I Twisted My Ankle and It Hurts Above the Ankle

If you twisted your ankle and now have pain above the ankle, the area may feel sore, tender, or painful with walking because the twist strained tissues higher around the ankle.

If the pain started immediately when your ankle twisted, you may feel it above the ankle rather than directly around the ankle joint. It can hurt when you put your foot down, take a longer step, turn your body, or push off the ground.

The exact spot matters because pain higher up can occur when the twisting force travels beyond the usual area of an ankle sprain. You may also notice swelling, tenderness, bruising, or difficulty putting your full weight on the foot, particularly if the twist was forceful.

The Pain Follows The Twist Higher Up Your Leg

You may feel a sharp or deep ache above your ankle as soon as you try to walk.

The pain may sit several inches above the ankle rather than directly over the usual ankle ligaments. A forceful twist can strain the ligaments between the tibia and fibula, sometimes called a high ankle sprain, and walking can make the area hurt because the lower leg moves with each step.

Walking And Turning Bring The Pain Back

Your ankle may hurt more when you push off, turn, or put weight through the injured foot.

You might be able to keep your foot relatively still without much pain but notice a sharp increase when you walk or rotate your body over the foot. The area can also remain tender after activity because the injured tissues have been stressed again before they have had enough time to recover.

Why Your Ankle Keeps Hurting Above The Ankle

Your ankle has a hard time healing when blood flow and circulation are limited.

Tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body. Because of this, they often take longer to heal after repeated stress or injury, leaving you more vulnerable to lingering pain and repeated irritation.

When circulation through the area remains limited, injured tissues have a harder time receiving the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to repair and heal. This can leave your ankle feeling stiff, tight, weak, or painful during everyday movement and activity.

What Can Help Your Ankle Feel Better

Your ankle starts feeling better when blood flow and circulation improve.

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to promote healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help break up stagnant blood and fluids that remain trapped around injured tissues, interfering with circulation. As circulation improves, blood flows more freely through the area, allowing those tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly.

Topical herbal remedies made with these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain while improving blood flow and circulation to injured tissues. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether you're in the acute or chronic stage of recovery.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Acute Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the injured area to speed recovery. During the acute stage of healing, getting circulation moving early allows injured tissues to receive the fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients they need to repair and heal.

If your injured area is especially swollen, red, or warm to the touch after a recent injury or flare-up, Sinew Herbal Ice is also used to reduce swelling and inflammation while restoring normal circulation so you can quickly regain range of motion. While traditional ice is commonly used to reduce swelling, Sinew Herbal Ice acts as an ice alternative to reduce swelling and inflammation while also dispersing accumulated blood and fluids to speed the healing process.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold and damp weather, Chronic Sinew Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood supply to injured tendons and ligaments to promote their healing. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply, which is why chronic injuries can take longer to heal.

If you have residual pain and stiffness, or the area becomes more painful in cold weather, Sinew Injury Poultice is also used to significantly stimulate circulation to injured tendons and ligaments to further promote their healing. By strongly increasing circulation, it counteracts the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather that commonly aggravates chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If you exercise, play sports, or do other strenuous activities, Sinew Sports Massage Oil warms and stimulates muscles for exertion and relieves muscle tightness and soreness after activity. Warming and preparing your muscles before activity can improve flexibility, enhance performance, and reduce the risk of injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why does my ankle hurt above the ankle after I twisted it?

Pain above the ankle after a twist can occur when the injury strains ligaments or other tissues higher around the ankle, including those involved in a high ankle sprain.

Is pain above the ankle after a twist a high ankle sprain?

It can be. Pain above the ankle, especially with walking or turning, can occur with a high ankle sprain, but an examination may be needed to determine the exact injury.

Why does walking hurt after I twisted my ankle?

Walking puts movement and weight through the injured area, which can make strained or injured tissues above your ankle hurt with each step.

Can a twisted ankle cause pain higher up the leg?

Yes. A forceful twisting injury can affect tissues above the ankle, so the pain does not always stay directly around the ankle joint.

When should I get help for pain above my ankle after a twist?

Get evaluated if you cannot bear weight normally, have severe or worsening pain, significant swelling or bruising, or persistent pain above the ankle after the injury.

The information provided here is intended to help you better understand your symptoms and recovery, but it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.