It can be tricky to decide when it is necessary to see the doctor for untreated ankle pain. Pain is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong, but it can be challenging to know when simple soreness may go away and when a specialist should consult regarding the cause of your pain.
We hope that the following list of three reasons to see a podiatrist for ankle pain will help you understand the severity of your ankle pain and whether or not you should see a podiatrist.
You should see a podiatrist for ankle pain if you experience the following situations.
You experience joint pain in your ankles.
Joint pain often shows redness, swollen joints, and stiffness. It can be the identifying marker of several conditions, but arthritis is one of the most common reasons for ankle joint pain. One of the most common and painful forms of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation in joints. Individuals with arthritis should be under a doctor’s care, and a foot doctor (podiatrist) is an excellent choice for arthritis in the ankles and feet.
Ankle pain limits your daily activities.
A podiatrist should see any pain that reduces your ability to function normally. Ankles bear a lot of weight and are highly flexible, making them prone to injury.
You suspect you may have a sprained or broken ankle.
You will most likely not be able to walk on an ankle that is sprained or broken. These types of conditions generally result from a fall, twisted ankle, slips, or sports injury. In addition, both sprained and broken ankles will often swell considerably and may be hot to the touch.
Ankle Sprains: Causes, Foot Treatments, and Rehab Exercises in Queens, NYC
How to Treat Ankle Pain At Home
If your ankle pain does not seem severe enough to visit a podiatrist, here are a few options you may consider for treating a hurting ankle at home.
Ice
You can help ankles that are swollen or sore by applying ice to them. If you do not have an ice pack, a bag of frozen peas or similar will work as well. Ice should be used for 20 minutes with a rest period of at least 20 minutes in between ice applications.
Heat
For ankles that are not inflamed or swollen, heat can be helpful relieve sore muscles. You can use a heating pad or rice sock to apply heat to the sensitive area. Heat should not be applied for more than 20 minutes at a time to prevent burns.
Rest
One of the best ways to help heal any injury or pain is to rest. For example, staying off your feet as much as possible will help your ankle heal so you can get back to normal daily activities.
Pain medications
Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen can help relieve pain and inflammation in your ankles.
If the at-home remedies suggested above do not improve the conditions of your ankle pain, you should make an appointment with a podiatrist as soon as possible. If you are located in the Queens area, Best Foot Doctor is a podiatrist in Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn, servicing the NYC area. Please give our offices a call today to schedule an appointment.