Pain in top of ankle when bending knee over foot.

by Daniel
(London. England)



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Stiffness / pain in top of ankle when bending knee over foot. Or when bending / putting pressure on an acute position.

The last months I went through the lateral ankle ligament sprain/re-occurrence and then took time off to effectively treat.

That problem is behind me now thankfully. However I noticed recently I am having stiffness/pain when bending my knee forwards over my foot. Or when my foot is in an acute position with pressure applied.

This is causing massive problems with running effectively.

I can.t seem to find much on this issue and any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks.





Hello Daniel,
I can't quite figure out what 'bending your knee over foot' means.

Several things can happen when you sprain your ankle; torn ligaments, stretched tendons, subluxated subtalus or mortise joints and fractured bones.

It sounds like this is more complicated than you realise and it's time for a proper examination by someone experience with treating feet and ankles. Look for a chiropractor with a FICS qualification.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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Sprained ankle and leg swelling

by Sarah
(Northern Ireland)

Hi,
I sprained my left ankle almost 2 weeks ago; I can only move it a little. I am starting to just about walk on it but the more I do the more it swells and it's swelling up my leg too.

Is this normal? I've had sprains before but not like this one.





Hello Sarah,
Obviously something worse than previously has happened and it's time for a thorough examination and an x-ray. You may have broken a bone and, if so, and it's not pinned you'll have a weak and arthritic ankle for life. See someone who knows about feet and ankles, and don't just accept pills.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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Sudden frozen ankle when walking and running

by Andrea
(UK)

ankle mortise and subtalar joints.

ankle mortise and subtalar joints.

For as long as I can remember my ankle has occasionally frozen particularly when I am running or walking quickly or walking up and down stairs. Until recently this has only caused me to stumble slightly then the ankle is ok to walk on again within seconds. However a couple of days ago I was walking down a set of stone steps when my ankle 'froze' and I was completely unable to weight bear, resulting in me falling down the steps and grazing and bruising my knee and elbow.

The whole leg is now sore for obvious reasons but the ankle has frozen twice more today whilst just walking at a normal pace. I am a 33 year old female who is fairly active and healthy. I am a normal weight, have mild well controlled asthma and some mild allergies, hay fever, dogs, cats etc.

My mother has rheumatoid arthritis. I have recently taken up running at a beginner level (1 min run then 1 min walk ten times).

I have a GP appointment next week but would like to know whether to continue with the running training in the mean time, I'm also concerned about mum's arthritis being hereditary. Thank you.





Hello Andrea,
Clearly something is happening deep in your ankle; what's good in the past the jamming has relieved itself, of itself, without treatment; nevertheless it was a warning that there probably more to come.

I'm going to stick my neck out, because I can't be sure, but I think this is unrelated to your mother's rheumatoid; yes, it certainly does run in families, but this isn't typical. Do you have any swelling in your fingers, particularly the PIP joint? Google the term.

This is an aside, but there's an explosion of these autoimmune diseases in the Western world. No one is quite sure of the cause, there are probably several reasons, but I am of the opinion that our typical modern diet is largely to blame. Eat the way your grandmother did, and not the way your mother does, is my advice.

That means spending a lot more time at the green grocer, and avoiding the processed convenience food that is so tempting these days.

Also google the anti inflammatory diet, and read up on the omega 6/ omega 3 ratio; it's good stuff anyway, but greatly reduces the chances of suffering like your mother does.

Seeing this has been going on for so long, I'd recommend you ask your doctor for an x-ray of the ankle. It probably won't show anything unless you had a long forgotten sprain.

What is most probably happening is a subtle subluxation of the either the ankle mortise, or subtalar joints. It gives incredibly sharp stabs of pain deep in the ankle when walking.

Often that will reduce of itself, but I'd now start doing our alphabet ankle exercises on a daily basis. A light ankle guard just whilst out running might help.

These subluxations can usually be reduced very simply by a skilled chiropractor who works regularly with ankles and feet; look for someone with a FICS post graduate sports qualification. You may be in for an occasional but regular treatment, say once a month, perhaps two; a small price to pay for being able to walk and run; and prevent an inevitable knock on affect in your pelvis and lower back.

