Whats Causing My Ankle Pain Without Injury
If you sprain your ankle or fall off a ladder and land on your foot, its pretty easy to recognize whats causing your pain. You may not know if its a break or a sprain specifically, but it shouldnt be all that hard to identify based on the cause and your symptoms. However, what if your ankle pain develops and theres no clear reason as to why you might be dealing with pain? In todays blog, we explain why you might be dealing with ankle pain in the absence of a clear injury.
Changes In The Shape Of Your Arch
The arch is the inside mid-section of your foot. It determines how your bodyweight is spread and carried by the bones and joints of your feet.
For your foot to function at its best the arch should form a smooth arc from the ball of the foot to the heel.
The height of your arch may never cause you any kind of problems. Some people are born with arches that are higher or lower than average and their bodies adapt to them.
Other people may find their arch shape alters because of complications such as arthritis, weight, pregnancy, or injury. These changes can make you more likely to develop further problems in other parts of your foot, ankle, knee, hip and back.
If you are in pain and think your arch shape has changed speak to a healthcare professional about treatments. Insoles or supports made specially for your foot shape by an orthotist could improve pain caused by high or low arches.
What Causes Pain In The Heel Of Your Foot
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis in one of the most common causes of heel pain. What is it? Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, the ligament that connects your heel to your toes. This inflammation is usually the result of strain, which can be caused by anything that puts a lot of pressure on the arch of your foot.
The most common plantar fasciitis symptoms are sharp pain near your heels after exercising or standing up for long periods of time, and pain during the first few steps after sleeping or rest. As the foot and calf muscles loosen up, the pain may lessen.
Sturdy shoes with good arch support whether built-in or from inserts are one of the best ways to relieve plantar fasciitis pain. Doing stretches to keep the surrounding muscles flexible can help, too.
If pain begins to worsen and increasingly affects daily activities, a podiatrist may recommend a night splint or a cortisone injection. In more serious cases, surgery can be an option after other treatments have stopped working.
Achilles tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis is an inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects your heel to your calf muscles, and helps make most foot movements possible. Achilles tendinitis is generally an overuse injury, and it can often be linked to an increase in activity frequency or intensity.
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Ankle Pain Without Injury
Ankle pain is a very common occurrence amongst the population in current times. It can be usually attributed to many factors rolling an ankle during sport, tripping over a step or having an ankle sprain.
However, if you are suffering from ankle pain without having an injury – you are not alone.
There are numerous causes of ankle pain without injury with the main cause being due to wear and tear and conditions that are usually associated with this are different types of arthritis such as gout, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis .
The symptoms to watch out for would be pain, stiffness and loss of joint movement where the ankle and shinbone meet.
However, in the case of rheumatoid arthritis swelling and inflammation may be present and especially with gout, severe pain and swelling in the big toe.
If you are feeling any of these symptoms it would be best to see a healthcare professional immediately to get a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Peak Performance Can Help Treat Your Nighttime Ankle Pain
You dont have to continue dealing with ankle pain every night. Our physical therapy specialists at Peak Performance are primed to assist you with your ankle pain. Our clinics offer free screenings that can reveal the cause of your pain. With this cause in mind, we can then build you a personalized therapy plan designed to reduce your ankle pain.
Are you ready to start getting our help for your ankle pain? Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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Rare Causes Of Ankle Pain
While your healthcare provider will consider the following potential causes for ankle pain, they are not common.
Gout
Gout, a type of inflammatory arthritis, develops as a result of uric acid crystal formation within one or more joints. Since gout is an uncommon cause of ankle pain, it will be primarily considered in people who have already been diagnosed with gout.
Bone Infection
An infection in the bone may rarely occur in the ankle. Besides a tender ankle joint, other signs of an infected bone include warmth and swelling.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Tarsal tunnel syndrome refers to compression of the tibial nerve within the “tarsal tunnel” of the ankle . This syndrome may cause an aching or burning pain and numb or tingling sensations on the sole of the foot, toes, and sometimes, the heel, ankle, or calf.
Peroneal Neuropathy
The common peroneal nerve runs down the lower leg and branches into both the deep peroneal nerve and the superficial peroneal nerve. If this nerve is compressed, it can cause symptoms that vary depending on where the compression happens.
For instance, compression on the outside of the knee and upper shin, which can occur from prolonged recumbency during hospitalization or from an excessive crossing of the legs, may cause a foot drop.
Deep peroneal nerve compression causes pain on the sides of the ankle along with burning or tingling sensations between the toes. This is a rare condition that can result from wearing a tight-fitting strap from a shoe.
