Why Do My Knees And Ankles Hurt - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

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It can be exhausting (not to mention debilitating) to have pain in your feet, ankles or knees. When you think how hard your feet and legs work – from walking and standing to climbing stairs and driving – it’s easy to see why foot and leg pain can have such a detrimental impact on your life.

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Here are some common causes of lower leg and foot pain and possible treatments…

Foot problems

Foot pain is common and may affect the arches or soles of the feet, the heels or the toes. There can be many different causes, from wearing shoes that place too much pressure on the toes or that don’t fit properly through to activities like running or high impact exercise that can cause stress injuries. If you are overweight or pregnant you may have painful feet or if you sustain an injury, such as a fracture, sprain or tendinitis.

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Alongside lifestyle factors, foot pain can be due to medical issues. Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain. It is the result of inflammation of the fascia – a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting the heel bone to the base of your toes, which acts as a shock absorber when you walk. The fascia can develop small tears and may stretch, causing inflammation. Plantar fasciitis normally improves with rest, ice and strengthening exercises but rarely you may need a steroid injection or surgery to repair the tissues.

Other possible reasons for experiencing foot pain include gout, Morton’s neuroma which is thickening of the nerve tissue near the ball of the foot, toe deformity such as hammer toes, or common foot conditions like ingrowing toenails and bunions. Depending on the type and severity of the problem, you may be able to treat the condition at home with rest, painkillers or foot pads to prevent rubbing on the affected area. In some cases, you may need specialist medical treatment.

Stiff or aching knees

There is a misconception that osteoarthritis only affects older people. However, this type of arthritis can develop at any age and in any joint, including the knees. It is due to deterioration of the cartilage that protects the knee joint and it causes worsening pain, stiffness and swelling. Once osteoarthritis starts it cannot be reversed, however, it is possible to slow down the process and there are treatments available to relieve the pain and help you live an active life. In the early stages, you can normally treat osteoarthritis using painkillers, anti-inflammatory medication and the RICE approach (rest, ice, compression and elevation to reduce swelling and pain).

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Physiotherapy exercises can help to strengthen your leg muscles to relieve pressure on your joint. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease which means the symptoms will intensify as it develops. If you have worsening knee pain, you may need to wear a knee brace or consider having injections of corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid into the joint. Once the pain becomes severe, you are likely to require surgery. Arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery can be used to remove loose cartilage in the joint or you may need a partial or total knee replacement.

While osteoarthritis is the most common cause of knee pain, it is not the only one. If you have suffered a traumatic or overuse injury, you may tear your ligaments or tendons. A dull aching pain at the front of your knee may be due to patellofemoral pain syndrome caused by maltracking of this joint with subsequent swelling and irritation. If you have pain, swelling or a feeling that your knee is sticking or locking you might have a chronic degenerative meniscal tear which could require surgery or treatment with physiotherapy exercises. Certain types of infection or conditions like gout can also cause knee pain.

It is important to get a proper diagnosis which might include imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound or MRI scans.

Ankle pain

Some ankle pain is the result of an obvious injury, such as a fall, heavy impact or turning your ankle over during a high impact sport like running or jumping. You may sprain your ankle, which is where you twist or tear the ligaments, or sustain a traumatic injury like a fracture. The latter normally causes a sudden sharp pain and may be accompanied by a snapping or popping sound.

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Another type of fracture is a stress fracture, caused by repetitive movements or intensive activity which places the feet and ankles under stress. These might occur if you suddenly increase the intensity of your workout, for example, or you start running on a hard surface. You may be particularly prone to stress fractures if you have a condition like osteoporosis which weakens the bones. Other conditions that can cause ankle pain include bursitis, which occurs when the fluid-filled sacks that cushion the ankle become inflamed, and Achilles tendonitis, which is swelling and inflammation of the Achilles tendon following an injury.

What to do if you are in pain

Whatever type of pain you are experiencing, it is advisable to rest, avoid strenuous activity and seek medical help if it is severe or if it does not get better. A diagnosis can help you to understand what is causing your symptoms and how best to treat them. Maintaining a healthy body weight, keeping your muscles and joints strong and flexible and keeping fit and active can also help to prevent lower leg and foot problems.