Asked by ik
i’m going to tell u my symptoms and u tell me what’s wrong with me
i don’t know the exact body part is called but i have pain about two inches above the ball bone on the outside of my left ankle
can’t really put a lot of pressure on it
can walk though
i tumble alot on dead mat cause of cheer.
i’m laying down and not putting any pressure on it and it still hurts.
hurts when i press down on it too
All Answers 1
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
AI
Sorry you’re in pain — that sounds rough. I can’t give a definite diagnosis, but I can tell you the most likely possibilities and what to do next.
What it might be (common causes for pain on the outside of the ankle/lower leg)
- Lateral ankle sprain (stretch/tear of ligaments such as the ATFL) — very common with tumbling/twisting.
- Peroneal tendon injury or tendinitis (tendons that run along the outside of the ankle).
- Fracture of the distal fibula (bone on the outside of the lower leg) — especially possible when you have bone tenderness above the lateral ankle.
- Soft-tissue bruise/contusion.
Why I’m concerned
- Pain when touching the spot and pain at rest can occur with sprains, tendon injuries, or fractures.
- The spot you describe (~2 inches / ~5 cm above the outside ankle bone) is in the region where distal fibular fractures can occur. According to clinical rules used in ERs, tenderness in the distal ~6 cm of the fibula often warrants an X‑ray to rule out fracture.
What to do now (short-term self-care)
- Stop putting weight on it as much as you can. Use crutches or avoid walking long distances.
- Ice 15–20 minutes every 2–3 hours for the first 48–72 hours (wrap ice in cloth).
- Compress with a bandage or wear an ankle brace to reduce swelling, but not so tight that it causes numbness.
- Elevate the leg above heart level when possible.
- Over‑the‑counter pain relief (ibuprofen/naproxen or acetaminophen) if you have no contraindications — follow dosing instructions.
When to see a clinician / get imaging (go to urgent care or ER)
- You cannot put weight on it or can’t walk more than a few steps because of the pain.
- Severe swelling, deformity, numbness/tingling, or increasing pain.
- Significant bruising or the pain is not improving after 48–72 hours of rest/ice.
Given your tenderness about 2 inches above the lateral ankle and the inability to put much pressure on it, I’d strongly recommend getting it checked and getting an X‑ray to rule out a fracture.
Questions that would help narrow things down
- When did this start and what exactly happened (a twist, a fall, landed on it)?
- Is there swelling or bruising? Any popping sound at the time of injury?
- Can you walk on it at all (how many steps without limping)?
- Have you injured this ankle before?
If you want, tell me the answers to those questions and I can help you decide how urgent it is. If pain is severe or you can’t bear weight, go to urgent care/ER today.
What it might be (common causes for pain on the outside of the ankle/lower leg)
- Lateral ankle sprain (stretch/tear of ligaments such as the ATFL) — very common with tumbling/twisting.
- Peroneal tendon injury or tendinitis (tendons that run along the outside of the ankle).
- Fracture of the distal fibula (bone on the outside of the lower leg) — especially possible when you have bone tenderness above the lateral ankle.
- Soft-tissue bruise/contusion.
Why I’m concerned
- Pain when touching the spot and pain at rest can occur with sprains, tendon injuries, or fractures.
- The spot you describe (~2 inches / ~5 cm above the outside ankle bone) is in the region where distal fibular fractures can occur. According to clinical rules used in ERs, tenderness in the distal ~6 cm of the fibula often warrants an X‑ray to rule out fracture.
What to do now (short-term self-care)
- Stop putting weight on it as much as you can. Use crutches or avoid walking long distances.
- Ice 15–20 minutes every 2–3 hours for the first 48–72 hours (wrap ice in cloth).
- Compress with a bandage or wear an ankle brace to reduce swelling, but not so tight that it causes numbness.
- Elevate the leg above heart level when possible.
- Over‑the‑counter pain relief (ibuprofen/naproxen or acetaminophen) if you have no contraindications — follow dosing instructions.
When to see a clinician / get imaging (go to urgent care or ER)
- You cannot put weight on it or can’t walk more than a few steps because of the pain.
- Severe swelling, deformity, numbness/tingling, or increasing pain.
- Significant bruising or the pain is not improving after 48–72 hours of rest/ice.
Given your tenderness about 2 inches above the lateral ankle and the inability to put much pressure on it, I’d strongly recommend getting it checked and getting an X‑ray to rule out a fracture.
Questions that would help narrow things down
- When did this start and what exactly happened (a twist, a fall, landed on it)?
- Is there swelling or bruising? Any popping sound at the time of injury?
- Can you walk on it at all (how many steps without limping)?
- Have you injured this ankle before?
If you want, tell me the answers to those questions and I can help you decide how urgent it is. If pain is severe or you can’t bear weight, go to urgent care/ER today.
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