Other causes of ankle pain
There are a range of other conditions which can also be responsible for causing pain in the ankle joint, including:
Strains and sprains
These injuries represent the most common form of ankle complaint. A strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is overstretched or even tears; a sprain is the same, but in a ligament. Both may arise as a result of twisting your ankle, often as a result of playing sports – you may feel or hear a snapping, popping or cracking at the time of injury. Mild strains or sprains cause only mild to moderate pain and little or no swelling; moderate sprains show some swelling and crutches may be needed. In more severe cases, where the ligaments or tendons have been completely ruptured, pain and swelling will be intense, there may be bruising and the capacity to walk will be severely hampered due to the limited range of motion and ability to bear weight on the joint.
Fractures
A fracture is a partial or complete breakage of the bone. They can range from more minor damage such as avulsion injuries (where small pieces of bone have come away), to severe shattering or breaks of the tibia or fibula. Where a sprain or strain is accompanied by lots of bruising and swelling, this can often indicate the presence of a fracture. Other signs include lumps and bumps, difficulty in bearing weight on the ankle joint or pain in a different place to the strain or sprain. Ankle fractures can occur where the ankle rolls too far either inwards or outward, hence many people mistake them for a sprain. Whilst they can occur simultaneously, they are very different and early diagnosis and treatment is important.
Tendon problems (tendonopathy)
Problems can arise as a result of acute tendon injury or degenerative tendonosis. Achilles tendonitis and bursitis are often the result of a sporting incident – the symptoms of these two conditions are very similar and can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between. Achilles tendonitis is where the Achilles tendon tears or ruptures, possibly following sudden movement or an inadequate warm up. Bursae are the fluid-filled sacs that lie beneath and can also become inflamed, causing a similar type of pain. Symptoms include pain in the lower calf and back of the heel that is generally worse after a period of rest and which eases as the ankle warms up with use. Peroneal tendonitis is another possible problem caused by excessive strain being placed on the peroneal tendon. Tibialis posterior tendonitis arises where the posterior tibial tendon becomes either inflamed or ruptured.
Gout
This is a condition which often starts in the big toe, but which can spread to the ankle and even as far up as the knee. When crystallised uric acid, a waste product of the body, builds up in the joint it can cause sudden or throbbing pain, extreme tenderness, swelling and redness. Chronic gout can also lead to deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in and around the joint leading to joint destruction, as well as decreased kidney function and kidney stones.
Osteochondral defects
Usually found on the talus, OCDs are small areas of joint damage arising from disruption to the cartilage and underlying bone. This ‘disruption’ can vary from straightforward bruising to a crater on the surface of the joint. OCDs most often occur following an injury to the ankle joint, such as a sprain which has failed to recover.
Important: The information and guidance provided here is general in nature and should not be considered as medical advice in any way. You should always seek detailed advice from a qualified medical practitioner.
