Ankle pain involves any discomfort in one or both ankles.

Pain - ankle; Sprain - ankle; Ankle sprain

Ankle pain is often due to an ankle sprain.

• An ankle sprain is an injury to the ligaments, which connect bones to one another.
• In most cases, the ankle is twisted inward, causing small tears in the ligaments. The tearing leads to swelling and bruising, making it difficult to bear weight on the joint.

In addition to ankle sprains, ankle pain can be caused by:

• Damage or swelling of tendons (which join muscles to bone) or cartilage (which cushions joints)
• Infection in the ankle joint
• Osteoarthritis, gout,rheumatoid arthritis, Reiter syndrome, and other types of arthritis

Problems in areas near the ankle that can cause you to feel pain in the ankle include:

• Blockage of blood vessels in the leg
• Heel pain or injuries
• Nerve injuries (such as tarsal tunnel syndrome or sciatica)

Images

Ankle sprain

Ankle sprain swelling

Sprained ankle

Review Date: 02/19/2011
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)