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Ankle pain
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Ankle pain is a problem that many people experience while walking or running on a treadmill or on an incline.
Causes of pain can range from a minor ankle injury to different types of arthritis.
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Causes ankle pain
Along with sprains and injuries, other causes of ankle pain when walking include:
Gout
This is a painful inflammation of the big toe and foot caused by defects in uric acid production and metabolism, or too much uric acid production in the body. The extra uric acid is deposited as crystals or salts in the joints and blood instead of being eliminated from the body in urine. Gout can cause ankle and foot pain.
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Arthritis
It is characterized by sudden and severe painful swelling in one or more joints caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals. Similar to gout, arthritis mainly occurs in older people and often affects the large joints of our limbs.
Osteoarthritis
This is a disorder in which cartilage wears away and prevents joints from working properly. As osteoarthritis gets worse, the cartilage disappears and bones rub against bones, causing muscles and ligaments to weaken.
Psoriatic arthritis
This is a type of arthritis that is often associated with skin psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by dry, red, scaly patches on the body. Arthritis can be mild and involve only a few joints, especially at the ends of the fingers or toes, causing swelling of the joints and skin, and pain in the ankle.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This is a type of arthritis that causes long-term inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body's immune system malfunctions and can cause pain in healthy tissues. Specifically, around the ankle.
Septic arthritis
It is an inflammation of the joint due to bacterial invasion, which increases when the bacteria are transmitted from the source of infection through the blood. Or inflammation and pain in the ankle occurs when the infection occurs after traumatic penetration or surgical procedures. Septic arthritis involves symptoms such as swelling of the joints, intense pain in the ankle joints and fever.
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Causes of Ankle and Foot Pain
Do you often experience foot and ankle pain while working? Have you noticed swelling around your ankle? Pain and swelling in your feet can be caused by a variety of reasons. Let's look at them. Foot and ankle pain can be caused by a variety of reasons. It can be caused by a foot injury, or it can be a symptom of a serious condition such as arthritis, ankle tendonitis, or plantar fasciitis.
The formation of calluses, corns, and spurs on the feet can lead to ankle pain. Ankle injuries caused by torn ligaments are the most common foot injuries that cause ankle and foot pain.
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Dislocation
The most common injury that can cause pain and swelling around the ankle and foot is a sprained ankle. An ankle sprain causes pain due to a tear in the ligaments, the bands of tissue that connect the bones together and provide support to the ankle joint.
They can become strained or torn due to sudden twisting movements during physical activity or even walking on uneven surfaces.
Symptoms of an ankle sprain include pain, tenderness in the ankle, bruising, and swelling. The severity of symptoms depends on the degree of the sprain. Symptoms can be more severe in a grade 3 sprain, which involves a complete tear of the ankle ligaments, as opposed to grade 1 and 2 sprains, where the ligament becomes stretched or partially torn.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a condition involving inflammation of the fascia, a thick band of connective tissue that covers the bones located at the bottom of the feet. This band of tissue runs from the bottom of the heel bone to the heel. Inflammation of the fascia due to overuse is most likely to cause heel pain.
People who are actively involved in physical activity put excessive pressure on the heel bone and the tissues of the foot become inflamed and painful.
People who are obese, have abnormal foot structure, or have gait defects are also at increased risk of suffering from plantar fasciitis. Poor shoe selection can also lead to inflamed fascia, which can lead to ankle and foot pain.
Heel fractures
The heel bone is located at the back of the foot. It is the largest of the bones in the foot and supports the entire weight of our body when we walk. It consists of a hard outer part that encloses a soft spongy part of the bone. A fracture of the heel bone is one of the most common causes of ankle and foot pain, it can be caused by a fall from a great height or by overuse injuries that are repeated.
Because the heel bone supports the side of the foot and all of our body weight when we walk, damage to the heel bone causes pain when walking.
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Joint pain in the ankle and foot
Serious joint diseases such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, septic arthritis, tendonitis can cause ankle and foot pain. The diseases occur when large amounts of uric acid accumulate in the joints. If uric acid accumulates in the ankle joint, it causes pain and swelling in the ankle area.
