Diagnosis of ankle pain
The diagnosis of ankle pain is initially made clinically based on the medical history.If a chronic event is suspected, further clarification is carried out by examining the blood and determining the inflammation parameters in the blood. For sports injuries, the ultrasound machine and x-ray imaging are the means of choice. Torn ligaments can be visualized quickly and easily with both devices.
If no cause can be found, the ankle pain is probably due to incorrect loading caused by unsuitable footwear when walking. This topic might also be of interest to you:
- Unilateral swollen ankle
After getting up, pain may occur in the area of the lower leg and the inner or outer ankle. Sometimes the cause is traumatic.
So-called deep sleepers may not notice during nightly sleep if they hold the foot in a bent position, which greatly overstretches the ligaments and muscles. The acutely triggered pain stimulus is not perceived by these people. Only after waking up in the morning are these traumatic pains perceived.
Non-traumatic causes can be inflammatory in nature. Thus joint pain is to be feared with the so-called rheumatoid arthritis. Classically, this is pain in the large joints (such as the shoulder joints, wrists, knee joints and even ankles).
Very characteristic is the pain in the morning, which in most cases disappears in the course of the day. It would also be very important to observe whether there is also swelling in the ankle area. This would also indicate rheumatoid arthritis.
If a torn ligament is suspected, a therapy can be initiated by any affected person with simple means even before the clinic: In addition one applies the “PECH” – rule. It is easy to remember, since each of the letters stands for a treatment measure: P for “pause”, i.e. the ankle should not be further loaded or moved. E for “ice”, the ankle should be cooled.
To do this, a cool pack is wrapped in a kitchen towel and placed on the ankle. Important: Do not place the Coolpack directly on the skin, as this can damage the tissue! C for “Compression”.
This prevents excessive swelling of the ankle, as the tissue is compressed and less blood escapes from the injured vessels. The H stands for “elevate” to promote the flow of blood and fluid from the tissue towards the middle of the body. The PECH rule, by the way, applies to all types of sports injuries, and is the be-all and end-all of pre-clinical care.
Once the above points have been applied, the patient can be transported to hospital or to a doctor. There, the torn ligament is treated with a splint, which should be worn 24 hours a day if possible. Since it is made of plastic and synthetic fiber elements, it can be removed at any time, for example for showering.
There are various splint systems, but there is little difference in their function. The immobilization is then carried out for 4-6 weeks, after which the patient can begin with cautious loading. The joint is then usually a little stiff and immobile, but this should pass after a few weeks of movement.
If the ligament is stretched, protection is usually sufficient. The transition between stretching, tearing and rupture is usually fluid. For safety reasons, a splint is often prescribed here as well.
If the ankle pain occurs at rest or in the morning, a rheumatic or arthritic process must be clarified. These are treated with a combined treatment concept consisting of physiotherapy, painkillers and targeted muscle building. The therapy is lengthy and can only be performed symptomatically.
If it is only an abrasion or blister that causes the ankle pain, an ointment bandage is applied if necessary. Suitable for this purpose are wound ointments such as Bepanthen, which have a high fat content and accelerate the regeneration of the skin. A blister should only be punctured under sterile conditions, otherwise the risk of infection is too high. For the treatment of small blisters, blister plasters are especially recommended, which not only cushion the blisters but also dry them out.
