Ankle pain is a fairly common occurrence that can happen to anybody who moves around a fair amount. Ankle pain is certainly unusual but not unheard of. Ankle pain can be a very painful experience as it is crucial for an individual’s ability to walk. Maintaining good ankle health is important, and if something does happen, it must be taken care of right away.
Because this can be a common occurrence, following these steps should help in the healing process for any ankle injury. Using first aid techniques like ice packs or ice-cold water around the ankle and allowing the ankle to rest can be a perfect first step to relaxing and minimizing the pain. A compress can be used to bind the ankle in a stable position where it can heal without getting more damaged.
If this first aid procedure does not work, the pain might not be normal. In this situation visiting a doctor is ideal. Some conditions require surgical help, and if you are in the area, there are many institutions that specialize in ankle surgery in Houston and can help. The continued pain may have been caused by one of the following causes:
A sprain
This is the most common form of an ankle injury that has happened to most individuals throughout their lifetime. This happens when the body weight of an individual is put on the ankle, and it twists into an uncomfortable, unnatural position. This is an injury to the ligament and can cause it to swell up. The first aid procedure mentioned above can be useful in these situations. If not taken care of properly, sprains can even turn into chronic pain and can cause joint instability. If your ankle pain persists to a high degree and shows no signs of improvement, you may want to consider visiting a general practitioner for more advice and medical opinion.
Achilles tendinitis
This is a condition that can happen to the Achilles tendon, which is a tissue that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. It is crucial for the proper functioning of your legs, and it is important that you take great care of this particular tendon. Stretching before exercise and making sure that the body can heal between strenuous bouts of exercise is the best way of making certain that this stays in good condition. Achilles Tendinitis is most commonly seen in runners, football players, tennis players, and any sport that requires a lot of leg use. Caring for it is rather simple, with rest being the best way to recover from this condition. Using over-the-counter medicine can also help in the healing process.
Achilles Tendon rupture
This is the rupturing of the previously mentioned Achilles tendon, and it can be a very serious condition. This is an injury that can permanently affect an individual’s body and can affect their mobility and freedom to move around. It is found mostly in individuals who pursue sports professionally but can also happen to anyone who plays a sport that involves running and jumping. It is common in many who have an intense physical schedule and can be caused by intense physical activity involving the legs. The most common way of knowing that this has happened is by a pop sound that is followed by a sharp pain at the back of the ankle. This will immediately influence your ability to walk properly.
While this usually happens to individuals who participate in a sporting activity with high intensity, it can also happen from falling from heights or simply by stepping into holes, which can be very unfortunate. While there are non-surgical options that can work, this is a condition that may require surgery to fix. Consulting a doctor as soon as possible is recommended. If you are in the Houston area and are considering surgery, there are many options for ankle surgery in Houston, which can be very helpful.
Broken Foot
Of course, if an accident has happened recently and all other options have been ruled out, a broken foot can also cause a great deal of ankle pain to an individual. Depending on which of the bones have been injured, the pain will come in different parts of the foot. This can be exceptionally painful to deal with. If this does happen, it is ideal to get seen by a professional orthopedic who can better guide towards the healing process. Some broken feet can be heavily damaged and may even require rods and plates to maintain the right position for healing.
It is important to follow the guidelines provided by the doctor, and a doctor must be consulted in the case of a broken foot. If the foot heals while the bones are not in a proper position, it can cause lifetime pain and become a chronic issue that can make walking around very difficult to do.
Ankle pain can be a very common yet very concerning event, as it can lead to many other problems that can adversely affect your health and overall wellbeing. It is important to take care of all precautions possible to maintain the health of your body, and if some incident does happen, good first aid can always be very beneficial.
