Is there something structurally wrong with my ankle?

[XMan]

I have sprained my left ankle about 10 times in the last few years, and it always seems to happen the same way. I won't be paying attention, and I'll step in a crack or something, and my ankle will buckle, turning my foot inside. It hurts like a mofo, obviously.

Is there something wrong with the outside of it that might be causing this? Should I get an MRI or something?

 

[sheselectric]

well, i sprained my ankle for the first time in january 2000, and i've sprained it twice ever since. once the tendon's been stretched like that once, it's really easy to do it again and again. you should wear a brace or something...it sounds like your ankle's pretty weak.

 

[jorken]

I've sprained both of my ankles many-a-times. I think its just "weak" ankles, my sisters sprains her all the time, and so does my dad. It does suck when you go down and hear/feel that pop, and you just know.

 

[minendo]

I have suffered many sprained ankles over the years while playing soccer. From what I have been told by trainers, the ankle just becomes weaker after you sprain it. I once sprained my ankle so bad that I had to sit out for 6 weeks during high school soccer season. I was pissed, but now if I do sprain it I am up and playing again the next day.

 

[Instan00dles]

I dont know if I have a sprained ankle but alot of times when I am walking I will setp down the wrong way and my ankle just give out and I fall to the ground. After that it hurts alot for about a day.

 

[911paramedic]

Once you do it, your ankle is more prone to have it happen again and again. The tendons and ligaments get stretched out and will never be the same without surgery. Thats why I always say it is better to break a bone, it heals stronger than before.

 

[datalink7]

I've sprained my ankel only about 6 times in the last couple of years, and I play soccer. You probably have a somewhat weak ankle

 

[WombatWoman]

X-Man,

A predisposition to ankle sprains may be due to a benign neurological condition called "delayed proprioception," in which the brain fails to sense the body's position as rapidly as is needed (particularly during sports or running, when split-second changes need to be made in the body's gait in order to remain stable).

Other things that can lead to frequent ankle sprains: obesity (even moderate obesity) forces the body into an unnatural standing position which can place stress on the talo-fibular ligament (on the outer part of the ankle.) Many people have small structural ankle or leg abnormalities that cause toeing-in or a knock-kneed stance. Look at the pattern of wear on the soles and heels of your shoes. Is it even, or are there signs of pronation (excessive wear on the inner edge of the sole) or supination (excessive wear on the outer edge)? Some people are helped by wearing shoes with firm ankle support (hi-top basketball shoes, for instance). This doesn't fix the underlying problem, but it can help prevent further sprains.

If the problem is of great concern to you, a physician may be able to help. You might ask your regular doc to refer you to an orthopedist (ideally, one with a specialty in sports medicine.)

~Wombat"Take Two Aspirins and Call Me for an Appointment Six Months from Now"Woman~

 

[Vic]

It's possible that you may have torn or stretched ligaments in your ankle. I have this problem myself due to some very severe sprains in the past. The important damaged ligaments that would make your ankle turn inward are 3 that line the outsides of your "ankle bone" and form a kind of triangle. You may want to have a doctor check them out, there is surgery for this if it is serious.

 

[tcsenter]

Ha! I twisted both ankles a few times, then I broke my left ankle when it folded over as I jumped to catch a ball and landed off-balance. Yes, there could be something 'structurally' wrong with your ankle that may have needed correction when you were a child, but if you're at or past puberty now its a little too late for a minor correction. Eventually, the joint will wear and correct itself, but it can leave the ankle a bit unstable. As already been noted, once you really wrench a joint good the ligaments and tendons get stretched and never really go back, so instability is always a higher risk.

The only thing I can recommend is to see a sports medicine specialist and ask about exercises that you can do to strengthen the ankle, wear supportive shoes (mid or high tops) and consider a sports wrap.

On edit, I should note that today my left ankle (the one I fractured) is so unstable from multiple strains that I can just be standing still some times and it will fold over when I switch my weight from one foot to the other. FUN!

 

[jaydee]

I dunno. PICS?

 

[AlwaysWong]

Just be REAL careful from now on. I twisted my right ankle 3 times this past summer playing basketball. I wish I could get a new one.

 

[XMan]

Hmm.

When I was born, my dad says my legs were bowed outward.

If I stand in the mirror and look, they angle slightly inward at my knees . . . shouldn't they be straight? That's freaky, I never noticed that before . . . :Q

 

[mastertech01]

There were a few years when I could easily get ankle sprains after I had a severe sprain when i was about 17. After I started running regularly in the Army PT programs the problem seemed to go away. I dont know if that had anything to do with it, but just an observation