Right ankle - tendon area on both sides of ankle bones

[mjsunflower]

t I am 67, on no meds, and active. Saturday, after a hike, I had stiffness and discomfort on both sides of my right ankle. Occasionally it gets painful when I walk, like a very bad stretched muscle. I do not know what to do with it. I have heard of achilles tendon - could this be it? Never had a problem like this before. I am thinking my hiking boots (which are good ones and though they are fairly new, I have hiked up to 10 miles in them without a problem) might have been too loose - could this have caused a problem?  I have to go on a 12 hour auto trip in a few days, and would like to get rid of this problem before having to sit in a car for hours. I usually swim every day but haven't since this happened because I don't know if the foot flexing that comes with swimming would be helpful or harmful.I need to know what to do for myself - ice, heat, stretches, rest, a wrap support??  Help! & thanks.

[mjsunflower]

Thank you for the very timely help and suggestions. I will follow the advice. Tomorrow we leave, and I will carry an ice pack and use a crepe bandage. Today seems much better, so I am encouraged.

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

I would suggest you to keep ice packs while you travel and whenever you can relax by wrapping them the only concern is you would need refrigeration to freeze them.

Keep a crepe bandage as it helps and take a pain killer like ibuprofen before you undergo the 12 hour trip. Diclofenac sprays will also help you in emergency.

If it is a chronic problem you have to get yourself examined and diagnosed properly by an orthopedician.

Take care!

[mjsunflower]

It is sometime later since I wrote about my right ankle, and I am happy to report that I think I solved my own problem. I sat with a bag of frozen corn wrapped around the tender part. I've done this a few times this morning, and it seems to have done the trick. The stiffness and soreness have greatly been reduced - in fact, things feel almost normal down there! (grateful for that & the bag of corn).