Ankle Pain Specialist

Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group

Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine located in Carmel, NY, Newburgh, NY, Mt. Kisco, NY, Fishkill, NY, & Danbury, CT

A sprained or broken ankle could make it hard to get about, let alone enjoy your favorite sports and activities. If you have acute or chronic ankle pain, the board-certified physicians at Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group can help. The practice has four New York locations in Carmel, Newburgh, Mount Kisco, and Fishkill, with another in Danbury, Connecticut. For expert diagnosis and treatment of your ankle pain, call the office nearest you or request an appointment online today.

Ankle Pain Q & A

What are the causes of ankle pain?

Sudden ankle pain is typically due to a sprained ligament, ruptured tendon, or fracture resulting from trauma. Trips and falls, accidents at the workplace, and sports injuries are common causes of acute ankle pain.

If your ankle pain develops more slowly, it could be due to a condition such as:

Achilles tendinitis
Bursitis
Stress fractures
Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Arthritis

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common, but numerous other forms of arthritis could cause ankle pain. You could also have pain in your ankle that radiates from a condition like plantar fasciitis in your heel.

How is ankle pain treated?

If you have an acute ankle injury, apply the RICE protocol as soon as possible:

Rest

Don't put any weight on your ankle.

Ice

Apply an ice pack at intervals to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Compression

Wrap a bandage around your ankle to support it, but avoid making it so tight it limits blood flow.

Elevation

Raise your leg so it's higher than your heart to improve circulation.

These first aid measures limit pain, encourage healing, and stop the injury from worsening. If your ankle pain doesn't improve after a few days, or the pain is particularly severe such that you cannot put weight on your injured ankle, Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group can assess the injury.

Chronic ankle pain also needs investigation to prevent further deterioration. Depending on the cause of your ankle pain, you might benefit from treatments such as anti-inflammatory medication, a brace or cast, or physical therapy.

If your ankle pain isn't improving, your provider might inject the joint with steroid medication or regenerative medicine products like stem cells or platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

Would I need surgery for ankle pain?

You might need urgent surgery for your ankle pain if you have an injury like a fracture, but most patients recover well using less invasive treatments. There are two main reasons why you might need surgery on your ankle:

Severe connective tissue damage

If a ligament or tendon tears or ruptures, it can't always heal without help. The experienced surgeons at Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group can repair connective tissue injuries or perform reconstruction using grafts.

Advanced arthritis

If your arthritis reaches a stage where other treatments are no longer effective, and you're experiencing severe pain and loss of function, ankle joint replacement or ankle fusion could relieve your symptoms.

If ankle pain affects your life, contact Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group. Call the location nearest you or book an appointment online today.