What Causes Swelling And Fluid Retention In Ankle?

Posted on Tue, 23 Jun 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 Answered on

Fri, 10 Jul 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : About 3 weeks ago, my right ankle started bothering me. I had been on it a good part of the day and was wearing flat sandels. I thought it was from overuse, and the muscles were sore and it would go away after a few days. Well that didn't happen. It continued to ache and bother me when applying weight. Around a week ago, I was coming down the stairs carefully. While stepping on the ankle I thought I felt a kind of minor crunching. When I applied my weight, it hurt more than it had. I also noticed swelling, not noticeable before. No discoloration, but swelling around the base of the ankle bone on the outside of my ankle. This also is where I have been having the pain. This started Memorial Day weekend and I have been limping and babying it. I wrapped it for a few days after the crunching, but it didn't seem to make much of a difference. Helped the pain some, but ankle didn't really improve. Do I have to see some one? Can you get fluid around your ankle, like you can with your knees? Do I have to stay off it? It isn't edema, it is the joint for sure.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Shruti Rijhwani (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Needs evaluation .

Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,

Thank you for posting your query on HCM.

Well looking into your problem I would like to tell you that yes you can get fluid and swelling around ankle as you get around knees but the cause needs to be determined . It could be due to trauma or some other inflammatory conditions like gout which needs to be find out.

I will suggest you to get a USG ankle done along with uric acid levels . Also if there is no contraindication you can take a course of antiinflamamtories like naproxen 500 mg twice daily for 5 days after consulting your treating doctor . Hot water fomentation and giving rest to the ankle is advisable . If it doesnt improve by all these measures further testing would be recommended . Any other query please feel free to ask .

Take care.

Dr. Shruti

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar