An ankle is a complicated joint with numerous bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. You use your ankle From when you wake up in the morning till you sleep, so it’s no wonder that it is prone to injuries.
If you don’t recall having any obvious injury to the ankle but are experiencing pain in it, you may be wondering if the pain is due to a minor muscle strain or some serious injury or condition for which you need to see a doctor.
Knowing the telltale signs of ankle muscle strain and some serious ankle conditions and injuries can help you decide if you should see your foot and ankle doctor. Let’s learn more about this condition and where you can go for effective pain management in Port Charlotte, FL.
Ankle Muscle Strain: What are Signs?
An ankle muscle strain is an injury to the ankle muscles or the tendons – the thick bands of fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bone.
Minor strain is when a muscle or tendon is stretched beyond its limit, while with a major strain, there may be a partial or complete tear in the affected muscle or tendon.
Ankle strains are common in people who play sports that feature quick start and jumping, such as basketball and hurdling. Not getting enough rest during intense workouts or training can also cause ankle strain.
Typical symptoms of mild ankle strain are:
- Pain
- Swelling and inflammation
- Limited motion of the ankle
- Inability to bear weight on the ankle.
Typically, mild strains can be treated at home with rest, icing, compression, elevation, and medications.
However, if the strain ceases to get better with at-home treatments, it might be something serious, like a serious muscle strain or some underlying conditions mentioned below.
What is It If Not Mild Muscle Strain?
Major Strain
If your ankle pain becomes intolerable or you have numbness and tingling along with ankle pain, it may be due to major strain – which involves a partial or complete tear in the ankle.
Such muscle strain needs thorough evaluation and treatment from a foot and ankle expert.
Osteoarthritis
This is a form of arthritis that, when developing in your ankle, causes the cartilage to wear away, leading the ankle bones to rub against each other. Along with some stiffness and tenderness, osteoarthritis causes pain in your ankle that comes suddenly and worsens in the morning.
Achilles Tendonitis
The pain in your ankle may be due to the inflammation of the tendon that connects your heel to your calf muscle – a condition called Achilles tendonitis.
If you do a lot of walking or repetitive movements, the wear and tear from such movements may also lead to Achilles tendon inflammation.
A major sign of Achilles tendonitis is swelling or pain in the back of the heel and trouble flexing or even moving the foot.
Bursitis
This is the swelling of the bursa (fluid-filled sac that cushions between bone and tendon) of your ankle. Bursitis may also cause pain in the back of your ankle, along with tenderness. It may result in limping or stiff movement within the ankle.
Limiting your activities can heal bursitis, but if it’s not getting better with enough rest as well as at-home remedies, it needs an evaluation from a doctor.
Foot And Ankle Center in Port Charlotte, FL
Finding the underlying source of your ankle pain on your own can be hard to impossible for you, so see foot ankle experts at Advanced Orthopedic Center for thorough evaluation and treatment of your ankle pain.
At our foot and ankle center, we provide diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of foot and ankle conditions, including ankle sprain or strain, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, osteoarthritis of ankle and foot, ankle bursitis, traumatic ankle injuries like fractures and much more.
To give your ankle pain the attention it deserves, make an appointment with us by calling (941) 629-6262 or using this secure online request form.