Tumors
Common Causes Of Foot Pain
Foot pain often stems from one of the following issues:
- Trauma Injuries can be acute, coming on suddenly like an ankle sprain, foot fracture or an Achilles tendon rupture. Sometimes trauma from an injury plus normal wear and tear from long-term, repetitive use can lead to chronic conditions like tendonitis.
- Deformities From genetics to the way we walk and the shoes we wear, there are several things that can lead to foot deformities such as bunions, hammertoes, claw toes and bone spurs.
- Diabetes High blood sugar levels can cause nerve damage throughout the body, but most often in the feet and legs. High blood sugar can also lead to foot ulcers.
- Wearing ill-fitting shoes Our footwear choices can have a big impact on our feet, depending on how they fit and distribute pressure.
- Viruses, fungi, bacteria or infections Warts, athletes foot and fungal nail infections are all examples of infectious diseases that can lead to foot pain.
- Arthritis Our feet and ankles have many joints and all are prone to developing arthritis. Arthritis can lead to daily pain for some, and be related to old injuries, bone spurs, normal wear and tear, and more.
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What Is Ankle Pain A Symptom Of
The ankle joint, just like many other joints within the body, is made up of several structures. This includes bones, ligaments, tendons and neurovascular structures to name a few. All of which are at risk of injury or several types of arthritis.
Common injuries include stress fractures and osteoarthritis which affect the bony structures. The most notorious are ligament sprains such as injury to the lateral ligaments during a rolling of the ankle incident. Soft tissue structures such as the plantar fascia and the achilles tendon tend to be vulnerable to load mismanagement which can either result in inflammation or in rarer cases, a painful tear.
Check out this useful article by Mascaro and colleagues on common tendon overuse injuries and rehab progressions. Ensure advice is guided by a trained professional before implementing any of the rehabilitation strategies.
Why Do I Have Pain In My Foot Or Ankle
Most people experience pain in and around their feet or ankles at some point in their lives.
Its one of the most complex, hard-working regions of your body. It has 26 bones and 33 small joints, all held together by a network of soft tissue made up of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels.
Most cases of foot or ankle pain are short term and are caused by soft tissue injuries, such as sprains or strains.
These should gradually heal with the help of simple self-care measures. Though some could take a few months to fully recover, you probably wont need to seek treatment from a healthcare professional.
However, some pain can have no obvious cause or may not improve significantly with self-care.
Pain that seems to be getting worse, does not improve, or lasts longer than a few months could be due to structural changes in the foot or ankle, or an underlying condition.
There can be several explanations for long-term pain in and around the feet or ankles, such as:
- badly fitting footwear
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How To Get Relief From Ankle Injuries To Sleep Well At Night
So weve outlined the possible causes of ankle pain at night while resting, but what are the best solutions to ensuring that you dont experience ankle pain at night while sleeping?
There are a number of things that can be done to help you get rid of your ankle pain at night. This includes the following.
Take NSAIDs, such as Ibuprofen, Tylenol or Acetaminophen
A doctor may also recommend something stronger for over-the-counter use, but remember to only take on recommendations from your doctor so you dont risk injury or further damage.
To reduce swelling and inflammation, apply an ice pack wrapped in a cloth around the injured area every few hours during the day for up to two days after the initial injury has occurred.
Cortisone injections are another option that will help reduce the symptoms of pain and inflammation overnight while sleeping with ankle injuries.
Your doctor will give you a prescription for this injection that you can take to a pharmacy and they will most likely be able to perform the injections.
If you have chronic pain in your ankles, seek a doctors help to treat the source of your pain. Chronic ankle sprains may require surgery if conservative treatments fail.
Elevate your feet when resting and try not to sleep directly on them while laying in bed. Use pillows or blankets to support them.
How To Treat Sudden Ankle Pain
There are many ways to treat sudden ankle pain without injury. If the pain is severe, the person may need to go to the hospital. If the pain is mild, a person may be able to treat it at home. A person can do things at home, including icing the ankle, taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and resting the ankle.
Some home remedies you can try to treat sudden ankle pain without injury include:
- Apply ice to the ankle for 20 minutes every hour.
- Mix one cup of warm water and one teaspoon of baking soda and pour it over the ankle. Soak for 10 minutes.
- Drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated.
- Stay away from activities that could cause ankle strain. These activities include running, jumping, and walking on uneven surfaces.
- When you regain ankle strength, you can try to do balance exercises to help improve the ankles stability.
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Is Severe Ankle Pain Serious
Ankle pain that is described as severe will likely require a consult with your physician if it persists.
- Not serious: The pain subsides quickly after the injury and any swelling responds to rest, ice, and over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Moderately serious: The pain continues for a few days, even without signs of fracture or infection.
