If I Have Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain, What Are My Treatment Options?

Chronic pain is any pain that lasts longer than three months, and it can occur anywhere in your body. This type of pain can come and go, or it can be constant. Either way, any chronic pain condition can be frustrating and even debilitating, depending on the severity of your pain.

One chronic pain condition that many people experience is lateral ankle pain. Our team of podiatrists at Foot & Ankle Institute of Colorado has years of expertise in treating foot and ankle pain and wants you to know that there are treatment options available to get you relief for your chronic lateral ankle pain.

Causes and symptoms of lateral ankle pain

Pain on the lateral, or outer, portion of your ankle typically stems from repeated ankle sprains. If your ankle isn’t able to heal completely from these sprains, it can result in your muscles and ligaments becoming weaker and weaker, leading to pain in your ankle. 

However, ankle sprains aren’t necessarily always the culprit. Some of the other possible root causes of chronic lateral ankle pain include:

• Arthritis in your ankle
• Injury or subluxation of your peroneal tendons
• Ankle fractures
• Build-up of scar tissue

You can also experience chronic lateral ankle pain if the tendons in your ankle are inflamed or your ligaments are pinching your ankle joint in some way.

Symptoms of chronic lateral ankle pain can include the following:

• Stiffness 
• Pain or instability while walking
• Dull, constant ache
• Tenderness
• Swelling

The pain and difficulty walking can also cause you to constantly re-sprain your ankle.

Treatment for lateral ankle pain

If you’re suffering from chronic lateral ankle pain, there are a range of treatment options available. Our team recommends treatment starting with the most conservative method and working up from there.

Conservative, non-surgical options include:

• Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (called the RICE method)
• Anti-inflammatory pain medications
• Physical therapy
• Custom-made orthotics

If your pain persists even after trying all these conservative treatments, surgery may be required in order to remove any loose bone fragments, clean out any debris from your joint, or repair any damaged tendons.

If you’ve been struggling with chronic lateral ankle pain, don’t wait to seek medical treatment. Our team is ready to help you get some much-needed relief. 

To set up an appointment with our office located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, you can call us at 719-745-8806, or use our online scheduler today.