What causes ankle pain?
Several injuries and degenerative conditions can cause ankle pain. For example, you can develop arthritis in your ankles, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.
Ankle sprains and fractures are other common causes of ankle pain. You could also develop a repetitive strain injury such as tendinitis or bursitis. Achilles tendinitis is a painful, inflammatory condition that affects the large tendon that connects your calf muscles to your ankle and foot.
You could also have ankle pain from injuries in other parts of your body. Plantar fasciitis causes inflammation in the connective tissue on the bottom of your foot. One of the primary symptoms of plantar fasciitis is a sharp pain that shoots from your heel into your ankle.
You might not always know what causes your ankle pain. You could sustain a sports-related ankle injury that causes immediate pain. In other situations, your pain develops slowly, and you can’t identify a specific cause.
When should I talk to a doctor about ankle pain?
You should make an appointment with Dr. Prager if you have an acute ankle injury. You might hear a pop or a crack, followed by sudden and severe pain.
You should also talk to Dr. Prager if your ankle pain persists for more than a few days. Most minor injuries go away on their own with a couple of days of rest and at-home care. If your pain doesn’t subside, it could be a sign of a more serious issue.
How do you diagnose the cause of ankle pain?
Dr. Prager uses state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to evaluate your ankle pain and identify its root cause. After reviewing your symptoms and medical history, he examines your ankle, gently manipulating the joint to assess your range of motion and check for inflammation.
When necessary, Dr. Prager uses imaging studies such as X-rays and MRIs to examine the structures of your ankle in detail. He also uses ankle arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure, to study the inside of your joint.
How is ankle pain treated?
Dr. Prager provides customized treatment plans to heal your ankle and relieve your pain. He often begins with conservative therapies, including:
- Rest
- Ice
- Medication
- Cortisone injections
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Orthotics
- Physical therapy
However, if you suffer a severe ankle injury, or treatments aren’t healing previous injuries, Dr. Prager also offers cutting-edge surgery to repair your ankle.
Call Dr. Prager at Orthopedic Center of Arlington today or make an appointment online for expert diagnosis and treatment for ankle pain.