- Serious: If there is pain along with an obvious injury or deformity, and/or redness and swelling in the ankle, this is a medical emergency.
Sudden Ankle Pain May Be Due To Arthritis
If you suddenly experience ankle pain without any apparent reason or injury, it may have been brought on by some form of arthritis. For instance, osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage between bones wears down, causing them to rub together. This condition can sometimes cause sudden pain, often in the morning. Another type of arthritisrheumatoid arthritiscauses your immune system to malfunction and attack healthy tissue. The lining in joints of the toes and ankles are a common location for rheumatoid arthritis to develop. A third type of arthritis that can affect your ankles is reactive arthritis. This occurs when a bacterial infection in another part of the body is responsible for generating arthritic symptoms like swelling and pain in your ankles. Gout is an arthritic condition caused by a build-up of uric acid in your body, which can crystallize on joints. Although gout typically affects the big toe, it can also develop in other joints, such as the ankle. Painful gout flare-ups are known to be intense and sudden, often occurring in the middle of the night. Pain of any kind in your ankles should prompt a visit to the podiatrist as soon as possible for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Ankle pain can be caused by a number of problems and may be potentially serious. If you have ankle pain, consult with John Baker, DPM from Florida. Our doctor will assess your condition and provide you with quality foot and ankle treatment.
Causes
- Types of arthritis
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What Causes Ankle Problems
Ankle problems are fairly common and can be caused by injuries like tripping or going over on your ankle. They can also be caused by a flare up of an existing problem or muscle weakness around the joint.
It’s common to have soft tissue injuries in the ankle. Soft tissues include ligaments, muscles and tendons.
Treating With Ice Or Heat
Heat or ice can be beneficial in the management of musculoskeletal pain.
Ice is most beneficial if your ankle problem is related to an injury. You can try heat to help your pain levels if there’s no swelling and your symptoms are not related to a recent injury.
Never place ice or heat directly on your skin. Use a barrier, like a towel, to protect your skin from a burn.
How long you use ice as a treatment can vary. However, you should generally apply heat or ice for up to 15 minutes. You should also leave a few hours between treatments.
You should stop treating the area with ice or heat and seek advice from a medical professional if you notice an increase in redness, discolouration or blistering of the skin.
If you have any issues with circulation or sensation, you shouldn’t use ice or heat as a treatment for ankle pain.
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Have Ankle Pain At Night Here Are Some Possible Causes
When most people feel pain in their ankle, they most likely suspect an ankle sprain. This assumption isnt entirely without merit. After all, one medical study reports there were more than 3.1 million ankle sprains in the U.S. between 2002 and 2006. However, there are several other issues that could be the cause of your nighttime ankle pain.
When To Get Checked
If you are experiencing any of the conditions above and have not been able to achieve adequate relief through over-the-counter or DIY treatment methods, its likely time to come see us at Foot & Ankle Group.
For many of these conditions, going untreated could result in a more serious condition or chronic pain. Thankfully, our offices are committed to seeing you as soon as possible, sometimes even the same day if your pain is severe.
Dont wait longer than necessary to get relief for your ankle pain. today!
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Feeling Sudden Ankle Pains Without An Injury Continuum Wellness Is Here To Help
If youre someone who has a condition causing you sudden ankle pain without an injury, our team at Continuum Wellness is here to help. We can perform an initial evaluation to determine what condition is causing your ankle pain. Then, our team can build a personalized physical therapy plan designed to treat the specific cause of your pain, and such a plan may include physical therapy methods like:
What Can Be Done
Relatively simple solutions, such as padded insoles or custom orthotics, lead to a dramatic reduction in pain. Generally, the least invasive treatment methods necessary for a given condition lead to the most complete recoveries. If you suspect that you may have a broken ankle or another bone injury, you should seek an emergency care doctor as soon as possible.
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Sudden Ankle Pain Without Injury The Causes
Were going to be outlining 13 potential causes of sudden ankle pain in cases where there is no injury. This insight will help diagnose the problem. For example, some people experience sudden ankle pain without injury at night, or they may experience the sudden ankle pain only on the left or right side.
If youre experiencing random ankle pain without injury, then keep reading below for some insight.
Benefits Of Keeping Active
Keeping active is an essential part of your treatment and recovery and is the single best thing you can do for your health.
Being physically active can:
- maintain your current levels of fitness even if you have to modify what you normally do, any activity is better than none
- keep your other muscles and joints strong and flexible
- prevent a recurrence of the problem
Avoid sports or heavy lifting until you have less discomfort and good movement. Remember to warm up before sports.
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