Ankle Pain That Never Goes Away? Here’s What to Know…

Ankle pain that won’t go away might seem like an annoyance at first. If you’re experiencing pain, stiffness, or instability that lingers long after an ankle injury should have healed, there could be an underlying issue that has never properly recovered—or one that never healed properly to begin with. Although many assume ankle pain will eventually subside with time, most reasons for chronic ankle pain involve tendon injuries, joint instability, arthritis development, or biomechanical imbalances.

Pinpointing the cause of your pain is essential to finding long-term relief and recovery. Here, we breakdown how ankle injuries occur, why ankle pain won’t go away, what your risk factors are, and how to treat your injuries for lasting recovery.

What Your Ankle Endures Daily

When your ankle hurts, it’s usually because there is an injury or misalignment within your ankle joint. The ankle and foot endure a lot every day. Each time you step, your ankle supports your body weight, absorbs impact, and stabilizes your foot on uneven surfaces.

Because ankles go through this motion daily, even minor injuries or issues with ankle alignment can lead to chronic pain. Without allowing proper rest and healing after an ankle injury or irritation, your ankle tissue becomes weakened much quicker than it can recover.

Anytime your ankle motion is limited, your walking gait is affected, or your foot position is improper, other structures must compensate for this instability. As compensation continues, other problems such as inflammation, microtears, or even joint cartilage deterioration can arise and cause chronic ankle pain.

Common Causes of Ankle Pain

Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of ankle pain that never seems to go away.

Old ankle sprains are one of the leading causes of ankle pain and discomfort that persists. If your ankle was sprained in the past and didn’t heal correctly, the ligaments on the outside of your ankle may still feel loose. Loose ligaments lead to chronic ankle instability, which can give you the feeling that your ankle will “pop” or “give out” at any moment. This can cause you to avoid putting weight on your ankle, and even lead to re-injury.

Tendon issues are another culprit for pain that lingers around the ankle. Any tendon can become irritated or inflamed due to overuse, improper footwear, or sudden increases in exercise.

Common tendon conditions that cause chronic ankle pain include Achilles tendinitis, peroneal tendinitis, and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. Symptoms of tendon irritation typically cause pain when the ankle is moving and feel better with rest. However, once you begin moving again the pain starts back up.

Joint surfaces can also contribute to ankle pain that won’t subside. Injuries to the cartilage surrounding your ankle joint or arthritis that develops after an ankle injury can create pain months or even years after initial trauma. These conditions usually cause pain when your ankle stiffens up after sitting or when you’re moving on uneven surfaces. Joint pain is also typically accompanied by swelling that gets worse with activity.

Nerve pain may also cause your ankle to constantly throb or feel fatigued. When nerves that run along the ankle become compressed or entrapped, it can cause a burning or tingling sensation that often feels like the pain is originating from a muscle or joint.

Risk Factors Associated with Ankle Pain

Past injuries are the number one risk factor for developing chronic ankle pain. The more times you sprain or break your ankle, the greater your chances are of developing long term damage or joint degeneration. Other risk factors that may lead to ankle pain persisting long-term include:

• Flat feet/arches

• Injury-prone activities/hobbies

• Improper footwear

• Weak balance/stabilization muscles

• Weight

It’s also important to note that certain medical conditions can impact how your body heals. Diabetes, inflammatory arthritis conditions, and nerve diseases can affect your body’s ability to sense ankle injuries, decrease circulation to the ankle, and slow tissue regeneration.

Diagnosing Persistent Ankle Pain

The first step in diagnosis is obtaining a thorough history and physical examination. Your provider will take note of your range of motion, ankle stability, ankle alignment, and any tender areas around your ankle. They will also consider any previous ankle injuries you’ve experienced in the past and what type of activities you regularly perform.

If your pain has persisted for some time, your provider may order imaging such as X-rays to view bone alignment and arthritis development or advanced imaging to assess damage to soft tissue structures such as ligaments and tendons.

It’s important to be cautious of doctors who attempt to treat your pain without digging deeper into what’s causing your discomfort. Although taking an ankle brace or pain medication can provide short-term relief, these are temporary solutions that don’t allow for healing to occur.

Treating Ankle Pain that Won’t Go Away

Although there are many causes of persistent ankle pain, most respond very well to conservative care. Conservative treatment, when appropriately prescribed, can include activity modification, specific physical therapy to restore proper strength and balance to the ankle, and bracing or orthotics to help realign the ankle.

In some cases, your provider may recommend medications or injections to help manage pain and inflammation while you’re recovering. If there is underlying structural damage to the ankle or severe joint instability that fails to respond to conservative care, surgery may be recommended to restore stability or address the damaged structures directly.

How to Avoid Ankle Pain in The Future

The best way to avoid future ankle pain is to ensure you’re taking the proper steps to allow your ankle to heal fully. Returning to activity too soon, poor footwear, and lack of conditioning can cause reinjury. Once you have recovered from your injury, be sure to wear supportive shoes and slowly work your way back up to your desired activity level while continuing to strengthen your ankle.

Take care of your ankles!

At Treasure Valley Foot & Ankle, we understand how frustrating ankle pain that never goes away can be. We strive to provide our patients with the most comprehensive and conservative care possible, so you can achieve your desired outcome of living pain-free!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What do you do for ankle pain that never goes away?

A: The best thing you can do for pain that never seems to go away is to see a foot and ankle specialist. They will take the time to diagnose the source of your pain and develop a treatment plan specific to your injury.

Q2: How common is arthritis after an ankle injury?

A: Arthritis is actually very common after an ankle injury! Arthritis can occur months or even years after trauma has occurred to the joint.

Q3: Can foot pain cause ankle pain?

A: Foot pain can cause ankle pain if the root cause is due to biomechanical issues such as flat feet or high arches. Many people assume that pain in their ankles is due to an injury, when in fact it’s because their foot is rolling in too much or not enough when they walk.

Q4: Should I see a doctor for ankle pain?

A: You should see a doctor for ankle pain that lasts longer than 1-2 weeks or recurs frequently. While some ankle pain is normal, you shouldn’t have to deal with prolonged discomfort. Make an appointment with your primary care provider or seek care at a specialty clinic like Treasure Valley Foot & Ankle to discover what’s causing your pain.

Q5: How do you fix chronic ankle pain?

A: You can treat chronic ankle pain by visiting a foot and ankle specialist. They will take the time to diagnose your condition and create a customized treatment plan to get you feeling better. Possible treatments include activity modification, physical therapy, bracing, medication/injections, and surgery.