Increasing pain in the ankle

by Sophie
(Swanage, Dorset, United Kingdom )

Diagram of ankle anatomy

Diagram of ankle anatomy



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I have had escalating pain in my ankle for over a month now; I slightly twisted it going down some garden steps, but it didn't hurt at all; in fact I hardly noticed anything. A couple of days later I spent the day up and down a ladder loading things up into a loft. That night I had a pain in my ankle which kept me awake, but was gone the next morning,
I then had a day travelling, and was completely fine, then a couple of days later I went on a long walk, and felt nothing, but that night had pain again. The next morning I was a bit sore and limped for a while, then it seemed to loosen up as the day went on. Walking my dog in the evening the pain started coming on again, & I had to turn back. That night I woke myself and my husband yelling with pain. This has been happening every night since. I have virtually no swelling.

I haven't slept normally for over a month.

I have been to the doctor twice. She said it is my achilles tendon, and prescribed heat, ice, & naproxen, which didn't work. I've been back, & have now been prescribed co-damol, and am waiting to be referred to a physiotherapist. The pain was so bad last night that I couldn't walk across the room. If I squeeze my ankle above the protruding bone there is pain.

I feel desperate as I'm hobbling about, and can't do anything.





Hello Sophie,
What's needed is a thorough assessment by someone who works regularly with ankles. That physiotherapist would be a good start.

If your feeling is that neither your doctor, nor the physiotherapist have enough experience is this domain, then you yourself have to start looking for someone. A chiropractor with a FICS qualification would be one possibility; that's a postgraduate sports injury qualification.

Meantime start our ankle exercises.

I know this is a bit vague; there really are many possibilities; a subluxated ankle mortise joint would be one of my considerations.

I hope this contributes.

Dr Barrie Lewis



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Old ankle injury keeps locking

Diagram of ankle anatomy

Diagram of ankle anatomy



I badly sprained my ankle on 5th February this year, along with stretched ligaments and torn tendons. It happened at football training and a strong tackle on my ankle forced it over to the the outside. When it happened I felt a pop in my ankle and there was immediate swelling and bruising. Ice was not applied immediately but about 45 minutes later and I could not walk on it for about a week.
I went back to football training four weeks Later on 26th February and then played my first match back on 28th February.

The injury has seemed fine and has been improving well since then, however recently the injury has started to lock up as I am walking or moving around on it. I have to rotate it for a while to get this to go away.

Yesterday I accidentally walked though my locked ankle and it clicked a bit higher up in my leg. Since that, my ankle has been locking extremely regularly, about twice every 5 minutes.
I was wondering if you could help because clearly this is not convenient for the start of the football season in a week!

Thanks.





Hello,
First I'd start with our ankle exercises; do them frequently. They are simply mobilising; more needs to be done to strengthen the lower leg.

Perhaps more important is to find out what's happening; it sounds like you subluxated a bone in the ankle when you sprained it; usually the ankle mortise or the subtalar joint, but it could be others.

Start looking for someone who works with ankles; and not just expensive orthotics.

I hope this contributes.

Dr Barrie Lewis









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Untreated ankle injury from 2 years ago

by Jacob abrams
(Wyoming)

Diagram of ankle anatomy

Diagram of ankle anatomy

As stated above I had a very severe inversion ankle sprain about two years ago. I didn't have health insurance at the time so I couldn't afford a trip to the doctor but eventually after some rest my ankle got to the point where I could walk effectively so I managed the pain and went about my business.

At this point I am noticing some symptoms as far as my natural weight distribution being different than it use to be. I am suffering some hip tightness and some pain on the outside of my knee while walking. I am just curious if it is too late to fix any of these symptoms by doing some of those rehab exercises on my ankle or if it is too late and I require surgery?

Thanks for all your help.





Hello Jacob,
First a plea; it falls on deaf ears in the main. If you have no insurance then take that money and invest it every month in a dedicated health account. Then this sort of potentially very expensive sequela can be avoided.

Prevention always was better than a cure, and still is!

Any one of many things may have happened in your ankle, but it clearly it's changed your gait and is now having a knock on effect in your knee and hip.

Along with tearing of ligaments often there is a subluxation of one of the small ankle joints; it's usually very easy to restore, particularly if done immediately. Neglected and you sit with a heap of problems.

Try the ankle exercises and they may release that subluxation if you're lucky, but most likely you need to start hunting for someone who works with feet and ankles; don't accept expensive orthotics as the solution.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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Sprained ankle 3 weeks ago

by Erica
(Fort Worth TX)

Diagram of ankle anatomy

Diagram of ankle anatomy

Sprained ankle 3 weeks ago; went to the doctor; had X-rays and put in a soft cast. Almost on week 4 swelling has gone down and no pain unless I try to put weight on it. Pain and almost a tingling feeling in my heel.

I don't know what to do now. Pain on both sides of my ankle when I try to stand.





Hello Erica,
You have most likely subluxated the subtalar joint; it causes pain around the heel bone, more usually on the outside but can certainly be bilateral.

It's very simple to reduce if you can find a chiropractor who works with feet and ankles. Start hunting.

Left, it will become arthritic.

Dr Barrie Lewis








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Fractured ankle three times

by Jessica
(Kingston, Ohio, United States )

Broken ankle

Broken ankle

Well to start off I have broken my right ankle 3 times and sense then I have a lot of pain and swelling. The last time I broke it I have noticed the the right side of my ankle is huge compared to left and well just enormous.

And that the tendon on that side sticks out and looks huge. I also can't bend my foot or toes that much either and there's times my foot goes numb. Most cases it's really cold; what can be causing this and can it be fixed?





Hello Jessica,
I'm afraid this is too difficult answer, not being able to examine you and see your scans.

Whilst a chiropractor who works with ankles and feet could probably help you, my inclination is to say you should first be addressing these questions to an orthopaedic surgeon.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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Ankle disfiguration

by Lillian
(Rapid city, south dakota, usa)



I fell and hurt my ankle in a hole. When I fell it popped really loudly. It hurt really bad for a minute but then the pain subsided partically. It hurt to walk on it for about half an hour but it is still bulged out on one side after three months.





Hello Lillian,
I'd start with an x-ray just to be sure you didn't break anything.

Clearly if it's still 'bulging out' then something happened; it's difficult and of no real value for me to speculate.

Then start looking for someone highly recommended who works with feet and ankles. Don't leave it because it will become arthritic.

Let us know how you get on.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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Fell down the stairs and twisted my ankle

Diagram of ankle anatomy

Diagram of ankle anatomy

Hello,
I fell down some stairs and twisted my ankle. I had immediate pain and it still hurts; there's no swelling however. It burns and I cannot put pressure or move it without it hurting. I don't want to go in to have them tell me it's just a sprain though. Any suggestions?
Thank you!





Hello Cristina,
It is perhaps just a sprain but I'd have it professionally assessed. You have no idea how many people I treat, and letters at this site who injured their ankles, did nothing, and years later will still suffering.

You may be right; pleased if you're right! But if you can't put pressure on it, it's swollen, and bruised then it needs to be professionally examined; fractures lurk and untreated become arthritic and disabling.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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