Those who suffer from inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and tendonitis are likely to also suffer from pain and swelling in the ankle area. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease associated with the wear and tear of cartilage. Cartilage is the connective tissue that is found at the end of bones at joints. It acts as a cushion and protects the bones from inflammation when they rub against each other.
If the joints of the legs of people with osteoarthritis are overloaded, it causes pain, stiffness, swelling in or around the ankle joint and limits the range of motion.
Causes of Ankle Pain and Swelling
Pain and swelling in the ankle can be caused by a variety of conditions, ranging from an infection through an open wound to early symptoms of diabetes. Let's take a look at the causes.
Ankle pain is a common problem faced by many people of different age groups. In most cases, the cause of ankle sprain is a fall on the knee, which causes a ligament tear. A ligament tear makes the ankle painful. Ligament tears are also one of the main causes of ankle pain, swelling, and edema, which makes it difficult for a healthy person to move normally.
Pain and swelling in the ankle area usually lasts for a few days and can take more than 2-3 weeks to completely go away. It also happens that an ankle injury makes the ankle weaker and more prone to a number of other injuries and fractures in the future. Do you think that a torn ligament is the only reason for pain and swelling in the ankle area? Well, of course not. There are many other reasons. There are several other parts of the ankle such as tendons, cartilage, and blood vessels that can cause injuries to this part of the leg.
Ankle pain and swelling caused by this pain is nothing more than the accumulation of fluid in the surrounding tissues of the ankle or foot. Here are common causes of ankle pain and swelling that vary in severity.
Injury
Sudden impact and traumatic injuries to the ankle, ankle sprains, cracks around the ankle, falls on the knee, rupture of the blood vessels of the ankle can cause pain and swelling. These traumatic injuries can cause excessive blood circulation in the ankle area to speed up the healing process. This procedure causes pain in the ankle, along with swelling and redness.
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Peripheral edema
Peripheral edema in the ankle area can also create problems related to blood circulation. This problem is present in both legs at the same time, it is not a problem of one leg, poor blood flow can be the cause of ankle pain and swelling in both legs. Peripheral edema of the lower extremities can be due to aging blood vessels, and conditions that can put stress on the veins, such as obesity, pregnancy, varicose veins, and others.
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Ankle arthritis
Ankle arthritis is a rare condition that can cause pain and swelling in the ankle area. It is very painful and causes pain and swelling in the ankle and ankles. People who already suffer from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis are prone to pain and swelling in the ankle area. Ankle arthritis is also a condition in people who have had previous ankle injuries.
Vascular obstructions
There can be many problems that can cause problems with proper blood circulation in the ankle area. The most common cause of vascular obstruction is a blood clot, which can form in the vessels of one of the legs, causing ankle pain and swelling, as well as edema. If the initial symptoms are ignored, swelling in the ankle area can worsen throughout the leg.
Soft tissue infections of the ankle
Infections have become the most common causes of this problem. Soft tissue infections of the ankle, also known as cellulitis, or infections caused by viruses and bacteria, can cause pain and swelling in the ankle area. Ankle infections can be treated with medication, but in severe cases, appropriate surgeries may be required to resolve the problem.
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Other Causes of Ankle Pain and Swelling
Swollen ankles in women require special attention as they face the problem of ankle pain and swelling more often than men. Menstruation and pregnancy are two things that can cause ankle pain and swelling in women. Swelling is more pronounced during pregnancy. Other associated causes are congestive heart failure, chronic liver disease called cirrhosis, scleroderma, insect bites, improper footwear, poor nutrition in diets and prolonged standing postures.
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Causes of Ankle Pain at Night
There are painful and uncomfortable sensations that can keep you up all night. Causes of ankle pain at night can range from a minor fracture to arthritis.
Our ankle is a community of strong ligaments, tendons and muscles. It helps our feet move in two main directions: away from the body (plantar flexion) and towards the body (localization). Acute pain in the ankle at night or swelling of the ankle at night can be due to a sprained ankle as a result of injury or a small tear in the ligaments that connect the bones to each other.
