If you are experiencing chronic pain on the outer side of the ankle, you have likely recently suffered from an injury. Recurring and persistent foot pain is a common result of a sprained ankle or similar incident. For any foot condition, it is important to schedule an appointment with your podiatrist to seek treatment. Your doctor can recommend any number of treatments ranging from a conservative to a surgical approach. Read on for more information on pain management techniques.
Conservative Treatment
First and foremost, your doctor will likely recommend that you take an anti-inflammatory medication, such as an aspirin or ibuprofen, to treat pain and reduce swelling. If you require escalated pain management, your podiatrist may also recommend a steroid injection. An ankle brace or other support can also be used to help immobilize and stabilize the ankle in order to facilitate healing. Or, physical therapy may be prescribed to strengthen ankle muscles and restore range of motion.
Surgical Treatment
If your injury does not benefit from a conservative treatment plan, your doctor may recommend a surgical solution. Most podiatric surgical procedures can be done on an outpatient basis. Depending on the specifics of your foot injury, your podiatrist might recommend a procedure to remove any loose bone fragments, a cleaning or debriding of the ankle joint, or repair or reconstruction of the ankle ligaments. Most surgeries will require six to eight weeks of recovery time.
Reoccurrence Prevention
Once your treatment plan is in place, you will want to prevent a repeat performance of the injury that just occurred. To do so, follow your podiatrist’s instructions to the letter and finish out any physical therapy or rehabilitation exercises as prescribed. When you return to regular activity, wear both an ankle brace and hi-top shoes.
For podiatry care in the New York area, contact Austin Podiatry. With convenient office locations, our experienced and professional team is on hand to provide your feet with the very best care possible. Call us today or visit our website to schedule an appointment.