How will my provider determine the cause of ankle pain?

How will my provider determine the cause of ankle pain?

Your provider will examine your ankle and foot. Providers check for swelling, pain and bruising. Testing depends on the location of the pain and whether you’ve recently had an injury. Your provider may order an imaging test such as an X-ray, CT or MRI scan. These tests create images of bones and soft tissues so your provider can check for damage.

If your provider thinks you have an infection, you may need a biopsy. Your provider removes a sample of tissue and sends it to a lab to check for bacteria.