Ankle Pain
Presented here are several possible causes of ankle pain and their symptoms*, listed in order of frequency of cases:
Ankle Fracture
When you stress an ankle joint beyond the strength of its elements, you injure the joint. If only the ligaments give way and tear, you have sprained the ankle. If a bone gives way and breaks, you have an ankle fracture.
Fractures can occur with simultaneous tears of the ligaments. You can do this in several ways:
- Rolling the ankle in or out
- Twisting the ankle side to side
- Extreme flexing or extending of the joint
- Severe force applied to the joint by coming straight down on it as in jumping from a high level
Ankle Sprain
Most people have twisted an ankle at some point in their life. But if your ankle gets swollen and painful after you twist it, you have most likely sprained it. This means you have stretched and possibly torn the ligaments in your ankle. See a picture of an ankle sprain.
Even though ankle sprains are common, they are not always minor injuries. Some people with repeated or severe sprains can develop long-term joint pain and weakness. Treating a sprained ankle can help prevent ongoing ankle problems.
Hammer Toe
Hammer, claw, and mallet toes are toes that do not have the right shape. They may look odd or may hurt, or both. The muscles that control your toes get out of balance and cause the toe to bend into an odd position at one or more joints. These toe problems almost always happen in the four smaller toes, not the big toe.
If you notice that your toe looks odd or hurts, talk to your doctor. You may be able fix your toe with home treatment. If you do not treat your toe right away, you are more likely to need surgery.
These toe problems develop over years and are common in adults. Women have more of these problems than men because of the types of shoes they may wear, such as high heels.
Plantar Fasciatis
Plantar fasciitis (say "PLAN-ter fash-ee-EYE-tus") is the most common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia is the flat band of tissue (ligament) that connects your heel bone to your toes. It supports the arch of your foot. If you strain your plantar fascia, it gets weak, swollen, and irritated (inflamed). Then your heel or the bottom of your foot hurts when you stand or walk.
Plantar fasciitis is common in middle-aged people. It also occurs in younger people who are on their feet a lot, like athletes or soldiers. It can happen in one foot or both feet.
Bunionectomy
Bunion surgery generally involves an incision in the top or side of the big toe joint and the removal or realignment of soft tissue and bone to relieve pain and restore normal alignment to the joint. If the joint is severely deformed, it may be stabilized with tiny wires, stitches, screws, or plates. There are no guarantees that a bunion surgery will fully relieve your pain.
A regional anesthetic that affects only the foot is commonly used for bunion surgery. A sedative may also be used during the procedure.
The procedure usually takes an hour or more, depending on the type of surgery.
Bunion repairs are usually done on an outpatient basis.
There are over 100 surgeries for bunions. Research does not indicate which type of surgery is best-surgery needs to be specific to your condition. More than one procedure may be done at the same time.
*These listed causes and symptoms are only a small fraction of the entire range of potential causes of pain. Your pain may be caused by a different condition from the ones listed. Your OMPT specialist will be able to assist you – call OMPT today to schedule an appointment: (248) 353-1234
All information on symptoms courtesy of WebMD (www.webmd.com)
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