Are you suffering from chronic ankle pain? Find out more about this condition and what you can do to treat it.
When an injury happens to your feet or ankles do you have someone to turn to? If not, then isn’t it time you found a podiatric team in Schaumburg, IL you can trust? If you are experiencing symptoms that might indicate lateral ankle pain then find out what we can do to help.
What is lateral ankle pain?
This condition is characterized as a chronic or recurrent ankle pain that appears on the outer area of the ankle. This problem often shows up not long after an injury such as an ankle sprain.
What are the symptoms?
Here are some of the symptoms you may experience if you suffer from lateral ankle pain:
Pain on the outer portion of the ankle that may become exacerbated by walking or physical activity. Other times you may experience a constant ache.
You may find it difficult to walk, particularly on uneven surfaces
Your ankle may also feel unstable as if it might give out
Swelling and tenderness
Stiffness
Recurrent ankle sprains
What are the causes of this chronic ankle ailment?
The most common cause of lateral ankle pain is an ankle sprain that didn’t heal properly. If you didn’t turn to one of our Schaumburg foot doctors after a sprained ankle or injury than your ankle may not have fully rehabbed.
Of course, there are other causes of chronic ankle pain including:
A torn tendon
An ankle nerve injury
Arthritis of the ankle
A fractured ankle bone
Joint lining inflammation
Scar tissue buildup after a sprained ankle
How can lateral ankle pain be treated?
The only way to know if your symptoms are due to this condition is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Between your medical history, a physical exam and imaging tests we can determine the cause of your pain so we can create a treatment plan that will work for you.
The first line of defense against this condition involves more conservative options such as:
Taking anti-inflammatory medications like Tylenol to reduce swelling and pain
Wearing an ankle brace
Undergoing physical therapy to restore muscle strength and flexibility
Immobilizing the ankle if there is a bone fracture
Only when all other options have been exhausted and haven’t provided relief do we consider surgery. Fortunately, many of these are outpatient procedures with some being performed arthroscopically (which is less invasive).
We would be happy to sit down and discuss your treatment options with you! Don’t let ankle pain keep you from living a healthy and happy life. Call the Center for Podiatric Medicine in Schaumburg, IL today to schedule that much-needed appointment.
