Ankle Strain - Naprosyn® Pain Relief

Whether you’re striving for a personal best at the gym, enjoying weekend adventures or simply navigating daily life, ankle injuries can stop you in your tracks. Read on to find out more about the common causes of ankle pain, the symptoms you may experience and the pain relief options available, such as Naprosyn^® Pain Relief.

Always consult a healthcare professional if you are worried about pain you are experiencing.

What causes ankle pain?

Ankle pain can be caused by a range of things, from overexercising to wearing the wrong shoes. Here are some of the most common causes of this type of pain:

A sprained ankle is a common injury that affects the ligaments supporting the ankle. This can happen when you stretch a muscle too much or twist it. If you have sprained your ankle, you may notice pain, swelling, and bruising, especially after intense or repetitive exercise.
Your ankle can become strained when the muscles around it are overstretched or torn. This can happen as a result of a sudden movement or from doing too much activity, like running for a long time. Aside from pain, a strained muscle can cause weakness, tenderness and swelling.
This is when the Achilles tendon (the tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone) becomes inflamed following an injury. Tendonitis can lead to pain in the ankle, heel and calf when standing on tiptoes. It can also cause joint stiffness, and interfere with the movement of the tendon.
Bursitis happens when the fluid-filled sacs (bursa) that cushion your joints become inflamed, causing pain and swelling. If you have bursitis, you may notice tenderness, warmth, redness and swelling, in addition to pain that increases when you move or press on your ankle.
Ankle arthritis occurs when the cartilage in the ankle joint becomes damaged or wears away. This can lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness, which often develop gradually over time.
If you break one or more of the bones in your ankle, it will likely be very painful and the pain may get worse over time. You may have a lot of swelling or bruising and it may hurt to move or put weight on your ankle. If you suspect you have a broken ankle, you should seek immediate medical advice.

Symptoms of ankle pain

Ankle pain can appear in different ways depending on the cause, but there are some common signs to watch for:

Pain or tenderness in and around the ankle
Swelling
Bruising
Stiffness or difficulty moving the joint
Warmth or redness over the ankle
Weakness.

Symptoms may appear suddenly after an injury, or develop gradually over time, as with arthritis. If your symptoms are severe, persistent, or if you have any loss of sensation or tingling in your foot, it’s best to seek medical advice. You should also see your GP if you are diabetic and are suffering with foot pain.

woman wearing orange trainers with ankle pain

Treatment

Whether you’re looking for an ankle muscle strain treatment or a sprained ankle treatment, the right approach will depend on the cause of your ankle pain. However, some common ways to tackle ankle pain include:

Resting with your ankle elevated where possible
Applying a towel-wrapped ice pack or bag of frozen peas to your ankle for up to 20 minutes, every couple of hours
Bandaging your ankle to give it additional support
Doing gentle stretches regularly
Wearing comfortable, wide-fit shoes with a soft sole and a low heel
Inserting soft insoles or heel pads into your footwear.

If you have an ankle sprain, it’s important to avoid the following for 72 hours after the injury:

Heat - While heat can feel soothing, it should be avoided during the first few days of an injury when inflammation is still developing. After roughly 72 hours, once the initial inflammation has settled, gentle heat can help relax muscles and ease discomfort.
Alcohol - Drinking alcohol can slow the healing process by increasing swelling and the risk of bleeding.
Running - This could make your injury worse so should be avoided.
Massage - Early on, massage can increase swelling and bleeding, but after roughly 72 hours, light massage can be soothing and help relax the muscles.

Over-the-counter treatments

In addition to the self-care tips outlined above, over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or naproxen, can help relieve ankle pain. Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that helps to ease pain and inflammation in muscles and joints. It tends to work quickly, with most people noticing some relief in about an hour.

For those looking for a convenient option containing naproxen, Naprosyn^® Pain Relief is available without a prescription and offers up to 12 hours of uninterrupted pain relief from musculoskeletal pain. Whether you’re battling ankle pain, back pain or hip pain, these tablets can help to ease your discomfort for a day undefeated by pain.