Ankle Pain Centennial, CO
- Sprains, Strains & Instability
- Tendon & Soft Tissue Repair
- No Drugs or Surgery
Ankle pain is one of those issues that people have to live with on a daily basis. This can happen if they get injured while playing basketball, and some may notice that the swelling goes down for some time, but the ankle may not feel normal again. Then, six months later, many people may feel an aching sensation while they’re on the stairs even if their injuries are healed.
Fortunately, Dr. Tony Nicholas has been treating these issues in Centennial since 1997. He approaches ankle pain by finding out first what’s wrong and ruling out anything that needs a hospital emergency. Then, he works to restore the normal movement of the body part instead of just numbing the pain.
Why an Ankle That “Just Sprained” Keeps Bothering You
A sprain is going to tear the ligament fibers, and even if the body repairs them, the scar tissue can feel stiffer afterwards. Three things commonly happen in these situations, and they’re the following:
- 1 The joint stops moving the way it should. The ankle isn’t just composed of a single part, but it consists of small bones like the calcaneus that all glide and rotate together with the talus. After swelling, these joints may stop responding properly, and people can still feel that they have a range of motion, but the load of the weight is placed on the wrong parts.
- 2 Position sense does not come back on its own. Ligaments have nerves that tell the brain where the foot is at all times, and when these are damaged, these signals can become slower.
- 3 The tendons become overloaded and stop healing properly. . If the joint is not sharing the workload of the tendons, then those tendons will have to take on the workload of the joint. Over time, this can lead to the degeneration of the tendons, which is known as tendinopathy. The inflammation of the tendons does not necessarily show that the tendons are inflamed; therefore, anti-inflammatory medications may not be effective in treating a tendon with tendinopathy.
Rest may not be enough to heal these cases because it can’t restore restricted joint movement. This is the gap that this type of care aims to address.
What Usually Causes Ongoing Ankle Pain
- Old inversion sprains that healed but are still stiff
- Chronic ankle instability and repeated rolling of the ankle
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Overload of the peroneal and posterior tibial tendons
- Restricted talus, subtalar, and midfoot joints
- Plantar fasciitis pulling on the heel
- Shin splints and lower leg overuse
- Post-traumatic arthritis after an old fracture
- Flat or collapsing arches changing the way the ankle carries load
- Running, court, and field sports injuries
- Standing and ladder work, including work injuries
- Nerve irritation referring pain into the foot
The Ankle Is the Bottom of a Chain
The ankle is the first joint in the body that experiences the force of every step taken by a person. The ankle joint serves as the foundation for the body’s other joints to maintain balance. If the ankle joint does not move properly, it can lead to changes in the individual’s gait. For example, if the ankle joint does not move properly, the knee joint will begin to rotate to compensate for the ankle joint’s lack of movement. As a result, the hip joint will have to work harder to provide the necessary movement to the rest of the body.
That is why a patient can come in with knee pain or one-sided hip pain hip pain that doesn’t improve with treatment directed at the knee. The actual cause is a sprained ankle, and it’s also why these chronic issues appear alongside low back pain. Treating the root cause of the pain isn’t always the same as curing a joint that’s just hurting. Instead, a proper exam can determine what an individual is actually dealing with for the best results.
“SoftWave is a non-invasive acoustic wave treatment that’s used by chiropractors to stimulate blood flow and encourage the body to activate its ability for natural tissue regeneration. It brings stem cells to the areas with tendinopathies and encourages tissue repair instead of just masking it.”
Dr. Tony Nicholas, D.C.How Ankle Pain Gets Evaluated Here
- 1 The history comes first, especially the mechanism. The doctors will have to determine the cause of the injury. Ankle injuries can happen in different ways. For instance, rolling the ankle inward upon landing is different from developing aches throughout training.
- 2 Fracture and serious injury are ruled out before anything else. In cases where there is trauma to the area where the bone is unable to bear weight, imaging studies are performed prior to any chiropractic adjustments to ensure that the bone does not break as a result of the treatment.
- 3 Joint-by-joint motion testing. Each joint in the foot is moved individually, and the doctor will determine if the pain is caused by damaged tissue in the ankle.
- 4 Stability, tendon, and gait assessment. Also, there are ligament stability tests and other assessments such as single-leg balance tests that will be performed during the visit to help determine the cause of the patient’s symptoms.
- 5 X-rays when the findings call for them. If the doctor believes that X-rays would be helpful in determining the diagnosis of the patient’s symptoms, they will order those as well. X-rays allow doctors to look for any fractures in the bones of the patient, which can help the doctor answer specific questions about the patient’s symptoms.
How Ankle Pain Gets Treated
- SoftWave therapy for conditions like tendinosis that affects the Achilles can use unfocused shockwaves to encourage the body to repair its own tissues, and this can be helpful for a tendon that’s already been painful for months.
- Adjustments to restricted joints and other parts of the body, like the pelvis, are done to restore normal movement. It allows the joint in the knee to share the load again.
- Dry needling for the tibialis muscles when tight bands are restricting ankle movement can be helpful for the fast recovery of the patient.
