Ankle Pain Information

Ankle Pain Information

Some Common Ankle Pain include: 

Achilles Tendon Disorders

Ankle Fracture Overview

Ankle injuries are among the most common of bone & joint injuries. Often, degree of pain, inability to walk, or concern that a bone may be broken is what might cause you to seek care in an emergency situation. For the most part, your concern is the same as the doctor's: Is there a broken bone? Frequently it is difficult to diagnose a fracture (broken bone) over a sprain, a dislocation, or tendon injury without x-rays of the ankle. 

• The ankle joint is made up of 3 bones coming together.
• The tibia, which is the main bone of the lower leg, makes up the medial, or inside, anklebone.
• The fibula is a smaller bone that parallels the tibia in the lower leg and makes up the lateral, or outside, anklebone
• The far ends of both tibia and fibula are known as the malleoli (singular is malleolus). Together they form an arch that sits on top of the talus, one of the bones in the foot.


• These 3 bones (tibia, fibula, and talus) make up the bony elements of the ankle joint.
• A fibrous membrane called the joint capsule, lined with a smoother layer called the synovium, encases the joint architecture. The joint capsule contains the synovial fluid produced by the synovium. The synovial fluid allows for smooth movement of the joint surfaces.
• The ankle joint is stabilized by 3 groups of ligaments, which are fibers that hold these bones in place.

Ankle Fracture Causes

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 Fracture Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of ankle injuries and fractures tend to be obvious.

• Pain is the most common complaint.
• Often the pain will not come from the exact area of the fracture.
• You may experience associated fractures of your foot (especially on the side of the small toe) or knee that also cause pain.
• It is usually pain in the ankle that stops you from walking.


• Swelling frequently occurs around the ankle too.
• Swelling suggests either soft tissue damage with possible blood around the joint or fluid within the joint itself, most likely blood.
• When blood is in the joint, it is called hemarthrosis.
• You may see bruising ("black and blue") about the joint, although not immediately. This bruising can track down toward the sole of your foot or toward the toes.
• In severe fractures you may see obvious deformities of bones around the ankle.
• Your skin may be stretched over an underlying broken bone.
• You may see actual exposed bone.
• If you injure nerves or blood vessels that supply your foot, you may experience even more pain along with pale skin in the foot, numbness, or inability to move your foot or toes.

Ankle Sprain Overview

The ankle joint, which connects the foot with the lower leg, is injured often. An unnatural twisting motion can happen when the foot is planted awkwardly, when the ground is uneven, or when an unusual amount of force is applied to the joint. Such injuries happen during athletic events, while running or walking, or even during everyday activities such as getting out of bed.

• The ankle joint is made up of three bones
• The tibia is the major bone of the lower leg, and it bears most of the body's weight. Its bottom portion forms the medial malleolus, the inside bump of the ankle.
• The fibula is the smaller of the two bones in the lower leg. Its lower end forms the lateral malleolus, the outer bump of the ankle.
• The talus is the top bone of the foot.


• Tendons connect muscles to bones.
• Several muscles control motion at the ankle. Each has a tendon connecting it to one or more of the bones of the foot.
• Tendons can be stretched or torn when the joint is subjected to greater than normal stress.
• Tendons also can be pulled off the bone. An example of an injury of this type would be an Achilles tendon rupture.


• Ligaments provide connection between bones. Sprains are injuries to the ligaments.
• The ankle has many bones that come together to form the joint, so it has many ligaments holding it together. Stress on these ligaments can cause them to stretch or tear.
• The most commonly injured ligament is the anterior talofibular ligament that connects the front part of the fibula to the talus bone on the front-outer part of the ankle joint.

Ankle injuries can be painful and can make it difficult to carry out daily activities.

Ankle Anatomy and Common Injuries 
 

Ankle Sprain Causes

Ligaments are injured when a greater than normal stretching force is applied to them. This happens most commonly when the foot is turned inward or inverted. This kind of injury can happen in the following ways:

• Awkwardly planting the foot when running, stepping up or down, or during simple tasks such as getting out of bed
• Stepping on a surface that is irregular, such as stepping in a hole
• Athletic events when one player steps on another player (a common example is a basketball player who goes up for a rebound and comes down on top of another player's foot. This can cause the rebounder's foot to roll inward.)

Ankle sprain. Inversion injury of ankle. Note it is turned inward. 

Ankle Fracture Symptoms

When an ankle is injured with a sprain, tissue injury and the resulting inflammation occur. Blood vessels become "leaky" and allow fluid to ooze into the soft tissue surrounding the joint. White blood cells responsible for inflammation migrate to the area, and blood flow increases as well. Typical changes that happen with inflammation include the following:

• Swelling because of increased fluid in the tissue is sometimes severe.
• Pain because the nerves are more sensitive: The joint hurts and may throb. The pain can worsen when the sore area is pressed, or the foot moves in certain directions (depending upon which ligament is involved) and during walking or standing.
• Redness and warmth caused by increased blood flow to the area.

Find out how your Ankle Pain Problem can be more effectively treated. 
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