If you are having ankle pain, you should see an ankle doctor to determine why. There are many things that can cause this, two of which are listed below. You will also find information on treatment options available to help your pain go away. 

Achilles Tendinitis

If you are on your feet a lot each day, you may have Achilles tendinitis. This is caused by overusing the Achilles tendon. This tendon connects the muscles in your calf to the heel bone. This is common for people that run a lot, as well as for people that play basketball, tennis, and other sports. 

If you have this, you will have pain in your heel as well as along the length of the bottom of your foot and the side of your ankle where the tendon is located when you are running or walking. Your ankle may feel stiff when you wake up in the morning or the Achilles tendon may feel sore when you touch it. 

The most common treatment for Achilles tendinitis is at-home care. This includes resting your ankle, using ice for pain, and doing exercises to help strengthen the Achilles tendon. Your doctor can tell you the types of exercises to do or they may send you to a physical therapist. If you continue to have a lot of pain, the tendon may have ruptured. If so, surgery is required to repair the tendon. 

Bursitis

There are small sacs around your bones, muscles, and tendons that are filled with fluid. These sacs are known as bursae. When the bursae become inflamed this results in bursitis. You will find these sacs in different areas of your body, including around your ankle. As with Achilles tendinitis, bursitis is considered an overuse injury in most cases. 

If you have bursitis, you will feel pain in the back of your ankle and heel when you move your foot. Your ankle may swell, or you may feel pain if you stand on your tiptoes or lean back on your heel. You will likely start to limp while you are walking to help reduce the pain you feel in your ankle. 

An ankle doctor will ask you to rest your ankle as much as you can to prevent further damage. The pain will generally go away on its own in a few weeks. The doctor may also have you use ice on the ankle or see a physical therapist for exercises. 

There are many more things that can cause ankle pain that the ankle doctor can tell you about.