Understanding the common causes of ankle pain

One of the oldest pains that existed since the beginning of time is ankle pain. Injuries and ankle pain are common. Many legendary stories have ankle issues at the core of their hero’s downfall. Sportsmen and women are well acquainted with it.

The moment we hear the word ankle pain we generally think of sprains or injuries. Of course, they are more prevalent causes of pain in the ankle. The problem arises when we close our minds to all the other causes that result in ankle pain. This calls for a need to learn. Let us look at some causes of swollen feet and ankle pain.

Ankle Sprain
It becomes easy to start by addressing the elephant in the room. As mentioned earlier, ankle pain is frequently caused by ankle sprains. Human bodies are wonderful, the bones, tissues, and muscles are all connected. The bones of our feet and legs are connected via ligaments. They are dense tissues that connect bone joints. As thick as they can be, every physical object comes with a limit. One has to be very careful while doing any physical activity. There can be a ligament tear which may cause ankle pain and even your leg may get affected.

Due to certain injuries during strenuous physical activity, there are times that the ligaments may be affected when we take part in strenuous physical activities. During these activities, we force our feet and legs into sudden abnormal positions that results in a tear in the ligaments and a swollen foot. The severity can vary depending on the tear. You might not be able to walk properly for a while if it is an intense injury. You should contact your physician or doctor who will determine the seriousness of the situation.

Arthritis
Unlike sprains, which affect the ligaments, arthritis is a condition caused when the amount of cartilage reduces. The joints in our body also consist of cartilage which does the job of a shock absorption. Injuries and infection result in the deterioration of cartilage. This often happens over time. Two common types of Arthritis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

• Osteoarthritis
  Referred by the acronym, OA, osteoarthritis is caused due to wear and tear on your feet over a period of time. It can also be hereditary.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
  Rheumatoid Arthritis, on the other hand, is a disorder. If your body’s immune system starts attacking the synovium, then the result is RA. We are sure that there are too many names to remember, but the effort is worth it. Synovium is a tissue in the joints from which a fluid is produced. This fluid maintains the cartilage and acts as a lubricant. What causes these attacks is currently oblivious but frequently dismissed as hereditary.

One other type of arthritis that can cause ankle pain is Reiter Syndrome.

• Reiter Syndrome is also known as reactive arthritis does not have a known reason for how it is caused. Usually associated with infections and viruses, it occurs when an individual has unprotected sex or food poisoning. Though rare in occurrence, it can get worse over time if left untreated.

Tendinitis
Tendons, a tissue which attaches the muscle to the bone, can be affected due to aging, injury or diabetes. When the tendons in your ankle are affected, it can also cause ankle pain. Athletes face this issue regularly as they have to go through intense workouts. Swelling is sometimes part of the process, but mostly stiffness is experienced in this condition.

Gout
When the uric acid in your body increases, it will start affecting your joints. This condition is called as Gout. Approximately, 8 million Americans suffer from this disease.
Complex as it is, Gout can be a result of excessive intake of food and drinks that contain a high amount of uric acid. If your body does not excrete this acid properly, then it can also lead to developing gout.

Flat Feet
A flat foot is a hereditary condition that causes ankle pain. If you do not have the regular arch in your feet, then you possess flat feet. It is not a major concern unless your ankles cause a lot of pain.

Fracture
A broken bone due to any reason is a serious injury which can cause a fracture. There are different types of fractures. If the bones in your ankle are fractured, you will feel a great amount of pain, and you need to consult a doctor immediately. Your doctor can determine the type of fracture and the necessary treatment.

Dislocation
The bones are no longer placed correctly. This requires careful examination and correction.

Blocked blood vessels
This is another cause of ankle pain. Just like the heart, the blood vessels in your legs can get blocked. Cramps are a common symptom when the blood vessels get blocked. It may become worse if it goes unattended and at such times it is advisable to consult a doctor.