Good luck, I hope this helps.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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My ankle just started hurting with no swelling or bruise

I was just living my life, then one day, whenever I started walking, my ankle started hurting. I was at school in P.E., so I told the teacher and sat out.

It's been doing this for a while, but there's no swelling or bruise. That's good and bad in my opinion. It's not good (opinion) because it just makes it harder to find out what is going on.

It hurts every time pressure is applied, or when I walk on it.

I've put ice on it, but it never stopped hurting.

I can't find out why, since I was just in class.

Why is it hurting like this?





Obviously I can't make a diagnosis, being unable to examine you. I take it you're not the sporting type; often the pain may start the next day after an injury.

Seeing there's no sign of sprain or strain, and am I correct no previous problems, then I would suspect you subluxated a bone in the ankle with some unrecalled activity, probably the talus or calcaneus and provided you have it treated before it becomes chronic, it will usually recover quickly. Resetting the joint is simple in the hands a skilled adjuster.

You might try our ankle exercises for a few days and you may be lucky; it might reduce the subluxation spontaneously; find them using the site search function at Chiropractic Help.

See if you can find a chiropractor with a FICS qualification; he or she will know how to treat this.

Dr Barrie Lewis



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Sprained left ankle

by Anne
(West virginia)

Diagram of ankle anatomy

Diagram of ankle anatomy

I sprained my left ankle in December 2016. I was walking and twisted my ankle when I stepped on a leaf covered ditch and fell. I didn't know it was bad until that evening and immediately iced it when I got back to hotel.

Couldn't do much the next day as I was at meetings. Had an x-ray the following day. Saw a podiatrist and was put in a cast for 4 days. I hiked the Grand Canyon a few weeks later. After physical therapy in January and February it appeared to improve. I did a 4 day backpack trip in July.
In August I reinjured the ankle by doing lots of bending and squatting and fell again in August. Physical therapy didn't help.

After an MRI I saw another podiatrist November 2017 who told me I had ankle instability and recommended tendon surgery but nothing showed on the MRI. In December I saw an orthopedic surgeon he gave me a shot of cortisone which helped for a few days.

I can barely walk a few miles without pain. I have an air cast and an ankle brace. I'm going to see another doctor in a week. Maybe I should see a chiropractor--- any thoughts.

It's cramping my style I can't do the kettle bell weight lifting class I like and skiing and biking really hurt. Maybe I should try water aerobics again. Both activity and inactivity cause pain. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I lead a physical life both work and play and its cramping my style. The MRI and X rays revealed nothing major broken or torn.





Hello Anne,
Obviously I can't make a diagnosis, being unable to examine you, but if the MRI shows no injury, then the next place to look is a subluxated mortise or subtalar joint.

The displacements are so small that extremely difficult to see even on an MRI, and perhaps just fixated; a chiropractor experienced in working with feet and ankles can determine this with motion palpation.

Are you doing a daily set of exercises? Look for our alphabet exercises and if you can use a wobble board.

Phone your state association and ask for a chiropractor with a FICS qualification; post graduate sports.

Let me know how you get on.

Dr Barrie Lewis


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Foot drop - stiff ankle

by Essie
(Oneonta,NY USA)

I had a tumor pressing on my brain & surgery to remove it. The result of this surgery found me paralyzed on my right side....my speech & arm/hand have recovered and are now 100% functional. My leg however did not recover. I cannot walk without assistance....even after physical therapy....my knee is kind of recessed = my ankle does not bend - my foot drops - my toes won't wiggle but clamp down when I stand or walk & my big toe likes to stick straight up at times!!





Hello Essie,
I'm afraid I think it unlikely chiropractic can help you. These are known as long tract signs; the problem isn't in your spine but at one of the higher centres in the brain.

It's possible seeing that your arm and speech have recovered, that the weakness in your leg may eventually return. Certainly I'd stick with the PT, and in particularly doing as much as you can of the routine at home every single day.

I'm sorry not to be able to answer you more encouragingly. Thank you for writing.

Dr Barrie Lewis




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