Ankle pain - periosteum

simmo3801

I have had a niggling pain in my ankle for quite a while now. If I'm sitting at work for a while when I get up I sometimes feel a weakness in my left ankle. I also feel sometimes that I need to "crack" my ankle by rotating it until it literally cracks. However it never does now. I went to doc who said I was walking on outside edge of my left foot but referred me to physio to check. The physio has found where the problem is but has no idea what it is! It's on the front, outside of my left shin aprox 2 inches above my ankle. When she sticks her thumb in it and rubs it it's agony but as usual feels much better a few days later. She says there is nothing there that should cause probs. The only thing she can suggest is that the periosteum, thin layer over bone, is damaged. It certainly feels crunchy when I rub it.

Anybody have any idea how I can sort this?
I've looked online but can't find anything specifically relating to repair of same.

Any ideas would be much apreciated.

Chrissz

Rest it and treat with alternating hot and cold compresses (appx. 10min each X 2 or 3). You should also look at your shoes - do they have a high heel? Do you wear trainers that put the pivot point (i.e. the back of the shoe that first touches the ground) a long way behind your heel bone?

It sounds as if you may have pulled part of the muscle that runs up the front of the shin (google 'tibialis anterior') or it may well be that the muscle has developed faster than the bone (google 'Osgood Schlatters disease').

Either way, you need (IMI) to rest it up and identify the cause. Try speaking to a Sports Physio who can examine how you walk/cycle to figure out the cause. Until the cause is identified you risk either creating more problems or a recurring injury!

Good luck

simmo3801

Ok thanks Chris.

I've had a look at Osgoods but most references refer to a problem in the young. I'm 42 so not sure that would apply to me. I had a micro discectomy approx 9 years after a prolapsed disc in my lower back and since that my girlfriend notices that I have more muscle on one side of my back than other. Funnily enough physio said my left leg had larger muscle than right. I just put that down to being left handed and so naturally using that leg more ie putting that foot forward first etc.

I will find a sports physio!

Chrissz

simmo3801 wrote:

my girlfriend notices that I have more muscle on one side of my back than other. Funnily enough physio said my left leg had larger muscle than right. !

That is your most likely cause! You have asymetric muscle hypertrophy (lopsided muscle development)

A decent sports physio will identify which specific muscles are out of kilter and give you some remedial exercises to redress the imbalance.

It could well be that the disc op put you off balance (tilted your hips) and the leg muscles then developed differently to compensate.

Hope it works out ok for you mate.

simmo3801

For about a year before the op I was quite badly shifted to one side because of sciatic nerve pain so I think you could be right! Thanks again I will mention that to physio.

Thanks for taking the time to reply you've given me a glimmer of hope!

Chrissz

simmo3801 wrote:

For about a year before the op I was quite badly shifted to one side because of sciatic nerve pain so I think you could be right! Thanks again I will mention that to physio.

No worries - hope the info is of some use

simmo3891 wrote:

Thanks for taking the time to reply you've given me a glimmer of hope!

And when all else fails there's always surgery

But seriously, please speak to a sports physio who will be able to give you a much more accurate diagnosis and some good rehab exercises.