What Are Swollen Ankles a Sign Of?

Swollen ankles can be a result of overuse or injury, arthritis conditions, pregnancy, certain prescription drugs and other medical conditions.

Ankle swelling can be a common symptom of many different conditions, such as:

• Foot or ankle injury
  • Sprained ankle 
  • Foot fracture
  • Tendonitis
  • Bursitis
  • Muscle strains
  • Ligament strains
• Arthritis and other autoimmune conditions
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Gout
  • Lupus
  • Reactive arthritis
• Infection
  • Sores are common in people with diabetic neuropathy and other nerve problems of the feet 
  • Ingrown toenail
  • Athlete’s foot
• Venous insufficiency 
  • Varicose veins 
  • Spider veins
• Blood clot in the veins of the legs 
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Lymphedema
• Heart, liver, and kidney disease 
• Pregnancy 
  • Often a normal sign
  • Can be due to complications such as preeclampsia
• Medication side effects
  • Hormones such as estrogen and testosterone
  • Calcium channel blockers    
  • Steroids
  • Antidepressants    
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 
  • Diabetes medications

Treatment for swollen ankles depends on the cause. 

Treatment for swollen ankles due to foot or ankle injury includes:

• Rest 
• Ice 
• Compression wrap the foot or ankle 
• Elevate the foot 
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain
• Range of motion exercises (depending on the type of injury)
• Splints and braces
• Surgery

Treatment for swollen ankles due to arthritis and other autoimmune conditions depends on the condition and may include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Steroids
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

Treatment for swollen ankles due to infection depends on the type of infection and may include:

• Sores due to diabetic neuropathy and other nerve problems 
• Wound cleansing and management
• Antibiotics
• Surgery
  • Ingrown toenail
  • Lifting the nail (may done at home)
  • Partially removing the nail or removing the nail and tissue in more severe cases
• Athlete’s foot
  • Antifungal cream/lotion/gel

Treatment for swollen ankles due to venous insufficiency includes:

• Elevating the legs above heart level for 30 minutes three or four times per day 
• Foot and ankle exercises 
• Compression therapy 
• Compression stockings 
• Intermittent pneumatic compression pumps 
• Compression bandages 
• Medications 
  • Aspirin
  • Antibiotics for infection of sores
  • Horse chestnut seed extract 

Treatment for swollen ankles due to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) includes:

• Anticoagulants
• Thrombolytic therapy, in severe cases
• Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter 

Treatment for swollen ankles due to lymphedema includes:

• Skin care
• Weight management
• Physiotherapy
• Compression therapy (i.e., compression bandaging, compression garments)
• Surgery, for severe cases

Treatment for swollen ankles due to heart, liver, or kidney disease includes:

• Treating the underlying condition
• Reducing the amount of salt (sodium) in the diet
• Diuretics to eliminate excess fluid
• Compression stockings

Treatment for swollen ankles due to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia includes:

• The only treatment is delivery
• If preeclampsia occurs before term, there is an attempt to delay delivery to 37 weeks 

Treatment for swollen ankles due to medication side effects includes:

• Stopping or switching medications
• Changing the dosage
  • Never stop taking a prescribed medication without first talking to your doctor