If you play sports, injuries are bound to happen, including ankle injuries. But what do you do if you have an injury or experience sudden ankle pain?

If you have certain symptoms or pain, you should not play through it. Extreme pain, swelling, trouble walking, and other symptoms can signal you need immediate medical attention. Waiting too long to see a doctor can lead to repeat injuries, more complex treatments, or worse long-term results.

In this article, we’ll discuss when you should see a doctor for chronic ankle pain.

Types of ankle injuries

Acute or severe ankle pain can occur when structures inside the ankle are injured. The most common ankle injuries happen to athletes. These include:

• Fractures are broken bone(s)
• Sprained ankles are an injury to one or more ligaments in the ankle, which can range from mild to severe.
• Strain is an injury to a ligament or muscle in the ankle, but is less severe than a sprain.
• Tendon injury is when a tendon tears or ruptures in your ankle.

What can cause chronic ankle pain without injury?

Not all chronic ankle pain is caused by trauma or injury. Conditions that can cause chronic ankle pain include the following:

• Arthritis: Several forms of arthritis can affect ankle pain.
• Blood clot: A clot in your leg can cause ankle pain.
• Chronic tendinopathy/tendonitis: These overuse injuries to the tendons can be painful.
• Plantar fasciitis: While it is a foot condition, it can cause pain and tenderness to extend to your ankle.

When should you seek medical attention for an ankle injury?

As mentioned above, waiting to get treatment for your ankle injury can cause problems down the road, from repeat injuries to arthritis. You should seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following:

• Severe pain or swelling after an injury
• Pain that continues to get worse
• Have an open wound, or your ankle looks deformed
• Have signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, or tenderness in the affected area or a fever greater than 100 Fahrenheit
• Cannot put weight on your foot

Office visit

If you aren’t experiencing any of the above and do not need immediate medical attention, you should consider scheduling an office visit if the following apply:

• Have persistent swelling that doesn’t improve after two to five days of home treatment
• Have persistent pain that doesn’t improve after weeks

Self-care for your ankle injury

If you’re trying to assess whether you need immediate medical attention, here are a few ways to take care of your ankle at home:

• Rest. Keep weight off your ankle as much as possible and take a break from regular activities.
• Ice. Get an ice pack or bag of frozen peas and place it on your ankle for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day.
• Compression. Use a compression bandage to wrap your ankle or affected area to help reduce swelling.
• Elevation. Raise your foot above the level of the heart to reduce swelling.
• Use pain medication. Take medication like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium to ease any pain and aid healing.

Contact Dr. Selene Parekh for the best foot and ankle care!

Dr. Parekh is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon. He’s become renowned for using state-of-the-art implants and techniques designed and developed to provide better treatments and offer limb salvage. He mainly focuses on minimally invasive surgery and is a pioneer in using 3D printing techniques, total ankle replacements, and treating foot and ankle conditions in athletes.

Dr. Parekh has three offices — Bensalem, PA, Monmouth Junction, NJ, and Newton, PA. Reach out to our office by calling 800-321-9999 or sending an email with your questions or comments.