Good foot and ankle health is essential for walking and standing. Any pain that appears in this area therefore quickly becomes disabling.

Ankle and foot pain can have multiple origins:

• articular
• bone
• related to tendons
• related to poor blood circulation
• related to shock or trauma
• related to a malformation or a static disorder (flat feet, etc.)
• related to deformities of the feet
• related to poor footwear, etc.

Do not delay in consulting a doctor or podiatrist in case of pain, in order to maintain as much as possible good mobility.

The causes are very varied and it is impossible to list them all. The consultation with the doctor will allow to know more by better specifying the pain, in particular:

• its location
• its character (mechanical, inflammatory, nocturnal, etc.)
• associated signs (stiffness, deformation of the toes, inflammation, etc.)

Ankle and foot mobility will also be examined, including:

• the so-called “tibio-tarsal” joint, which allows flexion and extension movements of the foot
• the subtalar joint (left-right movements)
• tarso-metatarsal joints
• palpation of the Achilles tendon, su calacaneum, & c.

An x-ray can also help the doctor, if necessary, make the diagnosis.

The causes can of course be traumatic: sprains, tendonitis, injuries, fractures of all kinds, Achilles tendon rupture, etc.

In the ankle, pain can also be linked to osteoarthritis, which often appears following repeated injuries (for example in former athletes who have sprained their ankles many times). The ankle can also be the site of inflammation, in cases of rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory rheumatism.

Gout or spondyloarthropathies can also affect the ankle and foot.

Achilles tendonitis is common. They are painful and sometimes cause inflammation (swelling, redness) of the tendon at the back of the foot.

Less obviously, circulatory diseases like diabetic arteritis can cause pain or sores in the foot. Venous insufficiency can also be the cause of ankle and foot pain, swelling (edema), cramps, etc.

It is important that people with diabetes regularly monitor their feet and consult as soon as the slightest lesion appears.

If you feel pain under the foot, that the sore foot is localized to the heel, it may be caused by a “heel spur”, which forms under the heel bone, the calcaneus. The heel spur gives the impression that a nail enters the heel with every step!

If the pain concerns the toes, and is accompanied by deformities of the toes, it may be, for example, a hallux valgus, the famous “onion”.

So, faced with such a wide range of causes, any pain in the foot or ankle, which persists or interferes with walking, should definitely be examined by a doctor.

Because of their impact on walking, foot and ankle pain should not be minimized. They can hinder mobility, and lead to a fear of walking (and therefore to a decrease in physical activity).

Everything obviously depends on the cause.

In the event of an attack of osteoarthritis, analgesics such as paracetamol can be used to relieve the pain. In some cases, infiltrations may be offered in painful joints.

Rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, application of ice, elevation of the foot can for their part be advised in case of sprain or minor trauma.

If there is a static disorder, it can eventually be corrected by wearing insoles. It is also necessary to favor high-top and well-adapted shoes.

Finally, while waiting for the pain to subside or in case of permanent discomfort, the use of a cane or crutches may be required to allow walking.