The most common symptoms of an ankle injury are swelling, pain at night, bruising, or strain on the tissue around the joint. All of this can happen due to torn or damaged tendons, cartilage (which cushions the joints), and blood vessels. Quite often, ankle pain can also radiate to surrounding areas such as the feet, shins, knees, and even hips.
Pathogenesis
The ankle joint (or it is also called the ankle) is made up of three bones. These are the fibula, tibia and talus. They are connected to each other by tendons. The ankle movements are provided by muscles - a whole group of them. They make it possible to bend and unbend the foot. If at least some part of the ankle is damaged - muscles, tendons or ligaments - pain may occur in it. Ankle pain can be closely associated with other diseases.
The most common symptoms after injury are ankle pain, swelling and bruising in the ankles, making it extremely difficult to put weight on the joint.
Acute pain occurs in the ankle and in particular in the ankles, when walking can also be disturbing due to rupture or damage to other structures such as tendons (which include muscles and bones), cartilage (which act as cushions for the joints), and blood vessels. In some cases, the pain can spread to adjacent areas of the foot, shin, knees, and even hips.
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Treatment ankle pain
Treatment for ankle pain generally involves simple home care and avoiding overuse. Rest for a few days, and avoid moving the affected area. If the ankle is unstable, support it with crutches or a cane when standing or walking to take the extra weight off the ankle.
If there is swelling in the ankles, keep the leg elevated above the level of the heart for about 15 minutes. Applying a bandage or ice pack to the affected areas for 10 to 15 minutes each day can also help reduce pain and swelling.
For severe pain or swelling in the ankle area, you can also use some medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease the discomfort in your foot. But if you still put a lot of stress on your ankle when walking, we recommend that you see a doctor for diagnosis and necessary treatment.
Treatment of ankle and foot pain
Since ankle and foot pain can be caused by a variety of reasons, treatment will depend on the underlying causes. The pain can be experienced more than once by people who do a lot of exercise, such as running, jumping, and other sports. Those who experience ankle pain from running should make sure that their shoes are of good quality. They should stop strenuous exercise or activities that put pressure on their feet and be sure to get a medical examination.
Ankle and foot pain can be caused by a sprained ankle or by overuse injuries that are repeated. Doctors will usually recommend x-rays to determine the type of injury. Those who have suffered ankle sprains will need to wear a cast to compress the ligaments or hold the ligaments in place while they heal. Getting enough rest and avoiding pressure on the ankle area will help speed up recovery.
Painkillers or steroids may be prescribed to treat a sprained ankle. Once the ankle and foot show signs of healing, the patient may benefit from physical therapy. If the pain in the foot and around the top of the foot is caused by other causes than injury, you should follow the treatment plan prescribed by your doctor.
Treatment for ankle and foot pain may include orthotic devices, medications, and physical therapy. Since poor-quality footwear is one of the most common causes of ankle pain, you should make sure you are wearing shoes that fit you perfectly.
Read also: Orthopedic shoes in the treatment of foot diseases
Swelling and pain in the ankles can be caused by serious medical conditions, so people suffering from these symptoms should see a doctor immediately.
Treatment of pain and swelling in the ankle
There are several home remedies for ankle pain and swelling and to eliminate this problem. Comfortable shoes will help to provide good support for the ankle so that it does not move. To get rid of ankle pain and swelling, you need to put your foot on an elevation above the heart level for 15 minutes every day, you can do this while you sleep. Try applying an ice pack to the swelling for 10-15 minutes every half hour. Continue this process for another 2 days after the swelling occurs.
If the swelling has not yet gone down, consult a doctor. The health care professional will be able to determine the condition of the ankle after an X-ray and, if necessary, will give appropriate medications to speed up the recovery process. Following the doctor’s instructions, you will need to do gentle exercises, maintain a healthy diet, and take the prescribed medications. This will certainly prove to be of great help in the recovery process of the ankle.
Treatment options for ankle pain at night
The best way to treat ankle pain at night is to position your foot correctly until the pain, swelling, and inflammation subside. Performing gentle stretching exercises for muscles, tendons, and ligaments under the supervision of a physician can help relieve pain and reduce the risk of swelling and edema in the ankle.
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