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Definition

The ankle joint is made up of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles. The ankle joint is strong enough to bear body weight and move the body, but it can be painful when injured or affected by illness.

Ankle pain may happen on the inside or outside of the ankle. Or it can be in back of the leg along the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon joins the muscles in the calf to the heel bone.

Mild ankle pain often responds well to home treatments, but it can take time for the pain to ease. See a healthcare professional for serious ankle pain, especially if it comes after an injury.

Causes

Injury to any of the ankle bones, ligaments or tendons can cause ankle pain. Other causes can include chronic conditions or certain medical conditions that affect the bones and joints. Causes of ankle pain include:

Injuries that can cause ankle pain

• Achilles tendon rupture
• Avulsion fracture
• Broken ankle
• Broken foot
• Sprained ankle
• Stress fractures

Chronic conditions that can cause ankle pain

• Achilles tendinitis
• Osteoarthritis
• Plantar fasciitis
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome.

Medical conditions that can cause ankle pain

• Gout
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Lupus
• Osteochondritis dissecans
• Osteomyelitis
• Pinched nerve
• Pseudogout
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Reactive arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis

When to see a doctor

Any ankle injury can be quite painful, at least at first. It's usually safe to try home remedies for a short period of time.

Seek immediate medical attention if you:

• Have severe pain or swelling, especially after an injury.
• Have pain that gets worse.
• Have an open wound or the ankle looks deformed.
• Have signs of infection, such as a change in skin color, warmth and tenderness in the affected area or you have a fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius).
• Cannot put weight on the foot.

Schedule an office visit if you:

• Have constant swelling that doesn't improve after 2 to 5 days of home treatment.
• Have persistent pain that doesn't improve after several weeks.

Self-care

For many ankle injuries, self-care measures ease the pain. Try the following:

• Rest. Keep weight off the ankle as much as possible. Take a break from regular activities.
• Ice. Place an ice pack or bag of frozen peas on the ankle for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day.
• Compression. Wrap the area with a compression bandage to reduce swelling.
• Elevation. Raise the foot above the level of the heart to help reduce swelling.
• Pain medicines you can get without a prescription. Medicines such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can help ease pain.

Even with the best of care, your ankle might swell, be stiff or hurt for several weeks. The symptoms depend on the injury. This is most likely to happen first thing in the morning or after activity.