Ankle

Ankle pain and function issues can happen because of cartilage loss, fractures, ligament tears, tendon inflammation, and other damage — all treatable problems. At his medical practice in West Hollywood, California, elite fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopaedic surgeon Jonathan Frank, MD, offers leading-edge precision medicine treatments and minimally invasive surgery to restore your ankle and get you back to normal as fast as possible. Call the office or click online scheduling to make your appointment now.

What causes ankle pain?

Ankle pain often occurs due to sports injuries and other accidents. In fact, up to 40% of all sports injuries occur in the ankle. Age-related changes in the ankle joint, like cartilage breakdown, also cause ankle pain. Some of the most common pain-causing conditions that Dr. Frank treats in his Beverly Hills office are: 

• Achilles tendinitis
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Ankle sprains
• Ankle instability
• Cartilage injuries
• Ankle osteoarthritis 
• Plantar fasciitis 

Some of these pain-causing conditions can morph into more serious problems without treatment. For example, up to 7 in 10 people with ankle sprains may develop ongoing ankle problems or dangerous ankle instability. 

What are the signs of an ankle issue?

Ankle injuries and chronic conditions commonly cause intrusive symptoms such as:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Reduced range of motion
• Bruising
• Difficulty standing or walking

Depending on the area and type of damage, an ankle injury or chronic condition may cause shooting pain that moves to another part of your foot or leg. These symptoms are all treatable, but the earlier you get help, the better. 

How are ankle issues treated?

Dr. Frank uses both nonoperative and surgical approaches to treat ankle problems effectively. These are:

Nonoperative care

Nonoperative care focuses on stimulating natural healing and preserving your ankle joint. Dr. Frank always takes this approach first because it allows you to avoid (or significantly delay) surgery. 

Nonoperative approaches include medication, personalized physical therapy protocols, and injection therapies. One common injection therapy approach is precision medicine, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or biological treatments with healing cells and growth factors. Precision medicine can naturally stimulate fast tissue regrowth and recovery.

Surgery

Surgery is sometimes needed for patients with problems like torn ligaments, tendon ruptures, or cartilage injuries. In most cases, Dr. Frank performs ankle surgeries using a miniature camera and special surgical tools. This approach requires very small incisions.

Arthroscopy is a same-day surgery. The day after your procedure, you can start your custom rehab protocol that restores your strength, flexibility, range of motion, and normal ankle function. 

If you have chronic ankle pain, there’s no reason to wait any longer: Call Jonathan Frank, MD, or make your appointment through online scheduling to find out how Dr. Frank can help you get your life back.