Why Does My Ankle Hurt?
As noted above, the ankle has many structures, including bones, fibrous tissue, tendons, and ligaments. Aside from that, there are blood vessels, nerves, and other tissues in this area that can be affected by many types of disease. When anything damages or impairs the tissues mentioned above, ankle pain will be a possibility, and it will be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the problem.
Unlike what people commonly think, ankle pain is not usually caused by bone fractures. If a fracture had been present, the pain would be more localized, and it would be a different type of pain experienced after an injury, such as a sprain or strain. The ankle pain that results from a bone fracture is similar to “shin splints” when it affects the tibia or the fibula, and it will be felt more like tenderness when it involves the foot bones.
But there’s another type of ankle pain that is also worth noting. Instead of localized pain, patients report dull pain that is difficult to pinpoint and is usually associated with edema or swelling of the leg. This type of pain is generally due to circulatory problems or blood vessel issues.
Or maybe you could have a type of pain that runs down your leg and affects your ankle and your foot. This type of pain can be due to nervous causes. If you have sensory abnormalities, such as a sensation of electricity or burning pain, it is probably due to nerve-related issues.
Besides ankle pain, it is also essential to evaluate other signs and symptoms that will give your doctor additional clues to diagnose your problem. So, let’s take a look at the most important signs and symptoms of ankle problems: