Ankle Pain

What is Ankle Pain?

The ankle joint allows the up and down movement of your foot. This joint works hard to bear your weight and enable ease of movement. Just like other parts of your body, the ankle is also prone to pain.

Sometimes we know the cause of pain e.g. after falling down. In other instances, we feel pain for prolonged period but don’t know what caused it. This post discusses pain affecting this joint. Keep reading to find out more about causes, symptoms, treatment options, and more.

What are the Symptoms of Ankle Pain?

Symptoms of pain in the ankle can range in intensity from mild to severe. In some cases, pain can come and go while other people experience persistent pain in their ankle.

Signs and symptoms[1] of occasional and mild aches and pains are:
Difficulty to jog or jump because these activities induce pain as well
Discomfort, pain while running
Pain while walking

More severe cases of ankle joint pain symptoms are as follows:
Bruising
Burning sensation
Difficulty walking up and down the stairs
Dull pain
Inability to bear weight on an affected ankle
Inflammation and swelling of the ankle
Instability
Numbness or tingling
Pain persists even when you don’t move
Redness around ankle
Stiffness
Weakness

What Causes Ankle Pain?

Pain in your ankle can be a result of many different causes including injuries to the ankle joint, ligaments, or tendons.
Even several types of arthritis can lead to pain in this joint and make it difficult for you to walk or do daily tasks. Below, you can see the list of common causes of pain in ankle joint[2]:

Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain is the most common cause of pain in this area; it is an injury to the ligaments (tough bands of tissue) that surround and connect the bones of the leg to your foot. The injury occurs when the foot suddenly rolls or twists, thus forcing the ankle out of its normal position.
An ankle sprain is indicated by stiffness, skin discoloration, tenderness, swelling, bruising, and other symptoms.

Achilles Tendinitis

Achilles tendinitis is defined as an overuse injury[3] of the Achilles tendon, the band of tissue connecting calf muscles at the back of the lower leg to your heel bone.
This type of injury usually occurs in runners who have suddenly increased the duration or intensity of their runs.

Dislocation

Dislocation occurs when a bone slips out of a joint. You can dislocate any joint in your body, including ankle. Generally, the injury occurs when a joint experiences an unexpected or unbalanced impact.
Bear in mind that after joint dislocates, it may happen again in the future. This is a medical emergency, as well.

Flat Feet

Yes, having flat feet can also induce pain in your ankle joint. Basically, if you have flat feet, your feet don’t have a normal arch when you are standing.
As a result, you can experience pain and discomfort when doing an extensive physical activity, or even when you’re standing for a few hours. It is not uncommon for persons with flat feet to feel pain in lower legs and ankles.

Other Conditions That Contribute To Ankle Pain
Blocked blood vessels
Bursitis
Infection of the joint
Nerve damage or injury
Osteoarthritis
Osteochondritis dissecans
Plantar fasciitis
Pseudogout
Reactive arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Septic arthritis
Ankle Pain Risk Factors
Avoiding to warm up before physical activity
Muscle and ligament fatigue
Prior ankle injury
Everyone can experience pain in ankle joint, but some people are at a higher risk than the others. 
Common risk factors are:
Attempting to participate in strenuous activities when you are in poor athletic condition.