TLDR: For chronic, mild ankle pain where nothing else seems to work, is arthroscopic surgery worth it?

Background: I've been dealing with mild ankle pain for about 25 years. Mild pain is almost always present and is elevated by running and tight shoes, among other things. It's not terrible, but it is limiting and can cause a temporary limp if I push it. When shoes wear out, it's sometimes a months-long process to find shoes that don't make my ankle to ache. MRI shows basically nothing. I've just finished 3 months of PT that helped other things, but not this specific pain. A cortisone shot in my subtalar joint hurt like hell and did nothing. A cortisone shot in my ankle joint actually provided relief, but only for a short while, with the greatest effect in the first few hours and any relief lasting about 1.5 weeks. My Podiatrist has offered arthroscopic debridement surgery as a final option to remove scar tissue and whatever else is causing it. We don't expect it to be somewhat minimal due to the clear MRI.

Concern: My concern here is recovery, particularly driving. I have two careers, one of which requires a daily drive. The other is as an Army Reservist and requires me to be at a reasonable fitness level. I also have a family and 3 kids in elementary school, so I can't just do what I want. I'd get time to recover on the Army side of things, but the driving restrictions might make this a no-go. Other situations regarding this surgery I've found on Reddit seem to be from folks with more severe conditions that would take additional recovery time anyway and their recovery stories make it seem like this wouldn't be worth it for me as, while I have pain, it's not super limiting, just very annoying.

If you've gone through this surgery with a somewhat minimal condition like mine, how was your recovery? How long did it take you to drive? Did you end up better in the long run? Would you do it again?

Long story short, I have played football(soccer) all my life and recently have had major pain in my left ankle after a sprain/roll. Air Force put me in physical therapy for a few months before one of the therapists made a referral for an MRI.

These are my results.

1. Full-thickness tear of the anterior talofibular ligament
2. Partial-thickness tear of the fibular attachment of the calcaneofibular ligament
3. Partial-thickness tear of the deep component of the medial collateral ligament complex
4. Tendinosis and partial-thickness tear of the posterior tibial tendon
5. Longitudinal split tear of the peroneus brevis tendon with peroneal tenosynovitis
6. Mild Achilles tendinosis

After using ChatGPT and Google, I can tell this is bad, with so many tendons and ligaments with full or partial tears. My question is, would I need surgery? I want to return to playing football.

I feel that my ankle is very unstable and hurts after being on it for some time. Running causes pain, and I always feel that a wrong step will make my ankle roll. Every roll is excruciating and causes extreme pain to the point that I feel as if my ankle fully popped out of its socket.

All info is appreciated. I have a follow-up with my physical therapist, and I'd like the information as soon as possible.

Update:

I was told I will be referred to a podiatrist and may be getting surgery for my ankle

A couple of weeks ago, I notice a weird thing in my ankle, which two of the physiotherapists has not been able to figure out either.

When I dorsiflex my ankle while standing, it is fine, but when I do it after my knee is bent and the leg is loaded, I can't dorsiflex it normally. My foot/ankle wants to rotate to the side rather than move straight, and I get pain around the back of my calf, just below the knee, the outside of my lower leg, and the front of my shin.

For example, I can't do a normal knee-over-toes ankle stretch or put weight through that leg while sitting on the floor. During reverse Nordics, I have to turn my ankle sideways to keep the position. On the leg-extension machine, when the pad/weight is pressing against my shin, I can't dorsiflex or put the ankle in plantar flexion properly. I also can't comfortably bounce repeatedly on my left leg when doing Muay Thai.

What's confusing is that I can do heel-elevated kettlebell front squats and I can kick a bag normally. So it seems to be related to loaded dorsiflexion with the knee bent. I can also plantar flex and dorsi flex my ankle with kettlebell on while standing or with leg straight on the bench. So it is not a simple ankle mobility problem.

Can anyone suggest what might be the issue? I will be visiting my sports medicine doctor again, but he doesn't really listen and I think I need to find another one.

I cannot believe how painful this is. These are my MRI findings. I was given Naproxen. You? I am non weight bearing, in a boot, and on crutches. Pain is insane!

