Ankle Pain

What is Ankle Pain?

The ankle is a large joint made up of three bones. The tibia, fibula, and talus join to form the ankle joint. It consists of a network of ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Strong enough to bear your body weight and enable you to move, your ankle can be prone to injury and pain.

Common Causes:

• • Achilles tendonitis
  • Broken ankle/broken foot
  • Bursitis (joint inflammation)
  • Osteoarthritis (disease causing the breakdown of joints)
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)
  • Sprained ankle

An Orthopedic Physicians Alaska (OPA) Foot and Ankle Specialist will conduct the following to obtain the proper diagnosis to start immediate treatment for a quicker recovery:

• • Obtain a medical history to check for risk factors
  • Perform a physical examination to check for symptoms and test ankle strength and flexibility
  • Order and analyze x-rays (to rule out a fracture) or MRI

Mild ankle pain often responds well to home treatments, if the pain persists, it is best to follow up with an Orthopedic Physicians Alaska (OPA) Foot and Ankle specialist.

Common Treatments:

Nonsurgical treatment options are commonly used to treat ankle pain. A treatment plan usually consists of multiple treatment options: