When left untreated, ankle pain can quickly sideline your day. Every single thing you have to move around for becomes a major chore. Instead of simply being able to walk over and put a dish in the sink, for example, it becomes a planned out route. You put the dish in the sink, grab the list for the grocery store and the ads, grab something to drink for when you need it next, and sit as quickly as you can without hurting yourself. This is no way to live. You deserve to get past your ankle pain and on with your life. That is where we can come in and help.
Where Does Ankle Pain Come From?
There are a wide variety of causes of ankle pain. It could be that you were playing sports and you rolled your ankle, or it could be that you simply stepped on it the wrong way. Some people have weak ankles to begin with, while others suffer from this type of pain due to issues with their arches. Ankles are one of the joints in the body most susceptible to pain because of how much strain is constantly put on them. If you do one thing the wrong way, it can leave your ankle hurting for quite some time.
You can also struggle from ankle pain if you do not take care of your body. Being overweight or inactive can lead to pain all over your body, including your ankles. For some, losing weight and getting more active can help alleviate much of their pain. However, each person is different.
Ankles are also susceptible to pain from strains, sprains, fractures, and breaks, just like any other bony joint. These all need medical treatment to heal up properly. If the joint does not heal properly, it can lead to pain that lasts instead of healing and going away. Other people struggle from ankle pain after another part of their body gets out of alignment. One of the most common reasons for this type of pain is a misalignment of the spine. This causes people to walk differently, hurting the neck, shoulders, back, hips, legs, knees, and even the ankles. Thankfully, there are remedies for these types of pain that can give you your life back.
How Can You Get Rid of Ankle Pain Naturally?
When your goal is natural pain relief for your ankles, it is going to depend on what causes the pain. For some, simply losing extra weight and avoiding complacency will help. Being active helps to keep joints and muscles strong, which can alleviate pain. This may be all you need to get past some of your pain.
Other people need a bit more medical intervention to get past their ankle pain. This may mean getting the ankle braced to help it stay strong and have the extra support it needs. It could also mean that the joint needs to get stronger through options such as physical therapy. This allows the joint to slowly work up to a stronger level of functionality. When you move the joint, it is through intentional movements, which retrain the joint to move properly. This bypasses sloppy movements which are likely to increase your ankle pain.
You can also try heat and cold compresses on your ankles to help alleviate pain. The system you should go with includes having cold compresses on for no more than fifteen minutes at a time. Then, you take it off for at least the same amount of time. This reduces swelling and pain by numbing up the area. You can also do that with heat, using the same amount of time. It helps to reduce inflammation and allows the joint to move more easily.
What if You Need Help Getting Rid of Ankle Pain?
Sometimes you will not be able to move beyond ankle pain on your own. You may need a medical professional’s help to get your pain to go away. This often happens because the pain stems from some type of injury or misalignment that will not rectify itself on its own. If that is the case, you can opt for many different types of treatment. You can start off by finding out if your pain comes from something in your body not being aligned properly. If that is the case, a chiropractor is the best way to correct the issue. They can help to put your body back into proper alignment, and rid your life of constant pain.
One of the biggest benefits of getting help for your ankle pain is that the treatments can be combined to give you the best results. For example, if you have found the best relief from a chiropractic adjustment and from using heat when you are sore, put them together. Figure out a schedule that works for you and use it. By working with your medical professional, you can get the greatest levels of relief from the options you have. Sometimes one treatment plan is not quite enough.
Should You Opt for Surgery or Medications to Decrease Your Ankle Pain?
Some people will pain relieving medication or surgery to relieve their ankle pain. A few will need both. However, both of these options should be only used as a last resort. They both have potential downsides, and could hurt your body worse. You may end up struggling with just as much ankle pain as you started off with, sometimes worse. Ideally, you want to try every avenue of relief before opting for either of these options. That way, you know what works for your body without the potential side effects that surgery or medication could bring.