Some questions about "
Pain and swelling in the foot that radiates both down to the toe and up the calf":
Is the
pain worsening?
Is there redness and warmth with the
pain and swelling? Any
fever?
Are you overweight? (may increase risk of ankle injury or
arthritis)
Was there an injury or an increase in activity 4-5 months ago?
What kind of work do you do?
Do you have flat feet or high arches?
Any changes in shoes?
Does the
pain start on the inside or outside part of the ankle?
Any history of back problems?
Do any other joints hurt?
Any leg weakness?
Any numbness or "pins and needles"?
Neurological problems (pinched nerve, bony spur,
arthritis, lumbar disk problem) of the lumbar spine can cause
pain, pins and needles, numbness, or weakness in the lower leg.
Otherwise a good exam of the ankle itself will be important as several local structures can cause this kind of
pain: ankle ligament sprain,
arthritis in the ankle joint, small fractures, etc.
Answers to these questions will help you prepare to see a physician who can assess the ankle in person. Also, an x-ray may be neccesary.
