Topics > Ankle > Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain
Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain
Chronic lateral ankle pain is recurring or chronic pain on the outside
part of the ankle that often develops after an injury such as a sprained
ankle.
Symptoms:
- Ankle instability
- Difficulty walking on uneven ground or in high heels
- Pain on the outer
side of the ankle
- Repeated ankle sprains
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Tenderness
The most common cause
is incomplete healing after an ankle sprain. The connecting tissue
(ligament) between the bones is stretched or torn
when you sprain your ankle. Without complete recovery, the ligament
or surrounding muscles may remain weak, leading to instability and
risk for additional ankle injuries.
Other causes of chronic ankle pain
include:
- A fracture in one of the
bones that make up the ankle joint.
- Arthritis
of the ankle joint.
- Inflammation of the joint lining.
- Injury to the nerves that pass through
the ankle. In this case, the nerves become stretched, torn, injured
by a direct blow, or pinched
under pressure.
- Scar
tissue in the ankle after a sprain. The scar tissue takes up space
in the joint, putting pressure on the ligaments.
- Inflammation or a tear
in the tendon.
Conservative treatments include:
- Over the counter or prescription anti-inflammatory
medications to reduce swelling.
- Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles.
- Ankle brace for support.
- Steroid medication.
- Immobilization to allow the bone to heal, if fractured.
If conservative
treatment doesn’t help, surgery may be needed.
Surgery is done on an outpatient basis. Some are done arthroscopically,
others require open surgery. Rehabilitation may take up to 10 weeks.
Surgical treatments include:
- Removing loose fragments.
- Cleaning the joint or joint surface.
- Repairing or reconstructing the ligaments
or transferring tendons.
To
help avoid re-injury to the sprain ankle, follow these recommendations:
- Make
sure to complete the treatment prescribed by your doctor.
- Do
not return to activity before your physician makes an assessment.
- When
playing sports use an ankle brace, which is more effective than
tape.
