I often hear people around me complain about ankle pain, but they don't take this symptom seriously. They think they "walked too much" or "stood too long" and that the pain will pass. Of course, sometimes that's the case, but more often there's a deeper problem.
Working in an outpatient clinic, I see countless patients who seek help from an orthopedic traumatologist for ankle pain. Unfortunately, a significant number do so too late, when conservative treatment methods are no longer effective and surgical treatment is necessary.
So, the question may arise, when should you be concerned? To better understand when it's time to seek help, let's first discuss the most common causes of ankle pain.
Acute pain after trauma is probably understandable to everyone. You can read about how to act after an injury in my previous article on ankle injuries.
More confusion is caused by pain that arises without a clear reason and lasts for a long time (at least 6 weeks). Such pain can be called chronic.
One of the most common causes of this pain is ankle joint osteoarthritis (cartilage wear). According to various sources, up to 70% of people suffer from pain due to this pathology. One of the most common types is post-traumatic osteoarthritis. This is cartilage damage in the ankle joint that occurs after various injuries. And not necessarily after fractures; even simple ligament sprains can contribute to osteoarthritis. Therefore, if you have had ankle injuries in the past, it is worth paying attention to this.
WHY IS ANKLE ARTHROSIS SO DANGEROUS?
Unfortunately, the articular cartilage in our body does not regenerate (recover). There are various surgical methods aimed at improving cartilage condition and slowing down the progression of osteoarthritis, but it is not yet possible to fully restore it. Therefore, it is very important to diagnose this pathology as early as possible and begin treatment before the cartilage is completely destroyed.
Otherwise, if osteoarthritis has progressed significantly, the only options left are ankle joint replacement or joint fusion surgery – arthrodesis. Unfortunately, not all patients are suitable for joint replacement, and after joint fusion surgery, movement in the ankle joint is lost, thus reducing mobility. Therefore, it is extremely important to seek help in time while we can still avoid these operations!
Another common cause, accounting for up to 20% of ankle pain, is chronic joint instability. This problem usually arises due to recurrent ankle injuries and improper ligament healing or laxity. For us, women, this problem is particularly relevant, as injuries very often occur when wearing inappropriate high heels and without preparing the feet for them.
Ankle instability is also affected by muscle imbalance; if one muscle group is weaker than others, ankle movements are not correct, leading to improper load distribution and chronic pain.
Speaking of ankle pain, it is important to mention tendon inflammations - tendinitis. Due to recurrent injuries or excessive load, an inflammatory process in the tendons can develop. Then the tendon thickens and causes pain during movement. This pathology is usually easily treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and rehabilitation procedures.
It is important to understand that everything in the foot and ankle is closely interconnected. Therefore, foot deformities, especially flat feet can cause ankle pain. If this problem becomes chronic and the arch of the foot decreases, the ankle joint tilts inwards, leading to uneven load distribution and damage to the joint cartilage, which initiates the previously mentioned osteoarthritis.
WHEN IS IT APPROPRIATE TO SEEK HELP?
If ankle pain lasts longer than 6 weeks and no remedies help to alleviate it, it is essential to consult an orthopedic traumatologist! I recommend seeking a doctor who specializes in this particular area. When registering online, the doctor's areas of interest are usually indicated, and when registering by phone, you can always ask the receptionists.
Also, if possible, before registering for an appointment, find out online which doctors specialize in ankle pathology. Of course, if you register with another doctor, you will receive help, but it is likely that you will be referred to another specialist, and then the entire treatment will take longer.
HOW TO AVOID ANKLE JOINT PAIN?
Considering the most common causes, I recommend:
- When wearing high heels, choose shoes with a lower heel if you don't have much experience, and walk on even surfaces to avoid ankle injuries.
- Prepare your feet and shoes before wearing high heels. Do exercises and make sure your feet don't slip in the shoes. You can learn how to prepare for wearing high heels and walk correctly in high heel training sessions!
- Strengthen the muscles that stabilize the ankle joint. A physiotherapist can help you identify which muscle groups are problematic and what exercises are beneficial for you.
- If you have flat feet, wear orthopedic insoles.
- And most importantly, seek timely help from an orthopedic traumatologist for ankle joint pain to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.
Have questions? Write to me, and we will try to find the most suitable solution for your problems together!
Karolina
