Painful ankle

[Ann]

My OH has suddenly developed an extremely painful ankle, he can hardly bear his weight on it and it looks swollen and is throbbing with pain. He hasn't done anything to it like twisting it or fallen on it so what could have caused it to suddenly be like this since late afternoon? We did do a fair bit of walking on Tuesday this week, which is most unusual but surely it can't be delayed action from that - can it? He's only taken paracetemol as he is on aspirin, atenelol, ramipril and atorvastatin (been on these for 7 yrs with no side effects) Would welcome advice please Sqad, as its a bit worrying. Many thanks.

[wakeover]

For what it's worth, and I'm not medically trained or qualified, but, many years ago the self same thing happened to me. I couldn't even bear the weight of one bed-sheet on my foot. I was admitted to hospital and for the next four weeks I was under the supervision of a rheumatics consultant who eventually controlled the swelling and the pain. This was about 34 years ago. The outcome was given as, 'an unspecified virus'. I wish you luck and better 'weather' than I had.

[Sqad]

Well, without any history of trauma and the sudden onset, then one must consider acute gout or one of the arthropathies (joint problems) of which autoimmune disease must come into reckoning.

If he feels well in himself......no temperature or sweating,then one can rule out an infection. It could even be acute gout.

His drug regime would not cause this problem in my opinion.

My money goes on gout.....he needs to take Ibuprofen 600mgms up to 4 times a day if need be.

Keep us informed.

[Ann]

Thanks very much Sqad. Hubby's ankle seems to be getting better this morning, at least he can weight bear on it now, although he's still limping a bit. He massaged it last night with a freeze gel (Masterplast) and put on an ankle support bandage which he slept in (as it wasn't too tight) He still says it felt like it was muscular, he knows how that feels as it he has previously pulled a ligament or something in his other ankle many times - that ankle has been weak since childhood and tends to just let him down when walking. So thankfully he thinks this one is a "one-off" and its on the mend. He was slightly surprised you recommended taking Ibruprofen as he was told after his heart attack 7 years ago that it was definitely not to be taken with the combination of tablets (above) he is still currently on. Have they changed that advice over the years or were they wrong to advise against taking it in the first place? Just interested - as he has always stuck to Paracetemol. Will let you know if the pain comes back. Many thanks for your help as always!

[Sqad]

\\\He was slightly surprised you recommended taking Ibruprofen as he was told after his heart attack 7 years ago that it was definitely not to be taken with the combination of tablets (above) he is still currently on. Have they changed that advice over the years or were they wrong to advise against taking it in the first place?\\\

That was never my advice in the first place Ann.......that is what medicine is all about........ opinions.

[Ann]

So is it safe to for him to take Ibuprofen in your opinion then Sqad, I always think they are better painkillers than Paracetemol and it would be useful to know that he would be ok if he took them. :)

[Sqad]

Ann.......once people have it in their mind about drug interactions, injected either by the medical profession or by those bloody fatuous instructions in tablet cartons, then commonsense and individuality goes out of the window.

The treatment of an inflammatory process is a drug which contains anti inflammatory properties and in that, Ibuprofen beats Paracetamol hands down. Also, one is only likely to take ibuprofen for a short period of time, say 3 -5 days at most and in my opinion the benefits of such treatment far outweigh the obscure chance of drug interaction.

[Ann]

Many thanks for your valuable advice - very sensible too.