Ankle Pain
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Ankle pain
I have pain in both ankles
Ankle tendonitis
My left leg joint hurts
Can not bend ankle because of pain
I have a bad left ankle
Uncomfortable feeling in ankle
Poor ankle condition
Ankle broken or sprained
Ankle injury
Sprained ankle
About the Symptom
Ankle pain can be on either or both sides, front or back. The pain may be pressing, sharp or dull in nature.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Fever
- Back pain
- Recent weight loss
- Swelling of the affected area
- Edema
- Numbness / sensory disorder
Possible Causes
Generally, Ankle pain can be related to:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
A chronic inflammatory disease where the body's immune system attacks multiple joints, most commonly in the hands and feet. The cause and trigger is unknown.
- Hallux Valgus
Hallux valgus, or a bunion, is a bony bump that forms on the joint at the base of the big toe when the big toe pushes against the next toe. Tight shoes, foot stress, and arthritis are common causes. It can lead to deformity.
- Adult Still's Disease
A rare systemic inflammatory disease characterized by high fevers, a pink rash, sore throat and body aches that persist for weeks. The exact cause is unknown but is thought to be triggered by an infection. Some patients will have only one episode of it, while others may have several recurrent episodes.
- Osteoporosis
- Chronic Pain
- Gout / Pseudogout
- Lumbar Spondylosis
- Lumbar Vertebrae Disk Herniation
- Congenital Hemophilia
- Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have ankle pain?
- When did you first notice your ankle pain?
- Which of the following best describes how your ankle pain appeared?
- How often do you experience ankle pain?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, how severe was your ankle pain at its worst?
Reviewed By:
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Jan 30, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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FAQs
Q.
Is it a Sprained Ankle? Why Your Joint Swells & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
A twisted, swollen ankle is often a sprain, where stretched or torn ligaments cause swelling, bruising, and stiffness; first-line care is RICE for 48 to 72 hours, safe pain relief, gentle early motion, and support like a brace or boot. There are several factors to consider, including red flags that may need imaging or urgent care such as inability to bear weight, deformity, numbness, or worsening pain, plus healing timelines by sprain grade; see the complete guidance below to choose the right next steps.
References:
* Doherty C, Delahunt E, Caulfield B, Hertel J, Ryan J, Moran J. Ankle Sprain: An Update on Its Biomechanics, Epidemiology, and Clinical Management. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017 Aug;47(8):603-616. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2017.7137. Epub 2017 May 17. PMID: 28514115.
* Vuurberg G, Hoorntje AK, Wink LM, Van der Doelen BF, van den Bekerom MP, Dekker R, van Dijk CN, de Bie RA, Kerkhoffs GM. Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of ankle sprains: an evidence-based clinical guideline. Br J Sports Med. 2018 Aug;52(15):956. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098192. Epub 2018 Jul 13. PMID: 30007530.
* Gribble PA, Bleakley CM, Caulfield BM, Docherty CL, Fourchet F, Fong DTP, Guskiewicz KM, Hertel J, Hiller CE, Kaminski TW, Kibler WB, Maffulli N, Moran J, Pizzari T, Prentice W, Vicenzino B, Wikstrom EA. 2018 Ankle Sprain Consensus Statement: Consensus statement and recommendations for ankle sprain prevention, diagnosis, management and return to play: Br J Sports Med 2018;52:878. Br J Sports Med. 2018 Jul;52(14):878. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099197. Epub 2018 May 11. PMID: 29753447.
* Tassignon B, Ronsmans S, Schütte K, Van der Heggen H, Thijs Y, Van Tiggelen D, Vereecken P. The effectiveness of rehabilitation exercises in treating acute and subacute lateral ankle sprains: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2019 Jul;53(14):909-918. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099732. Epub 2019 Mar 15. PMID: 30878950.
* Chen ET, Ko J, Ma F, Samaan MA, Giza E. Acute Lateral Ankle Sprains: A Systematic Review of Current Evidence for Best Practice Management. J Athl Train. 2022 Jan 1;57(1):15-22. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0257.21. PMID: 35084996; PMCID: PMC8768787.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Lau BC, Moore LK, Thuillier DU. Evaluation and Management of Lateral Ankle Pain Following Injury. JBJS Rev. 2018 Aug;6(8):e7. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.17.00143. PMID: 30153244.
https://journals.lww.com/jbjsreviews/Abstract/2018/08000/Evaluation_and_Management_of_Lateral_Ankle_Pain.8.aspxAnkle pain
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/foot-pain/ankle-pain/