I have a strange problem with my right ankle, but unfortunately it's a bit hard to describe.

When I am walking, and I am stepping with my right leg and plant on my heel, I feel like my ankle isn't supporting my weight. It feels like the back of my ankle is somehow compressed and the pressure is being transferred directly from my lower calf to my heel.

Also, it feels somewhat like the back of my ankle needs to be "popped", but I have no idea how to pop it.

The problem doesn't happen all the time. Rather, it seems to happen maybe a few times per month, usually for a day or 2 at a time.

This started happening maybe 3 years ago, and usually only happens in my right ankle. It does seem to happen in some pairs of shoes more than others (my hiking boots seem to be best).

I am not terribly overweight (male, 5'9", 185lbs), and have suffered from arthritis in my hands and wrists for about 4-5 years. I have had varying degrees of exercise since this problem began, and doesn't seem to affect it.

Has anyone else experienced this, or have some idea what it might be?

Have you had any injuries to your ankle in the past?

Have you had any injuries to your ankle in the past?

Yes, plenty of times. I played basketball and tennis for years, and *many* times I rolled my ankle.

However, rolling your ankle typically swells up and becomes discolored on the side. My problem now is in the back.

Thanks,
Adam

I had a 3rd degree sprain back in college. Since then I sprained or rolled my ankle 10 - 15 times a year. For the first 5 years or so it would really hurt. After 5 years it didn't hurt that much and would just swell some. I developed a bone growth (exostosis) on my medial malleolus due to the repeated trauma.

Over the past few years my ankle began to hurt sometimes even when I didn't sprain it for no reason. I also felt like I needed to "crack" or "pop" my ankle - which I could do. Last summer playing flag football I partially dislocated it (it popped back in). That is what made me go see an OS. I was in pretty constant pain after that injury. He said that my ankle joint was so loose it was "subluxating" which basically means that it was coming out of joint when I walked and that due to it being so loose it was wearing the joint down, damaging the cartilege and causing pain. I had two surgeries - one to clean out the joint (I had bone spurs and stuff floating in the joint) and a second one to tighten the ankle up and cut off the bone growth.

So, it sounds like your symptoms may be a bit similar.

I would suggest you see an OS that specializes in ankles and feet. I wish I had done so years and years ago (I'm 35). I am developing arthritis in it and my OS says it will only get worse. It still hurts most all of the time (but is bearable now). I should have had the ankle tightened when I was 24 instead of 34.