Ankle pain can be anything from mildly annoying to severe or chronic, but one thing is for certain – pain is not normal and shouldn’t be ignored. Your ankle pain is trying to tell you that something isn’t right. It might not be anything serious, but it could be, so it is important to work with a medical professional to find out what is going on and how to resolve the issue. There are many different possibilities causing your ankle pain, including:
- Sprain or strain that can happen to anyone, not just athletes.
- Achilles tendon rupture where the tendon tears loose from the heel bone.
- Severe pain could be a result of a fracture, such as a stress fracture, fibula fracture, or avulsion fracture.
- Inflammation and pain in the ankle could be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease, or by ordinary arthritis
- If bacteria get into the ankle, the resulting infection will cause severe pain and must be treated immediately to avoid bone damage, cartilage damage, and even septic shock.
- Increased uric acid resulting in crystal deposits in the ankle is a painful condition called gout. There can also be a condition called pseudogout where a different kind of crystal has formed.
- Pain only during motion can be a sign of a bony growth, referred to as an impingement.
This is by no means a complete list as there are several other potential culprits that can cause ankle pain. Without medical attention, you have no way of knowing how to best treat the situation other than with pain management which never resolves the issue. At York Foot Orthotics and Bracing, we evaluate your ankle pain to determine if the issue falls into one of the areas in which orthotics and bracing can be effective. Our goal is to resolve the cause of the pain and help you regain mobility. Reach out today if you would like to know more about our ankle pain treatment options.