One or both ankles may swell for a short time, such as after standing for a long time or sitting during a long airline flight. Pregnancy, being overweight, and vascular problems can cause ankle swelling. Orthopedic conditions, such as a bone fracture or a sprained ankle, may cause swelling.
Swollen ankles can also indicate a potentially serious or life threatening disorder, such as congestive heart failure. You should seek prompt medical care and talk with your medical professional about your symptoms.
If you experience ankle swelling with chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, or any difficulty breathing, seek immediate medical care (call 911).
Read on to find out more about what can cause ankle swelling and when to seek medical help.
Ankle swelling can be the result of relatively minor conditions or serious ones. Injury, infections, inflammation, trauma, and heart disease may cause your ankles to swell.
In some cases, ankle swelling is a symptom of a life threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting.
Ankle swelling can occur from the following injuries:
- broken bone or other trauma
- muscle, ligament, or cartilage injury, such as a torn ligament or pulled muscle
- repetitive stress injury
Ankle sprains and treatment
Ankle sprains are a common injury for people of any age. A fall or twisting or rolling the foot during activity may result in a sprain.
A sprain means that the ligaments in the ankle have torn because they have been stretched too far. Sprains can be mild, moderate, and severe.
Most of the time, sprains do not require surgery. Even more severe sprains can heal fully with proper immobilization. However, contact your doctor if you believe you have sprained your ankle. Proper treatment can prevent complications.
Methods for treating a sprain at home include:
- taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- resting the ankle
- applying ice
- elevating the foot
- applying a compression bandage to the swelling
Swollen ankles can accompany infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune conditions, including:
| Condition | Explanation | Other symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| amyloidosis | a group of conditions that cause protein to build up in the body, more common in people over age 40 | muscle weakness, fatigue, pins and needles, memory difficulties, diarrhea, swelling in the tongue |
| bursitis | inflammation of the bursa, which are sacs of fluid near joints in the body, usually due to excessive pressure | flushed skin under the heel, pain and swelling in the foot, especially during weight bearing activities |
| gout | a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints | severe pain, especially when sleeping; continuous soreness and discomfort; flushed skin; fatigue |
| infection | any type of infection in the ankle, including infected wounds or insect bites | flushed skin, warmth, oozing pus |
| osteoarthritis | the most common type of arthritis, can affect any joint, including the ankle | pain or aching during activity, joint stiffness after resting, clicking or popping joints, weakness, joint instability |
| rheumatoid arthritis | the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, usually affects multiple joints | pain, aching, tenderness, and stiffness in multiple joints; weight loss; fever; fatigue |
| septic arthritis | joint infection, usually a bacterial type, usually affects one larger joint but can affect several smaller joints at once | sudden, severe joint pain; fever; swelling; difficulty moving the joint |
| lupus | a chronic condition that can cause different parts of the body to swell | joint pain, skin rashes, fatigue, ulcers, hair loss, weight loss, swollen lymph glands |
Ankle swelling may result from disorders related to the circulatory system, such as:
| Condition | Explanation | Other symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| cardiomyopathy | a group of conditions causing thickened, weakened, or otherwise irregular heart muscle and function | shortness of breath, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, palpitations, fainting |
| cardiovascular disease | disorders of the heart including heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, which may be the result of atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries | chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, difficulty speaking, heart palpitations |
| deep vein thrombosis | a blood clot that forms in the leg | tender, swollen, flushed skin; pain; irregular heartbeat; chest pain; difficulty breathing |
| endocarditis | an infection inside the heart | rapid or slow progression of fever; chills; sweats; headaches; difficulty breathing; small dots on the skin |
| Kawasaki disease | a rare condition involving blood vessel inflammation, most common in children | rashes; bloodshot eyes; swollen lymph nodes; red, swollen lips; irritability; peeling fingers and toes |
| pericarditis | inflammation of the lining that surrounds the heart | sharp chest pain, pain in one or both shoulders, fever, weakness, difficulty breathing, cough |
| peripheral arterial disease | narrowing or blockage of the arteries from a buildup of fat and cholesterol on the artery walls | leg pain while walking, cramping while lying down, coldness in the legs or feet, sores, changes in toenails |
| varicose veins | swollen, usually blue veins that often occur in the legs | aching, heavy feeling in the legs, muscle cramps in the legs, dry skin, color changes in the legs |
Always tell your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using. These include prescription and over-the-counter medications, supplements, and herbal or alternative treatments.
The following medications may cause ankle swelling:
- blood pressure medications
- birth control pills
- hormone therapy
- antidepressants
- steroids
Before stopping any medications you take, discuss it with your doctor.
Other conditions or factors that can lead to swollen ankles include:
- being overweight
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- fluid retention, such as during pregnancy or as a symptom of premenstrual syndrome
- hyponatremia, very low sodium, which is a life threatening condition
- hypothyroidism
- kidney or liver failure
- lymphatic obstruction
- nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disorder
- preeclampsia, a serious condition that can develop during pregnancy
- pulmonary hypertension
Ankle swelling that occurs with certain other symptoms might indicate a serious or life threatening condition. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone with you, has swelling and symptoms such as:
- abdominal swelling
- chest pain, which may be dull, heavy, or sharp
- confusion
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- fever of 103oF (39oC) or higher in adults
- increased or decreased urine output
- indigestion or abdominal pain
- nausea or vomiting
- neck, jaw, shoulder, or arm pain
- red and warm skin
- shortness of breath or wheezing
- unexplained weight gain
To diagnose the underlying cause of ankle swelling, your doctor or licensed healthcare practitioner will ask questions about your symptoms. These include:
- What is the exact location of the swelling?
- Describe the swelling. When did the swelling start? Does it come and go, or is it constant?
- Are any other body areas swelling?
- Are you experiencing any pain, shortness of breath, or other symptoms?
In addition to complete answers to these questions, you should provide your full medical history. This includes all medical conditions, surgeries and treatments, and family history. Also provide a complete list of the medications and dietary supplements that you take.
For minor causes, such as standing for long periods of time, try to relieve the swelling at home by:
- raising your legs
- walking, or doing other gentle exercises
- wearing wide, comfortable shoes
- washing, drying, and moisturizing your feet
You should speak to a doctor if you are concerned about your ankle swelling or are experiencing other symptoms. The appropriate course of treatment will depend on diagnosing the cause.
Ankle swelling may be due to standing for extended periods of time or sitting during a flight. Swelling may also signify an injury to the ankle, a condition relating to the heart, or an infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune disorder. Examples include arthritis, a sprained ankle, or an infection of the heart muscle.
Identifying other symptoms and recent injuries can help you and your doctor understand what is causing the ankle swelling.
Treatment for ankle swelling will depend on its cause.
