Ankle Pain
Are You Experiencing Ankle Pain as a Result of a Sudden Slip, Twist, or Previous Injury?
The orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine experts at Westchester Sport and Spine are here to help you with your ankle pain. With 40 years of combined experience diagnosing ankle pain and treating ankle injuries, the fellowship trained orthopedic doctors and specialists at Westchester Sport and Spine provide you with the highest level of care for surgical and non-surgical ankle procedures.
About Your Ankles
Your ankles are considered hinge joints, comprised of bones, ligaments, muscles and tendons. These complex structures work together to move your foot in two primary directions.
The ankle joint is formed by three bones; your tibia (the shin bone), fibula (small bone in the leg) and the talus, (a large bone in your foot). The “round knobs sticking out”are your malleoli, which provide stability to your ankle joint.
Surrounding the joint are ligaments and a fibrous joint capsule that provide strength and stability. Tendons wrap around your ankle and attach to the large muscle of your leg, the most famous of which is the Achilles tendon.
Due to the complexity and intricacy of an ankle joint, it can be one of the most often injured, especially for athletes and those with active lifestyles.
Common Causes of Ankle Pain
Ankle pain can be from a number of injuries, diseases or conditions. Ankle pain can sometimes be caused by an injury or condition of the foot.
Your ankle joint can suffer an injury to one of the ligaments, muscles or tendons that comprise the structure. You can also suffer injuries to the bones of your ankle, all of which could cause pain.
Sprains of the ligaments and tendons of the joint are the most common causes of ankle pain. In cases where the injury was more severe, a partial to complete tear of one of the ligaments or tendons of the ankle may have occurred.
To be certain of the cause of your ankle pain, contact the orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine doctors at Westchester Sport and Spine for specific diagnosis.
Commonly Treated Ankle Conditions
The ankle is formed by tissues connecting the leg and foot. This joint’s wide range of motion and common usage makes it especially prone to stress and injury. The ankle facilitates movement and gives structural support. Read on to learn more about common ankle conditions treated at our office.
- Achilles Tendon Ruptures: Damage to the fibrous tissue connecting the heel to calf muscle.
- Ankle Dislocations: A disconnection between tissues of the ankle rendering it unable to bear weight.
- Ankle Fractures: Breakage among the three bones of the ankle.
- Ankle Sprains: A tear in the ligaments of the ankle from overextension.
- Arthritis: A disease of the joints in which the tissues of the area swell, often causing pain and limiting movement.
- Chronic Ankle Instability: The ankle’s inability to stabilize. Usually does not improve with traditional rehabilitation methods.
- High Ankle Sprain: A sprain on higher ankle ligaments usually caused by an athletic injury. This sprain is rarer than a lower ankle injury and characterized by more severe pain.
- Peroneal Tendonitis: A swelling of the peroneal tendons especially common among runners.
- Talar Dome Lesion: Damage or change in tissue usually caused by trauma, but likely influenced by genetics and other co-occurring conditions.
- Osteoarthritis: A form of arthritis characterized by a painful swelling of the joints that limits motion.
Ankle Pain Treatment Options
Most ankle conditions and injuries are effectively treated with non-invasive procedures such as rest, medications, splinting, bracing, injections and therapy. More often than not, ankle surgery is not necessary to treat painful conditions.
If surgical intervention is necessary, the orthopedic doctors and sports medicine specialists at Westchester Sport and Spine are experts in the latest minimally invasive procedures.
The main treatment options for your ankle pain include:
- Avoiding activities that make your symptoms worse
- Using ice packs
- Painkillers
- Anti-inflammatories
- Physiotherapy
- Physical therapy
- Surgery (in some cases)
Call us immediately
If your ankle pain has been caused by an injury and is accompanied by any of the symptoms below, please call the orthopedic doctors and specialists at Westchester Sport and Spine immediately and then ask someone to drive you to our clinic if your ankle pain is caused by an injury and is accompanied by:
- Your ankle appears deformed
- Inability to use your ankle, walk or apply weight to your foot
- Intense pain
- Sudden swelling