Common causes of ankle pain

Ankle pain is often caused by exercising too much or wearing shoes that are too tight, but it can be caused by lots of things.

Do not try to diagnose the cause of your pain yourself.

Possible symptoms and causes of ankle pain
Symptoms	Possible cause
Pain, swelling, bruising, started after intense or repetitive exercise	Sprained ankle
Pain in ankle and heel, pain in calf when standing on tiptoes	Achilles tendonitis
Redness and swelling, dull aching pain	Bursitis
Sudden sharp pain, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury, difficulty walking, ankle at odd angle	Broken ankle

Important

If you think you may have broken your ankle, do not try to treat it yourself. Contact NHS 111 to find out what to do.

How you can ease ankle pain yourself

You may be able to treat the pain yourself if your ankle isn't broken.

Do

rest and raise your ankle when you can
put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your ankle for up to 20 minutes, every 2 to 3 hours
wear wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole
use soft insoles or heel pads in your shoes
wrap a bandage around your ankle to support it
try regular gentle stretching exercises
use painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen gel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed)

Don’t

do not walk or stand for long periods
do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes

A pharmacist can help with ankle pain

You can ask a pharmacist about:

the best painkiller to take
insoles and pads for your shoes
if you need to see a GP

Find a pharmacy

Find out more about managing ankle pain, including exercises you can do, on the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy website

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

ankle pain is stopping you doing normal activities
the pain is getting worse or keeps coming back
the pain has not improved after treating it at home for 2 weeks
you have any tingling or loss of feeling in your foot
you have diabetes and foot pain – foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

Urgent advice: Contact NHS 111 if:

you have severe ankle pain
you feel faint, dizzy or sick from the pain
your ankle or foot has changed shape or is at an odd angle
you heard a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of injury
you are not able to walk

These might be signs of a broken ankle or an infection.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Self-refer for treatment

If you have ankle pain, you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP. These may include musculoskeletal and physiotherapy services.

To find out if there are any services in your area:

ask the reception staff at your GP surgery
check your GP surgery's website
contact your integrated care board (ICB) – find your local ICB
search online for NHS treatment for ankle pain near you