Chronic Ankle Pain Worse after Cortisone Injection

[Jadestorm]

I have had pain on the lateral aspect of my ankle & heel for over a year now. At first it began as simply sharp pain in my heel area (lateral) that would get worse if I stood or walked for long periods. After seeing about 8 different doctors including a podiatrist, I was finally referred to an Orthopedic specialist. The only tests I was given were x rays on about 4 separate occassions. I was told first it might be a heel spur. No evidence of that. Then possibly that I strained my soleus muscle. No amount of stretching or rest or NSAIDS helped, nor 6 weeks of physiotherapy, massage therapy or even accupuncture. The podiatrist's best guess was that it was being caused by my peroneal tendons. Wearing the Stromgren ankle stirrup brace didn't help at all. Pedorthist said I don't need orthopedics for my shoes so there is nothing wrong with the way I walk. Each doctor I see has told me the tendons all feel intact.

Finally saw a specialist and his concern was subluxation or a possible partial tear in the tendon. My MRI isn't until next week, however he indicated that a shot of cortisone might help with the pain. I agreed and I got it about a week ago. I left his office and went to work as normal. The pain was incredibly intense after about 4hrs. The doctor told me absolutely nothing about side effects or what to expect after the injection. Only that it "might help". After the intense pain subsided I began to have trouble walking. The bottom of my foot where the peroneal tendons meet the bone began to hurt incredibly whenever I would try to put any weight down on it. After hobbling around for a few days hoping it would subside I went back to a GP (since my orthopedic doctor was totally unavailable, had no contact info and wouldn't be returning to the clinc for a month, and no I couldn't speak to another specialist at the clinic according to the receptionist). The GP at the clinic I went into told me it seemed an unusual reaction, he consulted with someone he knew as an orthopedic doctor who indicated that i should get an x ray to check for some sort of spur, gave me a prescription for naproxen and sent me on my way.

The pain at the lateral bottom border of my foot is pretty bad still even after 4 days of naproxen and rest. Mostly it occurs when I'm standing for any amount of time. The pain seems to be moving up the side of my calf, into the outside of my hip, into my butt and then up the side of my back. This may be because of having to limp and try to put my weight on my toes rather than setting my foot flat at any point in time.

I'm not sure if this is a normal reaction to a cortisone injection, but I was at least functional before it was given to me, now I can barely stand and no amount of stretching helps work out the achey (achy) pain in my calf, thigh, butt or back. I'm starting to notice that I'm getting off balance and some weakness in my left side. After a year of doctors and no definitive diagnosis I am putting all bets on the MRi I have scheduled for next week. My doctor, however indicated that it might show nothing at all. At that point I'm not even sure where this pain could be coming from. Anyone else have undiagnosed mysterious ankle/heel pain similar to this? I'm 29, 120lbs and  in pretty good shape. I have never had a history of anything like his. Never broken a bone or sprained my ankle. I am so frustrated by this!!!!