Ankle Pain

Ankle pain is typically caused by common injuries including low or high ankle sprains, trauma & injuries, arthritis, and many other specific ligament and tendon issues. Ankle joints are substantially smaller than the other larger joints such as knees and hips. However, they withstand your entire body weight and are subject to higher forces during activities.
Sudden injuries such as ankle sprains or fractures can result in chronic tear of supporting ligaments around the ankle joint and cause inflammation and subsequent arthritis. It is essential to seek medical treatment promptly to prevent further damage to the ankle joint.
To find out more about your Bunions and treatment options, please call to make an appointment with
Dr. Panahi today. You can reach us at 623.439.2200 or fill out an online appointment request.
Ankle Sprains
There are different types of ankle sprains. You may have heard the terms low or high ankle sprains. These are injuries to specific structures around your ankle joint. They are further graded based on the severity of the injury to each of these structures.
A sudden forceful twisting or inverting of the ankle joint can stretch, partially tear or completely rupture certain ligaments around your ankle. These ligaments are supportive structures to provide stability to the ankle joint.
Unless these injuries are treated quickly and properly, they usually result in scar tissue formation, instability and chronic pain. For that reason at Acacia Foot & Ankle Surgeons, we pay particular attention to these types of injuries and identify any tears or ruptures immediately in the office. We employ on-site high tech ultrasound machines to visualize these structures and offer treatments as necessary.
Low Vs. High Sprains
Low Ankle Sprain | These injuries occur when the ankle joint rolled inward. By doing so, one or two of the ligaments (demonstrated in green on the image) stretch beyond their limits and often result in partial or complete rupture. This is called low ankle sprain. This typically results in instability of the ankle joint and patients often continue to sprain their ankles easily.
High Ankle Sprain | These injuries occur when the ankle joint is twisted side to side. By doing so, one or two of the ligaments (shown in green on the image) stretch beyond their limits and often result in partial or complete rupture. This is called High Ankle Sprain. This typically result in instability of the ankle joint at a higher level, between the two long bones of the leg.
Treatments
There are several other reasons for ankle joint pain. Some are due to arthritis, which is narrowing of the joint space and loss of cartilage, others are due to soft tissue inflammation and scar tissue formation. Patients who suffer from gout, can have gout flareup inside their ankle joints which can be quite painful.
Since each specific ankle issue needs to be properly diagnosed and treated, full examination and other testings are necessary. At Acacia Foot and Ankle Surgeons, we dedicate high priorities for ankle injuries and typically see our patients on the same day to avoid delayed treatments.
Procedures & Surgeries
While conservative treatments, including immobilization or use of steroid injections typically eliminate or minimizes the pain for most patients, surgical interventions may be necessary to treat ankle conditions.
Chronic ankle instability with recurrent sprains that continue to elicit pain are surgically repaired.. This is done by either the use of arthroscopy or direct repair of the damaged ligament, utilizing small medical anchors. These anchors are typically absorbable and provide higher strength than a normal ligament.
At Acacia Foot & Ankle Surgeons, we employ Minimally Invasive techniques for faster and smoother recovery. Arthroscopic procedures are regularly used for treatment of these conditions with higher success rate than traditional methods. To discuss your surgical options, please contact us for a consultation.
To find out more about your Bunions and treatment options, please call to make an appointment with
Dr. Panahi today. You can reach us at 623.439.2200 or fill out an online appointment request.