Bearing our weight for thousands of steps every day, it is a wonder that anyone has ankles that don't hurt! Adding to repeatedly bearing our weight with each step, ankles are a site of frequent injury from missteps, stumbles, and sports injuries.
Ankle strain injuries are common with sports activities which require rapid shifting of weight bearing in the ankles, such as basketball, baseball, tennis and racquet ball. We also see them with missteps while running or walking. These are usually soft tissue injuries, and they normally heal with rest. Ice is useful for the first 24 hours, after which it may be alternated with heat. Applying a sports cream locally can be of help, as can wrapping the ankle or supporting it with a brace, available at most pharmacies. Healing of soft tissue injuries can be expedited by Osteopathic manipulation and acupuncture.
If the pain lasts more than 6 weeks, or if the pain returns when activity is resumed, then the underlying problem may be ligament damage. Ligaments are fibrous structures which attach bones to each other. They have poor blood supply, and often require months to heal. The ankles are dependent on ligaments for support and stability, both on the inside and outside.
If these ligaments are damaged to the point that full healing does not occur, then chronic, recurring pain can result. Often, the patient feels that the ankle is unstable and may give way. I often see this with more severe ankle injuries, or ankles that have sustained repeated sprains.
Fortunately, ligament damage responds well to prolotherapy. In prolotherapy, the ligaments are injected with irritating solutions, (not steroids), which stimulate the body to lay down collagen in the damaged tissues. This collagen develops into mature ligament, which thickens and strengthens the structure. Full return to function with a restored sense of strength and stability is the usual result.
If you have an ankle that continues to hurt, bring it to my attention at our next visit.