Ankle Pain

ANKLE PAIN Q&A

When Do I Need Treatment for Ankle Pain?

Ankle pain can be mild or severe and may range from very temporary to a chronic, debilitating issue. It’s essential to closely monitor all ankle pain to avoid worsening the underlying problem.

If you experience ankle pain that doesn’t fade with a few days of rest, ice, and over-the-counter medication, it’s time to contact Texas Orthopaedic Associates. For ankle pain with swelling, skin discoloration, or ankle weakness, it’s best to seek help immediately.

What Causes Ankle Pain?

The leading causes of ankle pain are trauma, overuse, and disease. Some of the many different pain-causing ankle problems include:

• Achilles tendinitis – Achilles tendon inflammation
• Achilles tendon rupture – complete Achilles tendon tear
• Bursitis – inflammation of the cushioning sacs inside your ankle
• Osteoarthritis – ankle cartilage breakdown over time
• Rheumatoid arthritis – inflammation in joint linings
• Gout – inflammatory arthritis, featuring uric acid crystals
• Ankle sprain – overstretching or tearing of an ankle ligament
• Fractures – broken tibia, fibula, or talus bone
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome – nerve compression in the back of your foot 
• Osteochondritis dissecans – loss of blood supply to the ankle bone and cartilage 

While ankle pain is usually related to what you do, it can also happen when you don’t do anything at all. If you’re inactive for prolonged periods of time, the muscles in your lower body progressively weaken. That can lead to stiffness, weakness, pain, and an increased risk of injury when you become active again.

How is Ankle Pain Treated?

At Texas Orthopaedic Associates, the experienced team recommends a personalized treatment approach for every person with ankle pain. They review your medical history and conduct a complete physical evaluation first, and you may also need lab tests, X-rays, or other diagnostic tests to determine the source of the pain.

Conservative Care

Your ankle pain treatment in Dallas may include non-surgical care such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, ankle bracing, and orthotic inserts or custom orthotics. Infections require antibiotics, and if you have an open wound, you typically need wound care.

Surgery

If your ankle condition isn’t treatable with non-surgical care, you could need surgery to repair bones, tendons, ligaments, or other damage inside your ankle. Texas Orthopaedic Associates offers all types of ankle surgery, with an emphasis on minimally invasive approaches where possible.

The caring team at Texas Orthopaedic Associates is here to explain all the treatment choices for ankle pain and support you through a fast recovery. Call the office nearest you or book an appointment online now.