Question
In February 2004 I sprained my left ankle on a night out. (I was 21, I am now 26) My friends took me to A&E because I was in so much pain, but at the time I don't think the Doctors believed how much pain I was in because I was drunk (student days!) and I think they thought I was exaggertating. After much persuaion from my friends I eventually got X-Rayed (the docs weren't going to even bother),told there was nothing wrong and sent home.In total it took me nearly 6 weeks to get fully mobile again. (In hindsight I should have gone back to the doctors, but didn't want to be taken for a hypochondriac!) Ever since then I have had more or less constant pain in my ankle, but I've gotten used to it and forget it's there. However, recently the pain has become more frequent and severe. I can only describe it as having a "headache" in my ankle, I also get a throbbing pain on the outside of it. It feels like I have a lot of "pressure" in the joint and all I want to do is pull it out of its socket! (I hope that makes sense, I can't think of any other way of describing it!) My ankle also makes a "grinding" noise when I wiggle my toes up and down. I'm convinced that I did more damage to my Ankle all those years ago, but because of my "state" I wasn't taken seriously. I've managed to get on with life normally, but I often have to wear a support aid if the pain gets too much. I've searched all over the internet for things that it could be, but short of going to the Doctors where they'll just tell me to "rest it" (which is what happened when I went 18 months ago) then I'm at a loss. It absolutely drives me up the wall the dull acheness I get, constantly. I hope you can help, else I think I'm going to have to saw it off!!

Answer
Hi Carly,

I think it would be important to get an MRI to identify in detail what is wrong with the ankle.  After an ankle injury there can be bone and soft tissue problems.  You should find a dr that does ankle arthroscopy and have the joint cleaned out if upon exam that is warranted.  There are also devices known as ankle foot orthoses that may be helpful.  I have many patients with ankle pain in my practice and I use a pain relief technique known as cryosurgery.  See my site below.  You may have a trapped nerve and it would be frozen to stop the pain.  So that is a start.

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Tampa, FL
Advanced Podiatry
www.thetampapodiatrist.com
www.tampacryosurgery.com

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