At The Foot Institute in El Paso, TX, our experienced podiatrists frequently see patients with ankle injuries who aren't sure if they need professional care. While mild sprains often resolve on their own, certain types of severe ankle pain can indicate a serious injury that requires prompt treatment to prevent long-term problems. Here's how to assess your symptoms and determine if it's time to have your ankle evaluated by our foot and ankle specialists.
Understanding the Anatomy of Your Ankle
To identify the cause of severe ankle pain, it helps to have a basic understanding of the joint's anatomy. Your ankle is a complex hinge joint that connects your lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) to your foot. It is held together by several ligaments, tendons, and muscles that allow for a wide range of motion.
The most common ankle injuries involve damage to the ligaments, which are strong bands of tissue that stabilize the joint. Sprains occur when these ligaments stretch or tear, often due to twisting or rolling your ankle. Sprains can range from mild overstretching to complete ligament tears.
Other structures in your ankle can also be injured, leading to severe pain. Tendons, which connect muscles to bones, can become inflamed or tear. The cartilage that cushions the joint can deteriorate or sustain damage. And, of course, the bones themselves can fracture under enough force.
Signs Your Ankle Pain May Be Serious
So how do you know if your severe ankle pain warrants a trip to the podiatrist? Watch for these signs that often indicate a more serious injury:
- Inability to bear weight. If putting any weight on your ankle causes intense pain or your ankle feels unstable, it could be a sign of a significant sprain, tendon injury, or fracture. We recommend avoiding walking to prevent any further damage to the sprain or injury.
- Deformity or bone protruding through skin. If your ankle appears deformed or you see bone poking through, seek emergency care immediately. This indicates a displaced fracture that requires prompt realignment to avoid permanent damage.
- Numbness or tingling. While some numbness can occur from swelling putting pressure on nerves, persistent numbness or tingling in your foot can indicate nerve damage. This requires professional evaluation to prevent complications.
- Extreme swelling. Some swelling is normal after an ankle injury, but rapid, excessive swelling can indicate a severe sprain or fracture. Swelling that restricts range of motion or causes skin discoloration also requires medical attention.
- Lingering pain. Mild sprains typically start to improve within a few days. If your severe ankle pain lingers without improvement or worsens over 48-72 hours, have it evaluated. Chronic ankle pain can lead to instability and repeated injury.
- Inability to move the joint. Restricted range of motion, especially if accompanied by severe pain, can indicate a high ankle sprain involving the ligaments that connect your tibia and fibula. These require longer healing and possibly surgical repair.
Why Prompt Podiatric Care Matters
While it can be tempting to wait and see if severe ankle pain improves on its own, delaying care for a serious injury can lead to chronic issues. Without proper treatment, even simple sprains can lead to long-term ankle instability and repeated injury. More severe injuries can result in permanent joint damage and chronic pain if not promptly treated.
When you visit The Foot Institute for ankle pain, our El Paso podiatrists will perform a thorough evaluation to determine the extent of your injury. We may use imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to visualize the internal structures of your ankle and check for fractures or soft tissue damage.
Based on our assessment, we'll develop a personalized treatment plan to relieve your pain and restore proper function. Depending on the severity of your injury, this may include:
- Rest and elevation to reduce swelling
- Ice application to control inflammation
- Compression bandages for support
- Immobilization with a brace or cast
- Physical therapy to restore strength and range of motion
- Anti-inflammatory medications or injections
- Surgery to repair fractures or torn ligaments
When Severe Ankle Pain Requires Surgical Repair
In some cases, severe ankle pain indicates an injury that is best treated with surgery. This is often the case with:
- Displaced fractures that require realignment
- Severe ligament tears that don't heal properly with conservative treatment
- Chronic ankle instability from repeated sprains
- Cartilage or tendon damage
- Our foot and ankle surgeons use advanced techniques to repair damaged structures and restore joint stability. This may involve realigning bones with plates and screws, repairing torn ligaments or tendons, or transplanting cartilage to cushion the joint. After surgery, we guide you through a customized rehabilitation program to restore strength and mobility.