ankle stiffness during walking

Had lateral foot (underneath edge) 7 weeks ago on my right foot during walking(felt very sharp pain on weight bearing) - was limping around for 2 weeks before the pain started to subside - now feel a little strain after prolonged exercise. Have been stretching my calves 3 times a day and have had custom orthotics inserted but now experiencing aching/stiffness on the left side of my ankle (same foot) which becomes uncomfortable to walk on after a short time of walking on it. I overpronate and have flat feet which is why i have had custom orthotics made for me. Can you advise on what it is I'm actually experiencing?

reocurring tendonitis in ankes

by Rhonda
(Brownwood Texas)

My ankles have been swelling and extremely painful for about 4 months now. I'm not an extremely active person, but I do chase after a 3 year old all day as well as work part time standing on my feet about 20 hours a week. My ankles will swell and are real painful around the joints. No burning or redness. I've had x-rays...nothing is broken. I've had steriod shots along with predisone twice now and the first time it got rid of the pain for about 6 weeks...the second time...only for a few days. I'm having an MRI this week to see if there is something else going on such as a torn ligament. I've been tested for Lupus and RA...both were negative. I'm very frustrated with all of this. The pain keeps me from doing my normal activities and the only relief I get is when I take a hot bath. What else could be going on??

Hi Rhonda,
You may have nothing more than a biomechanical problem meaning you may either be extremely flat footed or have high arched feet. If you did not stand for 20 hours a week working you might never of had any symptoms, but long hours on your feet can bring out this type of pain.
In many individuals, bringing the foot into better alignment with your ankle thru the use of an orthotic will alleviate the problem. Give some thought to trying my Super Step Orthotics.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Pain in foot after twisting the ankle

I am still feeling pain in my foot after twisting the ankle and taking a fall over a month ago. My foot hurts on the top of the foot and the outside of the foot below the ankle. I really feel the pain if I am pointing my toes and slightly rotating my foot inward. The foot sweals if I am standing on it for extended periods of time. I have not seen a doctor as of yet becausse I thought it was just a sprained ankle. If one of the little bones in my foot were to be fractured, am I doing more damage by not having it checked or will it heal on it's own? Thank you for your guidance.

Hi,
If you are still having pain this long after the injury then you need to have your foot and ankle examined by a doctor. If you should have a broken bone then you are doing yourself a disservice by not having it diagnosed; you may end up with chronic pain.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Ankle Pain

About a week and a half ago, I dropped an utilty knife and it dug into my ankle. The cut was close to the bone that sticks out in the inside of your ankle. I did not get stitches since i waited too long to see a doctor. The cut is healing well,there is no signs of an infection and the scab is almost gone. I am having pain in my ankle, but it feels like its coming from the bone, not the cut. the utility knife is heavy and i have some slight bruising on the bone. I am able to bear weight on it, but i have increased pain when I try to walk fast, walk on an uneven surface or try to rotate my ankle in any direction. The area around the bone is swollen slightly.
I dont have a problem going to the doctors, but i dont have insurance, so of its something minor, i would rather ride out the pain, if not then i will go back to the doctors.

Hi,
At first blush I would say you bruised the bone itself with the utility knife, HOWEVER, if the pain is worsening, there is always the outside chance that you developed a bone infection from the dirty knife (even though the skin is not infected).
This is a condition that must be treated and although I cannot be certain without actually examining you, a trip to the doctor is a must to rule out an osteomyelitis.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Pain in my 14 yr-old son's left ankle

by Joanne
(Diamond Bar, CA, USA)

My son has been complaining for 2 days of throbbing pain in his ankle whenever he steps on his foot. He especially complains first thing in the morning, but wraps it and does the best he can throughout the day at school. When at home, he stays off of it as much as possible. There's no swelling or bruising. The pain started the day after he went for a 15 minute jog around the neighborhood, which includes a hill. He's not very active, maybe 10 lbs. overweight, and has had weak ankles. Last year he had a trampoline accident and fractured his other (right) ankle above the growth plate, but it's healed nicely. Could this be a growth plate injury, just from a jogging? Thank you for any direction in this matter.

Hi Joanne,
Anything is possible but the only way to know for sure is to have him examined along with an x-ray. Since kids heal quickly, if this pain lasts more than five days with no appreciable improvement then it should be looked at.
His pain does seem out of proportion to the activity he was doing particularly since there was no trauma so one might assume it might be more than just an ankle sprain.
Marc Mitnick DPM

ankle pain

by Kelly
(New York)

My right ankle is tender to the touch (on the top-right side) and only hurts when I am sitting or lying down. It does not hurt at all when I am standing or walking. I first noticed the pain after playing 18 holes of golf. I normally walk 9 holes on a fairly flat course. On this day, I played 18 holes and drove a cart on a very hilly course. I had walked 9 holes on this course 2 weeks previously with no ill effects. I have taken acetaminophen previously for muscle/joint aches with great success, but the acetaminophen has not done anything to lessen the pain/discomfort I feel when sitting or lying down. I have tried elevating my foot, but this does not cause any pain relief. Any suggestions?

Hi Kelly,
If I understand correctly the area that is hurting you, it sounds like your lateral ankle ligaments. It surprises me that it only hurts at rest and not while walking.
I do not know your age or weight or overal health, but one question I have is there any discoloration or anything else unusual in the skin in that particular area? Usually when patients have pain in that area at rest it from the pressure of the bed directly on the area due to a circulatory issue.
Assuming the skin appears normal, I would then go back to a ligament problem.
If you see a connection between athletic activity and then the onset of discomfort, I would try some kind of ankle stabilization device to support the ankle while golfing.
If that does not seem to help, then a visit to a podiatrist would be appropriate.
Marc Mitnick DPM

ankle

I hurt my ankle playing soccer last week. It barely hurt but it was really swollen. Now the swelling is a little down its starting to hurt a bit more when i touch a certain place on my ankle. My foot becomes tingly at times. I went to the doctor last week and he told me to wear a tight sock with holes that you can buy especially for that. I was wondering if I could have a hairline fracture or it is just strained.

Hi,
The only way to diagnose a fracture is with an x-ray, bone scan or MRI. So if you think the pain is greater than it should be, ask your doctor to follow up with an x-ray.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Ankle Pain

I had tendinitis in my ankle last year, but it seemed to have cleared up about six months ago. I have started stretching more, to increase my flexibility in the hopes of preventing any new injuries. Today, after I finished stretching my hamstrings, the left side of my right ankle was swollen and sore, just above my heel, and just to the right of my Achilles tendon. It didn't bother me much when I flexed my foot, but it did when I pointed my foot (aka, compressed my ankle.) Is this tendinitis again? If it is, why would stretching aggravate it? Shouldn't stretching be good for it?

Hi Nicole,
Theoretically you are correct, stretching should be beneficial.
If I read your complaint correctly it seems you have swelling on either side of the achilles tendon, so depending on what kind of stretching you did for your hamstrings, you may have inadvertently over stretched your achilles tendon.
Follow my guidelines in my "tendonitis" page and see if your problem improves.
Marc Mitnick DPM

Swelling above the inside right ankle

I have started a walking program recently. I started out walking 2 miles, 6 days week. I added a mile each week. I'm currently up to 4 miles a day, 6 days a week. I started this program 5.13.08...As of this week, there is swelling on the inside top part of my right ankle...What is the problem???

Hi,
Since I do not have enough information I will only guess that it is tendonitis. See my section on "tendonitis" and see if that does not sound like your problem.
Marc Mitnick DPM