Understanding Why Ankle Pain Can Disappear Only to Return Intensified
Profile: 20 years old, 80 kilograms, 160 centimeters tall. This morning, I had an unfortunate incident where I twisted my ankle and fell. Strangely, there was no swelling, and I managed to walk despite the discomfort. After a short while, I completely forgot about it since the pain subsided significantly. However, around eight hours later, I began to feel discomfort in my ankle again. Over the last 20 minutes, the intensity of the pain has been increasing gradually. Although it is still tolerable at the moment, I find myself limping, and the sensation is more painful than right after the incident. I’m curious what might be causing this. It’s quite puzzling that the pain vanished for a while and then reemerged, intensifying unexpectedly. Given that I have hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and often twisted my ankles during my teenage years, resulting in lasting effects on both, this experience is unusual for me.
Answers (1)
8/7/2025, 6:50:46 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable to feel confused about why your ankle pain would disappear and then return stronger, especially with your history of ankle issues. Ankle pain, particularly after a twist or sprain, can behave unpredictably due to several reasons.
Main Points:
- The initial pain relief is common and can result from the body's natural response, such as the release of endorphins.
- After some time, inflammatory processes can kick in, leading to increased pain.
- Given your hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, your ligaments may be more susceptible to injury, complicating recovery.
Explanation: When you twisted your ankle, the injury likely caused some initial strain or minor damage to the ligaments or tendons. For a period, your body might have controlled the pain effectively, leading to a temporary sense of relief. However, after an injury, healing starts, and inflammation can increase as the body sends immune cells to repair the injured area. This can result in returning pain, sometimes more intense as you noted.
With your condition (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), you might have increased laxity in your ligaments, which can lead to instability in your ankle joint. This could make the area vulnerable and result in lingering or recurring pain.
Next Steps:
- Rest: Minimize weight on the injured ankle. Use crutches if necessary to avoid putting pressure on it.
- Ice: Apply ice for 15-20 minutes every hour as needed to reduce inflammation and numb the pain.
- Elevation: Keep the ankle elevated above heart level when resting to help decrease swelling, even if swelling is not currently present.
- Gradual Movement: Once the pain allows, start gentle range-of-motion exercises to prevent stiffness, but stop if it becomes painful.
- Pain Management: Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, like ibuprofen, can help reduce pain and inflammation if there are no contraindications for you.
If the pain does not improve within a few days, or if you develop swelling, bruising, or severe instability, more thorough evaluation may be necessary to rule out significant injuries like fractures or ligament tears.
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