Why does ankle pain occur? Such discomfort can arise for various reasons. We will talk about them a little further. You will also learn about how such a pathological condition can be cured.
Basic information
Ankle pain can occur suddenly or some time after an injury. In any case, it is not recommended to ignore this condition and carry out treatment at home. It is very important to identify the cause of discomfort and take all appropriate measures. Otherwise, the condition of the victim may deteriorate sharply and lead to complete immobilization of the lower limb.
Reason for development
Why does my ankle hurt? Inflammation of the joint, discomfort while walking, as well as other discomfort in this joint may occur as a result of injury or be one of the signs of existing diseases.
Only a specialist can determine why a patient has pain in the ankle after an individual examination, X-ray examination or other procedures.
Most people with this problem do not go to the doctor. But even if you have a minor injury,and the pain is only intermittent, making presumptive diagnoses and self-treatment is highly discouraged, as this can lead to serious consequences.
Ankle pain can occur not only due to injury, but also due to the development of certain dysfunctions in the body or any diseases.
Joint injuries
Few people know, but even a slight injury to the ankle can cause inflammation. The most common injuries that cause severe pain in this joint are sprains, fractures, and dislocations. Consider their features in more detail.
Ankle Sprain
Treatment of such an injury should be carried out immediately, as it causes a lot of discomfort.
This is the most common foot injury that can occur at any age, in any job, and so on. Of course, people who lead an active lifestyle and go in for sports are most often affected.
Ankle sprain, which is treated by a traumatologist, is characterized by sharp pain in the joint, as well as the formation of swelling and the development of inflammation.
Fractures
Severe bruising of the ankle often leads to a fracture of the joint. It may vary in type and complexity. In modern medicine, a fracture of the outer ankle, calcaneus, as well as the diaphysis of the metatarsal bones is distinguished. Such injuries require an urgent visit to a doctor who, after receiving an X-ray ortomography will determine exactly what treatment should be.
The pain in the ankle with a fracture is more intense than with ordinary joint injuries. Unpleasant sensations can occur both at rest and during palpation. In this case, the lower limb may not give in to movement, and also acquire a not quite natural shape, etc.
Dislocations
Such injuries are often accompanied by fractures. The displacement of this articulation may be partial. If the ankle ligaments are not torn, then we are talking about subluxation.
Injury First Aid
If you have a leg injury, and you experience pain and swelling of the ankle, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is also very important to take the following first aid measures:
- The injured leg should only be at rest.
- Ice should be applied to the ankle.
- If a sprain occurs, then a tight bandage should be applied to the joint.
- The injured limb should be kept elevated. To make it easier, you can put a soft roller under it.
Diseases that cause ankle pain
Often, pain in the ankle is not associated with various injuries (for example, with a bruise or sprain), but with the development of joint diseases. These diseases include deforming arthrosis, as well as some types of arthritis, including psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis. Also, pain and swelling of the ankle occur with gout.
All listeddiseases can provoke not only inflammation of the joints, but also significantly worsen the condition of tissues, which leads to an increased risk of dislocations and fractures.
Treatment of any problems with the ankle in the presence of certain diseases should be comprehensive and only under the supervision of a doctor.
The fact that the joint in question worries the patient due to exacerbation of diseases, and not due to injury, may indicate a general deterioration in the patient's well-being. In this case, not only the lower limb becomes inflamed, but also the joints of other parts of the body.
How to treat the ankle?
Methods of treating such a joint are selected based on the causes of pain and swelling.
Sprains or minor bruises, dislocations, or subluxations may require routine home care. If a person has complex fractures, then temporary hospitalization is indispensable.
Treatment procedures for restoring the ankle after injury may include the following activities:
- Preliminary detection of the condition of the injured leg. This procedure includes an external examination and palpation, as well as X-rays and, if necessary, tomography.
- The use of pain medications, which are determined by the attending physician, depending on the nature of the disease or type of injury.
- Applying a tight bandage, especially for sprains and dislocations.
- Performing medical procedures, including surgical proceduresinterventions if the resulting fracture is complex.
- Complete rest of the patient, fixed position of the injured leg.
- Physiotherapy procedures, determined by the type of injury and the course of the disease.
- The use of external medicines to improve and accelerate healing in order to prevent re-inflammation.
- Using various orthopedic appliances.
- Therapeutic exercise and moderate exercise.
It should also be noted that there are drugs that significantly increase the effectiveness of treatment, including preventing the formation of a focus of infection, improving cell regeneration, and so on.
It cannot be said that many experts demand a revision of the patient's diet and its supplementation with vitamin-mineral complexes.
Treatment of major diseases
If the pain in the ankle is due to the development of arthrosis, arthritis and other diseases, then its elimination is carried out by treating the underlying causes. To do this, you should also contact a narrow specialist. After diagnosing the disease, the doctor must prescribe treatment, which includes taking certain medications, physiotherapy and other things.
Folk methods
The use of folk remedies for the treatment of pain in the ankle should take place only after agreement with the doctor. Most often, various lotions and compresses are used as such methods, which can reduce inflammation and remove puffiness.
Also asauxiliary products can be used animal fats, kefir, a mixture of sugar, onions, soap, honey and s alt. In general, there are a lot of traditional medicine recipes. However, all of them must be used with extreme caution so as not to aggravate the situation and not cause an allergic reaction.
After the implementation of the main treatment, the patient must necessarily undergo a rehabilitation course. This is true not only for fractures, but also for other serious injuries. It is necessary to perform special therapeutic exercises, as well as take medication for some time in order to prevent relapses, if the causes of discomfort were associated with any diseases.
When to see a doctor?
If any of the following changes occur, seek medical attention immediately:
- Severe inflammation, swelling, local fever, unnatural shape of the lower limb.
- Intolerable pain while walking, as well as on palpation of the ankle joint.
- Unpleasant sensations in the area of injury that do not go away for a long time.
- Sudden pain syndrome or periodic pain that occurs not only in the ankle joint or at the site of injury, but also directly inside the bone.
It is also very important to take all necessary measures in a timely manner if you suspect a severe fracture or other injury.
