While most people have suffered ankle problems at one point or another, some ankle problems might not be severe that requires visiting your doctor.   On the other hand, others might need serious consideration and examination from medical experts.  So you need to be cautious when dealing with chronic pain near the ankle. It might be a symptom of something more serious that may greatly affect your system and your appearance as well. Why is that so? Of course, how can you walk normally and how can you fake your smile when you’re in pain?  Let us scrutinize the common types of ankle problems and treaments.

What are the common types of ankle problems?

Since the ankle is one complex system of joints, it commonly sustains injuries. Many people are affected by various ankle problems for various reasons. Common types of ankle problems are broken ankle, plantar fasciitis, sprained ankle and instability of the ankle. Moreover, other types of ankle conditions may be experienced such as arthritis and gout.

Why do I feel pain on my ankle?

Sprain

Let’s start with sprained ankles since this is the most common type of ankle pain. You might have experienced sprained ankle especially if you are active in sports. Sprained ankles occur when your ligaments received a large amount of force or they are twisted or bent. This usually happens during sports activities of athletes such as when they pivot or twists their ankle in a forceful manner. These ankle injuries might even cause broken ankles if they always experience sprained ankles. If the bones in the ankles are subjected to excess force and overuse, some small cracks might start to happen and can develop to broken ankles which can be a more serious injury.

Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is not actually an ankle problem but a condition. The plantar fascia is a group of tissue that goes along the bottom of the foot. If this group of tissue develops inflammation, the ankle can become painful especially when weight is put on it.

Arthritis and Gout

Other ankle problems that are not due to injury or overuse are arthritis and gout. Rheumatoid arthritis is experienced when the cartilage in the ankle is destroyed and so you can experience severe pain when the bones bump each other during movement.

Gout is another condition that causes severe ankle pain. Gout is the result of excessive uric acid in your blood that causes buildup and pain in the joints even at the slightest pressure.

How will I know if my ankle problem is serious?

The most common and obvious symptom is pain. If the pain is bearable and you can still walk, run or put weight on it, then it might just be due to overuse or stress on the ankle joint. If the pain is severe, then it might be due to sprain, fracture or diseases or conditions. Other symptoms are inflammation and swelling around the joints.  Furthermore, severe pain should not be left untreated and you should immediately go to the doctor and undergo some tests for correct diagnosis and treatment.

How can I treat my ankle problem?

Non-Surgical Treatment

Most ankle problems can be alleviated by resting or by removing the constant stress on the ankle joints. Other nonsurgical treatment options include taking pain relievers or pain medications, a brace or a cane, physical therapy, taking vitamin supplements or keeping weight under control and other medications such as steroids to be directly injected to your joints.  Ankle brace helps minimize your pain caused by arthritis and other conditions when worn.  Surgery is no longer needed if the condition of your ankle has been restored.

For ankle sprains, ice packs must be placed in your ankle bone for 15 minutes. This can help relieve ankle pain and swelling. You might need to take the weight off the injured ankle for a day or two if there is sprain, but might need more serious treatment for a fractured ankle.  Depending on doctor’s advice, he will confirm whether your ankle pain is caused by sprain or more serious than that.

Surgical Treatment

Surgical treatments might be considered for more serious ankle problems. These options include fusion of the joints or arthrodesis and arthroplasty or joint replacement.  You should know the cause why you experience pain on your ankle.  Treating it immediately will prevent further inconvenience or damage to the joint. If the ankle problem is not treated well, there will be a pain problem in your knees also.

Indeed, ankle problems may affect your appearance, but the effect of this dilemma is more than that especially if the condition is serious.  It is advisable to take the doctor’s advice to treat your ankle problems in the right manner.