I'm 19 years old and my left ankle has been swelling up for nearly a year now.
I noticed it one night last july and it was just a little bit swolled. Over the next few days it seemed to explode. So, I went to the doctor and they said to ice it and wait a couple of weeks to see what happens. So, I did and nothing happened. I've been to the doctor several times since then and they've taken x-rays and bloodwork and found nothing wrong. Over time, it has progressively gotten worse. It starts in the morning just a little swollen and as I'm on my feet throughout the day it gets worse and worse. Over time, I've noticed that if I press down on the swollen area with my finger, the imprint will stay there for about a minute after I pull away. It's like theres putty in my ankle. At first, it wasn't painful at all, and sometimes it still isnt but others days its hard for me to even walk. I've also gone to a chiropractor whom couldn't tell me what to do. I've heard several different opinions about where I should go next but really dont know what to believe. I just want to take care of it before it gets any worse so any one's help would be appreciated. Thank you

Okay, you might want to talk to an orthopedic surgeon who is a foot and ankle specialist. The day I did that was the day my life started to get better.

They may want to do an MRI. Those aren't perfect, but they can detect a lot of problems that ordinary x-rays won't.

When they did the bloodwork, they checked you for inflammation, arthritis, infection, Lyme disease, all that good stuff, right?

If you need referrals for your insurance, go back to the doctor, and say, "Look, I'm still having problems and I have no answers, I want to see a specialist."

If not, find a good orthopedist yourself. Friends and family are a good source of recommendations, or contact a local teaching hospital. Ideal is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon.

Meanwhile, keep icing, and try to keep your foot propped up whenever you don't actually have to walk. It'll keep the swelling down a little.

Best of luck.

Jane White is correct. You need those lab tests and an MRI if the lab tests don't indicate anything.