An ankle that keeps catching may have a damaged joint surface
A foot and ankle surgeon and a physical therapist share their view
The talus is the lower bone of your ankle joint. A hard hit or a bad twist can damage the smooth cartilage that covers it, along with the bone beneath. Doctors call this an osteochondral lesion. The first round of swelling may go down. Then deep pain, swelling that comes back, catching or locking can linger. A normal X ray doesn’t always rule it out. [1]
Don’t assume every sprained ankle heals on the same schedule. Symptoms that hang on need a doctor’s review. [1]
Pin down what's causing the trouble
Tell your doctor where you feel the pain. Say whether the ankle really locks in place or just feels stiff. The exam checks how stable the joint is and looks for other injuries. When X rays are unclear, an MRI or CT scan may help show the damaged surface. [1]
Ask how big the lesion is and where it sits. Find out if any piece has broken loose. Some findings cause no symptoms and need no procedure. [1]
Treatment that fits your ankle
A smaller or stable lesion may be treated with a stretch of limited weight on the foot and some protection. Therapy comes later. If your symptoms persist or a piece is loose, your doctor may bring up other options. One is arthroscopy, a surgery done through small cuts with a tiny camera. Another kind of repair is also possible. [1]
There are several ways to do the surgery. Ask which one suits your lesion and how long your walking will be limited. Find out what improvement you can realistically expect. Treating an unstable ankle may also be part of the plan. [1]
Notice when things take a turn
Contact your foot and ankle team if the joint locks again and again. Do the same if swelling keeps coming back or walking feels less steady. After a new injury, get urgent care if the foot turns cold or blue or goes numb for the first time. [1]
Questions about your ankle joint
- Is there damage to the joint surface, or is something else causing the pain?
- Has any piece broken loose?
- What would make you switch from protecting the ankle to doing a procedure?
Log every catch and flare
Each time the ankle catches or swells, jot it down. Note what you were doing at the time. [1]
Sources and further reading
Here you’ll find general education from foot and ankle surgery and physical therapy. Damage to the ankle’s joint surface is one possible reason symptoms linger. Your treatment will depend on the lesion and any other ankle injuries.
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