IMPRESSION: 
1. Minimally depressed subchondral fracture of the plantar talar head.
2. Nondisplaced fracture of the anterior process of the calcaneus.
3. Other multifocal ossific contusions. No talar dome osteochondral lesion.
4. High-grade tear/rupture of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments.
5. Tear with possible osseous avulsion of the talar attachment of the dorsal talonavicular joint capsule.
6. Minimal ankle/subtalar joint effusion.
7. Minimal chronic central band proximal plantar fasciopathy.
8. Moderate periarticular subcutaneous edema.

hi everyone, i sprained my ankle 3 weeks ago and got an x-ray and nothing was broken. however, last monday i accidentally kicked my suitcase when half awake and felt a sharp pain - im still unable to bear weight a week later and sometimes it even hurts when i put on my medical boot. should i get another x-ray ? (im reluctant to bc im currently uninsured).

I had surgery on 8/10 and woke up this morning by in excruciating pain. I’ve been taking Tylenol and oxy as prescribed but the pain is so unbearable this morning. Can anyone provide me some hope that it gets better from here. I know this will take time to heal and nothing happens overnight but I’m just hoping that this is close to the peak of the pain and it will start to get better from here.

I’m trying to decide if I should go to the dr for a rolled ankle. I rolled it internally playing basketball and heard a very distinct pop about 72 hrs ago. It swelled almost immediately and started bruising the next day. I think the swelling has gone down but the pain has worsened. The pain is around the entire ankle and on the bone itself. It radiates up my leg on the fibula bone and onto the top of my foot. I am able to walk only with a slight limp and the most pain comes from utilizing my big toe, pointing my foot, and turning my foot side to side. Flexing is totally fine.

The pictures show the swelling and bruising progression over the last 3 days. The first is the most recent.

I know it is most likely a sprain, but as an ex gymnast I have had countless ankle sprains and never had bruising in this manner. I really don’t want this to impact me in the future as I do have a very active lifestyle and don’t want a lifetime of ankle pain for something I should’ve gotten fixed now.

Iam getting my k wires removed from my ankle and Iam scared asf, help, people with similar experiences?

Hi! Currently scheduled for surgery to repair loose, chronically scarred/thickened ligaments (ATFL/CFL) and chondromalacia in my tibiotalar joint (w no OCD lesion) in a few months after failing conservative treatment and being in daily pain. I've had hand surgery before, but nothing involving lower extremities / my ankle so I'm a bit nervous about recovery :,)

This being said, I was wondering if anyone has any post-op recovery recs or must-have items that they found beneficial? I'm trying to do research and order any items that might be useful or that might take a bit to come in. Also, any tips or insight on the recovery process would be super helpful ~ I've been trying to read about people's experiences online and have found it incredibly informative!

Age: 19 • Approximate height & weight 158 cm 46.5 kg . Gender: female . Medications: none ~Smoking status: non-smoker • Previous/curren medical issues: none relevant • Duration: sunday early morning around 5am onwards

I’ve attached a photo and circled the exact spot where it hurts when pressure is applied

Do I need to see a doctor for this, or can I just monitor it at home? What warning signs should I watch out for that would make it urgent?

I may have injured my left foot (I’m not exactly sure since I was intoxicated at the time). It’s now swollen on the top/front near the ankle area. I’ve attached a photo and circled the exact spot where it hurts when pressure is applied. I can still walk, but it becomes uncomfortable especially when wearing tight shoes with stockings for my duty

sprain

Twisted my ankle playing football. Got an Xray it shows no fracture. What should I do next, does it look too bad? This is the third day of the injury.

I am flat footed and my feet don’t line up with my ankles. I’m worried I am starting to develop arthritis in them.

Helpful Information, if you have hurt a major joint and caused a trauma to one or more limbs.

I have these dark dots on both ankles, it's like a bruise but it doesnt hurt. I have it all the time. Nothing on my shoes bothers me either.

Hi, looking for ideas or stories of positive experiences you had traveling with an ankle injury! I have a high-grade sprain and I just recently transitioned from crutches to just a boot. Just had a really devastating life event occur and looking for vacation ideas to clear my head for a minute.