Ankle pain is something that you might feel if you’ve twisted or sprained your ankle. It could also come from problems like arthritis or gout. Your ankle may hurt, swell, or get stiff, and it might be hard to walk. There are ways to take care of it at home, but sometimes you might need a doctor. This article will show you what you can do to feel better.

What Causes Ankle Pain?

Sprains and Strains

If you twist or roll your ankle in an odd way, you can stretch or tear the ligaments. That hurts a lot! Here’s what might cause it:

Playing sports
Walking or running on uneven ground
Wearing shoes that don’t fit well

Arthritis

Arthritis is when your joints get inflamed, and it can make your ankle hurt. There are different kinds of arthritis, such as gout, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which can affect your ankles.

Other Medical Conditions

According to the National Library of Medicine, other problems like heel pain, infection in the ankle joint, tendinitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome or sciatica can make you to feel pain in your ankle.

How Can You Tell What’s Wrong?

Look at the symptoms. You can tell a lot about what’s wrong with your ankle from what you feel:

Is it swollen?
Do you feel pain when you touch it?
Is it hard to move?

These signs can help you figure out what might be wrong.

See a Doctor

If the pain is awful or doesn’t go away, you might need to see a doctor. They will ask you questions, look at your ankle, and maybe do some tests like an X-ray.

How to Take Care of Your Ankle at Home

Rest Your Ankle

Give your ankle a break! Don’t walk on it if it hurts. Use crutches if you need to.

Ice It

Put ice on your ankle for 15-20 minutes every hour. This can help with swelling and pain.

Wrap It

You can wrap your ankle with a bandage to help keep the swelling down.

Elevate It

Put your foot up on a pillow or chair. This helps the swelling go down too.

Take Pain Relievers

Try diclofenac, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or other pain relievers.

Helpful Exercises

If the doctor says it’s okay, you can do exercises to make your ankle strong again. Here are a few:

Ankle Pumps: Move your foot up and down.
Toe Taps: Tap your toes while keeping your heel on the ground.
Ankle Circles: Make circles with your foot.

These exercises can make your ankle feel better and help you get back to doing the things you love.

When Should You See a Doctor?

If you try these things at home and your ankle still hurts after a few days, it’s a good idea to see a doctor. You might also want to see a doctor if:

You can’t walk on your ankle.
You see a lot of swelling or bruising.
You feel numbness or tingling.

The doctor might give you medicine, show you exercises to help, or even suggest surgery if it’s really bad.

Final Thoughts

Do	Don’t
Rest your ankle if it hurts	Do not walk on a painful ankle without support
Apply ice for 15-20 minutes every hour	Do not ignore persistent pain or swelling
Wrap your ankle with a bandage if needed	Do not perform intense activities that could worsen it
Elevate your ankle to reduce swelling	Do not wear shoes that don’t fit well
See a doctor if pain persists or worsens	Do not try to diagnose severe problems yourself
Follow doctor’s instructions and exercises	Do not skip medical advice if symptoms are serious

So, if your ankle hurts, don’t worry. You know now what might cause the pain and what you can do about it. Whether it’s taking care of it at home or seeing a doctor, you have the information you need to feel better.