Pain in my ankle/lower leg

lsoper123
lsoper123 Posts: 10 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello all, I am new to walking/running. I have been walking the 3 mile track around my housing area for about 3 weeks now and this week tried to incorporate some jogging as well. My problem is I tend to get what starts in my lower left ankle/lower leg cramps and sometimes (like today) intensifies to a stabby sharp pain in the area just above my ankle. This always happens when I try to get into walking/running to loose weight and have a healthier lifestyle. Last time, about 2 years ago, I went to the doctor and she basically handed me naproxen and ibuprofen which did absolutely nothing for me until I gave up. I am determined to not give up this time. Any suggestions or thoughts on cause or helping it not do this would be greatly appreciated. TIA!

Replies

  • lsoper123
    lsoper123 Posts: 10 Member
    Oh and I guess I should add I already foam roll, use a tennis ball on the bottom of my foot, and drink an average of 80-100 oz of water a day. All things I've been told in the past that should help it
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    Keep walking. It sounds like your body is not quite ready for running yet.
  • jadeblue14
    jadeblue14 Posts: 182 Member
    I don't have any advice, but I suffer from ankle pain/weak ankles, too, so I'm interested to see what others offer. I do ankle rolls sitting at my desk at work to try to keep everything loose. Not sure it makes a difference.
  • MelanieCN77
    MelanieCN77 Posts: 4,047 Member
    Do you have decent shoes for running outdoors?
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I was going to ask about shoes too
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    lsoper123 wrote: »
    Last time, about 2 years ago, I went to the doctor and she basically handed me naproxen and ibuprofen which did absolutely nothing for me until I gave up.

    You'll probably need to see a specialist, like an orthopedist or sports doctor, for a proper diagnosis.

    Does it hurt on the inside or outside of your ankle? And which part of your left lower leg? Calf? Shin? Achilles tendon?
  • lsoper123
    lsoper123 Posts: 10 Member
    Do you have decent shoes for running outdoors?

    I have decent ones they are Nike Running Shoes not the most expensive you can buy though

  • lsoper123
    lsoper123 Posts: 10 Member
    Cherimoose wrote: »
    lsoper123 wrote: »
    Last time, about 2 years ago, I went to the doctor and she basically handed me naproxen and ibuprofen which did absolutely nothing for me until I gave up.

    You'll probably need to see a specialist, like an orthopedist or sports doctor, for a proper diagnosis.

    Does it hurt on the inside or outside of your ankle? And which part of your left lower leg? Calf? Shin? Achilles tendon?

    Outside top of my ankle is where in concentrates but radiates up my the outside muscle/shin on my left leg.
  • lsoper123
    lsoper123 Posts: 10 Member
    I was going to ask about shoes too

    I have I think decent shoes they are Nike running shoes but not the most expensive ones you can buy.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    lsoper123 wrote: »
    I was going to ask about shoes too

    I have I think decent shoes they are Nike running shoes but not the most expensive ones you can buy.

    Did you get gait analysis done before you bought them?
  • lsoper123
    lsoper123 Posts: 10 Member
    lsoper123 wrote: »
    I was going to ask about shoes too

    I have I think decent shoes they are Nike running shoes but not the most expensive ones you can buy.

    Did you get gait analysis done before you bought them?

    No I just bought them from our local store
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    lsoper123 wrote: »
    Cherimoose wrote: »
    You'll probably need to see a specialist, like an orthopedist or sports doctor, for a proper diagnosis.

    Does it hurt on the inside or outside of your ankle? And which part of your left lower leg? Calf? Shin? Achilles tendon?

    Outside top of my ankle is where in concentrates but radiates up my the outside muscle/shin on my left leg.

    That's unusual. Maybe it's related to an old injury. Anyway, if you want to try to solve it yourself.. instead of seeing a specialist.. i'd downshift to just walking for a month. Only walk in shoes with no raised heel. Most shoes, including your Nikes, have a raised heel, which isn't good to walk in and can worsen orthopedic problems. Good shoes include skateboard shoes, Keds, Converse, Altra, etc. Try to wear zero-heel shoes at work too.

    After a month, video your running form on a treadmill, to see if you're landing differently on your left foot. Place the camera behind you at knee level. :+1:
  • lsoper123
    lsoper123 Posts: 10 Member
    Cherimoose wrote: »
    lsoper123 wrote: »
    Cherimoose wrote: »
    You'll probably need to see a specialist, like an orthopedist or sports doctor, for a proper diagnosis.

    Does it hurt on the inside or outside of your ankle? And which part of your left lower leg? Calf? Shin? Achilles tendon?

    Outside top of my ankle is where in concentrates but radiates up my the outside muscle/shin on my left leg.

    That's unusual. Maybe it's related to an old injury. Anyway, if you want to try to solve it yourself.. instead of seeing a specialist.. i'd downshift to just walking for a month. Only walk in shoes with no raised heel. Most shoes, including your Nikes, have a raised heel, which isn't good to walk in and can worsen orthopedic problems. Good shoes include skateboard shoes, Keds, Converse, Altra, etc. Try to wear zero-heel shoes at work too.

    After a month, video your running form on a treadmill, to see if you're landing differently on your left foot. Place the camera behind you at knee level. :+1:

    Thank you for the advice! I will change my shoes out. I'm going to the doctor hopefully Monday as well.
  • Goober1142
    Goober1142 Posts: 219 Member
    Wondering if strength training would help? I had bad knee pain, couldn't walk up stairs without limping. Started weight lifting, NROL programs. Also back was killing me from old injury, now nothing hurts. It seemed like the step ups with weights, dead lifts and barbell squats would exasperate the problems but it just fixed everything.
  • Hoshiko
    Hoshiko Posts: 179 Member
    This is a long shot, but while you're changing your shoes you many also want to look into Lydiard lacing to relieve some of the pressure on the top of your foot. My right ankle used to go numb and hurt a mile into my runs and changing up my lacing did help reduce the swelling and pressure. Plus, it's just super comfy.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49B6m5BsW_8
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    You might need different shoes. You could also try strengthening your lower legs with toe and heel raises. Walk more, run less. When your body is ready for running, try a program like couch2 5k. I have a similar pain in my left leg when I do a certain high impact workout video. I figure I just need to strengthen that leg since I'm in pretty good shape already. Just keep at it and don't give up.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    try walking around at home with bare feet and those toe spacers for when you've got wet nail varnish on?

    [cautiously. not, like, for marathon sessions or anything, at least until your feet are more used to it].

    i'm not saying this will fix things, but i can say that i broke the big toe on my left foot at the base, 35 years ago and i'm only just now starting to deal with how influential that loss of mobility was. i've never been able to bend that toe properly, and it's boggling how that radiates upwards through everything else. running has never been my thing but i can attest to how badly it affects things like lifting when you can't 'grip' the floor with the other four toes on one foot.
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