes of ankle pain and discomfort. Determining the underlying issues at play is important so you can effectively treat your ankle issues and avoid making the problem worse.
Sometimes, ice and rest will do the trick. Other times, your ankle pain may have a more serious cause.
How do you know when a home remedy is appropriate, versus when it’s wisest to pursue professional treatment for your ankle pain?
Here are some helpful guidelines to care for your ankle at home:
Use the RICE method to encourage ankle pain relief and healing at home. This acronym stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to address swelling and pain. These include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil).
Try an ACE bandage or ankle brace. If you need to move around, avoid bearing weight on the affected ankle, by using a crutch or cane.
And here are some indications it’s best to connect with a medical professional:
Your ankle pain and swelling haven’t improved after a few days
Your ankle pain and swelling have gotten worse
Your ankle pain is severe
You’re unable to move your ankle, foot, or leg
Your ankle injury was the result of an accident or sudden trauma
You have chronic health conditions like diabetes, lupus, or gout
You have a known or suspected heart condition
You’re immunocompromised
You have an open wound
Your ankle shows signs of infection. These include redness, warmth, and tenderness at the injury site, as well as a possible fever
You’re unable to bear any weight on your affected side
Even if you don't have any of the above issues—you’re still the expert on you. If you’re concerned or uncertain about what’s causing your ankle pain, it’s wise to seek out the support and expertise of a qualified medical professional.
A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in assessing and treating foot and ankle issues. Learn more about podiatry and podiatrists in this helpful article.
Dr. Alison Young and her team are ready to offer you the personalized, comprehensive, cutting-edge podiatry services you deserve to heal and feel your best.
In our convenient downtown Chicago office, we offer digital X-rays and same-day procedures. Dr. Young is an expert at assessing and treating ankle issues of all kinds.
When you call the Windy City home, there’s no need to suffer alone with ankle pain and discomfort. City Step Podiatry is here for you! With our expert podiatry support in your corner, you won’t miss a step in feeling your best and getting back to your active life.
We’re ready to be your go-to podiatrist in Chicago! Book with us easily online for the best in comprehensive, personalized podiatry care and treatments. Be sure to visit our blog regularly for informative articles and follow us on your fav social channels @citysteppod.
City Step Podiatry is here for you! Reach out today to schedule your visit and treat your feet to the care they deserve.
