Condition
Swollen Ankles: Causes and Treatment
Swelling is a symptom, not a diagnosis. We find out whether it comes from the foot and ankle — and tell you when it does not.
About the condition
What swollen ankles is
Symptoms
Get urgent care if
- One leg suddenly swells and is painful, warm or red — this can be a blood clot
- Swelling comes with shortness of breath, chest pain or feeling faint — call 911
- The ankle swelled after an injury and you cannot put weight on it
- Swelling comes with fever or a wound that is not healing
Causes and usual care
When swelling comes from the foot and ankle, it is usually around one ankle and comes with pain in a particular spot: on the outside after a sprain, along the inner ankle with a posterior tibial tendon problem, at the back with Achilles trouble, or across the front of the joint with arthritis. Swelling in both ankles that comes and goes through the day, without pain, more often has a cause elsewhere in the body.
Treatment depends entirely on the cause. Swelling from an injury or an irritated tendon is usually managed with rest, elevation, compression and support while the tissue heals. Swelling from the veins, heart, kidneys, liver or a medicine is managed by your primary care physician or the right specialist — not by a foot and ankle practice.
Regenerative care
Where regenerative care may fit
- Swelling around one ankle that comes with pain from an injury, tendon or joint
- A sprain or tendon problem that keeps the ankle swollen and sore months later
- Ankle arthritis that causes swelling and stiffness
Not everyone is a candidate. Our physicians evaluate your condition and imaging before recommending any treatment.
When it is not the right answer
Regenerative medicine does not treat swelling caused by the heart, kidneys, liver, veins, a blood clot, pregnancy or a medicine. If that is what we find, we will say so and send you back to your primary care physician.
Your options
Regenerative options we may use
Where we treat it
Our locations
Most consultations begin as a telehealth call, so you can start without travelling to a clinic.
Swollen Ankles — common questions
When are swollen ankles an emergency?
Get urgent care if one leg suddenly swells and is painful, warm or red, which can be a blood clot. Call 911 if swelling comes with shortness of breath, chest pain or feeling faint.
Why is only one of my ankles swollen?
Swelling around one ankle often comes from something in that ankle — a sprain, a tendon problem or arthritis — but it can also be a blood clot, so sudden painful swelling in one leg needs urgent care. A physician can examine the ankle and review imaging to find the source.
Can you treat my swelling?
We treat swelling that comes from an injury, tendon or joint problem in the foot and ankle. If the cause is elsewhere in the body, we will tell you and refer you back to your primary care physician.
Is the consultation free?
Yes. Your consultation is free, and you will get specific numbers for your own plan before you commit to anything. Most consultations begin as a telehealth call.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed. If you have imaging, a physician will review it as part of your consultation.
Request an evaluation
Request your free consultation
Tell us what's going on and we'll call you back to arrange a time. Most consultations begin as a telehealth call, so you can start without travelling to a clinic. No referral needed.
Talk to a physician about swollen ankles.
Speak with a physician specialist about your options — including when regenerative treatment is not the answer.