Help :( constant pain for over 4 years in both ankles, nobody knows what it is

Foot care
1

Hello everybody, Im reaching to you because I need closure, an answer, a solution, anything. Ive been going to different doctors the past few years, traumatologists, rheumatologists, physical therapists and no one gives me a straight answer, some of them even said it was because of stress or that i was making it up, I AM NOT.  I have constant pain in both of my ankles, it feels like it is in all of the tendons and ligaments and in both of my legs.

To give you more details, I used to run a lot, I was part of my schools track and field team. One year, I think it was 2013 going to 2014 I was training very hard with little rest for a competition and i just felt a stabbing pain in one of them, my uncle who is a doctor told me not to compete but I still did and while i had some discomfort i kept with it for 4 more months until the pain was to big for me to even walk normally. The thing is i went to a doctor, and he said he didn't see anything weird, it wasn't even swollen but it hurt when he touched it so he sent me to rehab.  I did rehab for about 4 months and nothing changed, it still hurt and because i was putting my weight in my other ankle most of the time it started hurting too. From then on came all the visits to doctos, more rehab, misdiagnoses, even an injection of cortisone and a weird hitting s**t on of them did in my aquiles tendon.  Still, no solution. Im still in pain.  It has significantly decreased this past years, at first it was really unbearable and 24/7, now I think I just got used to  it but it hurts throughout the day, mostly in the mornings after I wake up, ALWAYS if i try to do some sort of exercise, even walking a lot or even standing for too long, but i can't exercise like i used too and it really made a negative change and burden to my life to not be able to even walk long distances or use heels, stand up at concerts, etc without being in pain.  Ive had had all of the test that i could have gotten taken, even for lupus, fibromyalgia (which i was diagnosed when all of my body started hurting i think because of things that made me stress in those years and the impotence of what happened to my future because of my injury (i wanted to go to college with a scholarship) i don't get those pains anymore, only when im really stressed, so i know its not part of the ankle pain because that is always there and was there before), blood tests, MRIs, scans, and everything is fu##ing perfect. 

I really tried to make this short, i just want to know if someone has been through the same or something similar, if you know what it is, if you don't, i just need to hear something else rather that it is "bursitis, tendentious, synovitis,, its NOTHING", i want to be believed in and maybe find the answer.

Thank u for taking your time reading this. This is my last bit of hope.

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So I dont think anyone can really make you feel betyer except the doctor that fonally gives you something that helps. I have experienced joint pain thru many areas of my body for years and I have flair ups. I've also been tested for Lupas, RA, and other auto immune diseases I've never heard of before being tested. The only positi e I ever have is an inflamation factor in my blood that pops up on the Lupas panel or RA test, but a complete panel comfirms negative for Lupas. Anyway, I believe I have a form of reumatoid arthritis that just isn't being detected (I have heard if this a few times). There is no actual test for fibromyalgia though, and sometimes I get strange pains on my arms that feel like I was punched and have a terrible bruise, but nothing is there. I have refused fibromyalgia meds but I was finally perscribed 15mg of meloxicam (mobic), which helps me tremendously. I'm not perfect but I am significantly and noticably in less pain and able to live more normally day to day.

As a side note, if you havent been to a pediatrist I would strongly suggest going that route. I was turned away but ortho docs for 7 years. I went to a pediatrist and 4 mo ths later had surgery. My issue was much different tho; I needed an ankle fusion for a 23 year old injury. But orthos kept telling me, it looks great, there's nithing I can do here. Meanwhile, I'm limping and have an ankle that obviously has osteohypertrophy that you can see witht he naked eye (over bone growth making it appear much larger than the other ankle).

Good luck, I know what it is to be in chronic pain and doctors treating you like youre full of crap because you look perfevtly healthy. Other than my ankle you would never know by looking at me the issue that plague me.

3

Hey Ceedosky,

Please don't be too dismayed by your chronic ankle pain history. I'm sure if you are persistent and dedicated to rightfully claiming back your healthy ankle you will get there. Only those who give up trying or become complacent are truly lost.

I would run, not walk, away from any practitioner who poo-poos or dismisses any chronic ankle complaints as 'it's just all in your head-- I see nothing wrong with you'.

I wouldn't begin to try and guess the cause of your pain, but it probably boils down to ankle soft tissue injury somewhere along the line, perhaps when you were engaged in intense competitive sports. I have heard that both professional and amateur runners can develop long-standing ankle issues from over-training or simply wear and tear in careers in fields like long-distance running.

I suffer (but much, much improved now) from a not-uncommon ailment found among these dedicated athletes-- PTTD, or post tibial tendon dysfunction (this resulted from my ankle fracture and sprain, not sports). Post tib tendon can be torn or stretched beyond normal limits from stress of repeated running, jumping, etc, and sometimes it can develop later on in life in non-athletes from daily insults of wear and tear.

You apparently haven't found the right doctor who will go the extra mile to help you find the cause of your ailment and treat it successfully. Don't give up.

In meantime you might try a strong ankle brace or small CAM boot when the pain is worst, or you have to do a lot of standing or walking. This will give the ankle a little breathing room from repeated stress, and hopefully prevent more possible injury.

Good luck to you. Let us know if you find the help you are looking for.

 

4

Hey Ceedosky,

It gets discouraging and frustrating to be told there's nothing wrong when you live in daily pain. I second the opinion of seeing a podiatrist. In the meantime, try a footbath with epsom salt for about a week to see if it helps some. I would also suggest doing ankle stretches while still laying in bed every morning before getting up! I wish you the best of luck and I hope you are pain free soon! 😊