does this sound like inflammation/arthritis--or not?

[dazedmom]

My 15 year old daughter is complaining of pain in her left ankle.  Says it hurts a lot when she flexes it.  The hurt is consistent when she moves it, whether the ankle is bearing weight or not.    Several times in past few months, it has simply collapsed when she is walking or climbing stairs.  It occasionally appears a little puffy, but nothing awful.

Three weeks ago, she was seen by rheumy, who has been watching her for possible "inflammatory" problems... she's had all sorts of weirdness since May...   At that appointment, her ankle problems had barely begun and he dismissed the pain as lingering soreness from having twisted it in one of the falls.     So now I don't know whether to wait a while (how long???) to see what happens, or to take her back to him, or to some other doctor.    She's also under care of podiatrist for recent bunion surgery on same foot (no cause for bunion identified) but isn't supposed to see her again for several more weeks.

So I just wondered if these symptoms sounded familiar to anybody.  What clues would tell me it's a rheumy-type problem rather than just a twisty ankle?

Thanks,

dazedmom

[dazedmom]

mmm.   I did forget to tell him about the rash...  funny circles on the side and back of her neck one day.  But it went away promptly, so didn't seem important.

Thanks for the tips above.   I'll keep a better list now!

[txsilver]

While it is true that sometimes after spraining an ankle it can take time to get it back 100%, I would be inclined to have it evaluated in light of the other problems your daughter is having.  Until there is a diagnosis, I encourage you not to write off any symptom.  If her eyes become abnormally dry, note it and report it.  If a rash appears, same thing.  Sometimes seemingly unrelated symptoms provide the eureka moment we are longing for the doctor to have.  If you have not already done so, please read the post at the top of this forum regarding first rheumy appointments.  Even though she has already seen one, there may be some valuable information there for you.