Due to hurricane damage, the Havelock location is closed until further notice. Havelock therapists Hannah Zhang, Sarah Hall and Judy Hickes are available to see patients at the New Bern location. Please call the New Bern location at (252) 636-9800 to discuss your care.

Three reasons for ankle pain from walking with no swelling

Ankle Pain From Walking but No Swelling

Ankle pain is fairly common, but most people expect to have a sprain or a fracture when their ankle hurts. If you have ankle pain from walking but no swelling, you may be stumped about the cause of your symptoms. Here are three ankle conditions that can lead to pain during movement but not cause swelling. 

  1. Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis can attack many joints in the body, including the ankle. This condition could easily be the reason you feel ankle pain from walking but don’t have any swelling. The cartilage in the body’s joints is gradually worn away as people get older, and this wear and tear is called osteoarthritis. Many people experience joint swelling when they have this condition. However, every person experiences this condition differently, so it’s possible to have osteoarthritis pain without visible swelling. This is especially true in the early stages of this condition. 

  1. Peripheral neuropathy

Another condition that can cause ankle pain from walking without causing swelling is peripheral neuropathy. The peripheral nerves include all those that aren’t in the brain or spinal cord. These nerves are found in most parts of the body, and they can become pinched or damaged. When they are, the result is called peripheral neuropathy. This condition can lead to sharp or burning pain in the affected area, and it can also cause tingling and numbness. A blow to the ankle or lower leg while playing sports or working could damage nerves near the ankle, and this could be the source of your symptoms. 

  1. Bruising

A bad bruise on your ankle could also lead to ankle pain from walking but no swelling. Bruises on the ankle are very common in people who play high-impact sports like football, rugby and soccer. Baseball players can also get a bad ankle bruise from contact with another player who’s sliding into a base. This type of injury can also be one that you get at work. 

Get help with your ankle pain from walking with no swelling at Peak Performance

Ankle pain from walking can make your life much more difficult, even if there is no swelling. At Peak Performance, our team can help you treat issues that can cause these symptoms. We offer free screenings, and these are designed to help us figure out the root cause of your pain. After pinpointing the pain source, our team will build you a personalized therapy plan, and this plan may be designed using therapy techniques like: 

Are you ready to start getting our help with your ankle pain? Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.