- Red light therapy can support soft tissue recovery around a joint that has been repeatedly inflamed over a long period.
- Strengthening exercises are recommended to be done at home because this can encourage the body’s joints to stay in the right position to avoid sprain from happening again.
- Gait and posture correction is needed when a patient walks because they continue to put extra load on the ankle each day.
A comprehensive plan is tailored according to one’s condition, and acutely swollen ankles may receive gentle soft tissue care at first. There’s nothing forceful applied to a joint that’s still irritated.
How Long It Takes
A recent sprain without a fractured bone can feel noticeably better within three weeks, and many are able to return to their daily activities within six weeks depending on how much ligament was involved. It’s worth noting that less swelling doesn’t mean that the ankle has fully healed, but it’s best not to return to any sports as soon as the pain disappears because it can result in another injury.
CChronic issues may need more time to heal when tendinosis has been present for more than six months. It can’t simply be reversed in just two weeks, so patients should expect a series of visits and do some re-evaluation along the way based on their response to treatment. If there’s improvement, it’s important that the treatment plan be adjusted according to their needs.
Get Medical Care First If
- One can’t put any weight on their ankles or if they heard a snap when the injury happened.
- Visible deformity is present, especially if the joint looks out of place. There may also be bone tenderness over the malleolus that an individual should watch out for.
- The foot is cold, or one can’t feel the pulse down there anymore.
- Fever is spreading along with an open wound near the joint because this can mean infection.
- Swelling in the calf develops over time, and tenderness is felt, which means that a blood clot should be ruled out urgently.
After a serious cause has been excluded, conservative care is going to be a reasonable place to begin with. If the exam suggests that one needs an orthopedist, they will be told on the first day instead of waiting after six weeks of treatment.
How Much Does It Cost?
The first visit includes a thorough consultation, and there will be X-rays to help the doctors understand what’s going on. Many patients will be able to leave the clinic after knowing the accurate diagnosis and the cost of the treatment plans. Insurance can be accepted, and there are also e payment plans available including no interest options for those who are not covered.
Ankle Pain FAQs
Can a chiropractor treat an ankle, or only the spine?
Extremities are generally part of the chiropractic training, and the ankles can contain more than two dozen joints that need to be examined first. However, the basic principle applies: when the joint stops moving properly, the surrounding tissue can take on more load than it was designed to handle, so it starts to hurt.
Aside from adjustments, the tools that are commonly used for angles are SoftWave, and the rehabilitation often focuses on restoring balance in the body.
My ankle sprain was two years ago. Is it too late?
No. Old sprains are among the most common ankle complaints that clinics have seen, and they can still respond. However, the issue is often a restricted joint motion instead of a tear that’s never healed. Both issues can be treated long after the original injury.
It still hurts because of chronic instability, so an older injury may mean that other parts like the pelvis should be treated as well.
How do I know if it is broken or just sprained?
The extent of a severe sprain can’t be determined alone from the pain, and it can hurt more than a small fracture. Some of the warning signs can include being unable to bear weight, and if any of these are present, X-rays are needed before anything else is done.
If there’s any doubt after the exam, ruling out a fracture before any treatment plan is needed, and it isn’t optional.
What is SoftWave and why use it on an ankle?
SoftWave delivers shockwaves into tissues, and it can help degenerated tendons instead of targeting simple inflammation.
This is important for the ankles because chronic tendon issues have poor blood supply, and rest alone may not fix those who are injured.
Why does my ankle keep rolling on flat ground?
The sensors in the ligaments that tell the brain where the foot is damaged may never be fully retained. As a result, the muscle that should catch the ankle when it starts to roll may react a fraction of a second too late.
Balance work is a must, and it should be a part of the plan that reduces repeat sprains. It can be prescribed as home exercises instead of being limited to what happens in the office.
Can ankle pain cause knee, hip, or back pain?
It’s common for doctors to check the ankle, especially if the hip pain doesn’t respond to treatment aimed at it. A stiff ankle can change one’s gait, and this difference can place a different load on the joint above it.
Also, sometimes the ankle may hurt because of the way one walks, which is why the exam focuses on looking at the entire chain instead of just focusing on a single area that’s throbbing.
Do I need orthotics?
Prefabricated devices may sometimes be needed, and they can help with the arch structure itself. However, they may be less useful when the real issue is a restricted joint because placing support underneath rarely changes the underlying problem.
A thorough examination will determine what’s actually needed, and the experts will restore motion first and reassess afterwards for the best results.
Does treatment hurt?
Care starts gently because an inflamed ankle doesn’t tolerate force well. Soft tissues on a tight calf can become uncomfortable, and SoftWave can be ideal because patients can just feel a strong tapping sensation while they’re at it.
It’s best to tell the doctor what one feels during the treatment so they can adjust the intensity instead of just following a standard protocol.
Stop Working Around an Ankle That Never Fully Healed
If a patient starts to avoid uneven ground to see if it’s going to heal, know that it may not resolve on its own even if given enough time. A proper exam can instead be useful in identifying which joints are restricted, and fortunately, clinics can accept same-week appointments for those who need them.