Strange pain around my ankle...!

Hey there, first time posting here and I was hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction...
So, for quite a while now, I've been feeling this really weird pain around both my ankles whenever I push myself too hard...
It wasn't even that bad before. It would usually pop up after maybe thirty minutes of running and then fade away pretty quickly. But lately? Over the last few months, whenever I'm playing soccer, going for a run, or just doing anything intense, the pain hits in less than ten minutes. It gets so sharp that I almost lose sensation around the ankle area. And honestly, once I stop moving, it actually feels worse—I have to keep walking slowly just to get through it. It’s super strange. I've been playing soccer for eleven years and I'm in great shape, so I'm genuinely stumped as to what's going on. I haven't actually gone to see a doctor yet (call it laziness, I guess), so if anyone has dealt with something similar or has any idea what this could be, please let me know...
Thanks 😉

urbanhawk20 said:Hey, first time posting here—hoping someone might be able to point me in the right direction...
So, for a while now, I've been getting this weird pain around my ankles on both legs whenever I push myself too hard...
It wasn't even that bad before; it’d usually pop up after maybe thirty minutes of running and then just fade away. But lately—over the last few months—whenever I'm playing soccer, running, or just doing anything intense, the pain hits in less than ten minutes. It gets so sharp that I almost lose feeling around the ankle area... and honestly, once I stop moving, it actually feels worse—I have to limp around a bit just to get the sensation back to normal. It's super strange. I've been playing soccer for eleven years, I'm in great shape, and I genuinely have no clue what's going on. I haven't bothered seeing a doctor yet (pure laziness, let's be real), so if anyone has dealt with something similar or has an idea what this could be, please help...
thanks 😉

I'm dealing with the exact same thing, though for me it's more in my calves—both legs, too. It's like the bone itself is aching... I've also been playing soccer for thirteen years, I stay fit, but my legs feel like they belong to an eighty-year-old...
It hung on for a while and then eventually just cleared up on its own...
Could totally be because of switching up the surfaces—like, playing on concrete versus turf or a gym floor, depending on where you're at...
I play on pretty much all of them, so maybe that was the culprit for me...
Try rubbing some creams on it—maybe some Icy Hot or something—or try wearing compression sleeves...

Man, all this pain started about a year and a half ago, and ever since then, it just flares up whenever I push myself too hard. I’m not entirely sure if it’s because of the surface I'm working on, especially since so many other people doing the same thing don't seem to deal with this at all... and most of my work is just switching out sod or dealing with concrete. I’ve tried rubbing every ointment imaginable on it, but nothing helps. It's still the same. Who knows? My doctor is sending me to see an orthopedist, but honestly, I have a feeling she’s looking in the wrong direction... heh..

urbanhawk20 said:Well, all this discomfort actually started about a year and a half ago—and ever since then, it’s been a constant ache whenever I push myself too hard. Honestly, I can't quite put my finger on why... I don't think it's because of the surface I'm working on, since plenty of others do the exact same thing without any issues at all. Most of my work involves switching between grass and concrete, anyway. I've tried applying every ointment imaginable, but nothing seems to touch it... who knows? My doctor is referring me to an orthopedist, though I have a nagging feeling it might not be related to that. Heh..

Well, it sounds like you aren't getting much clarity either, so who else would they send you to but an orthopedist? 🤷 You should just go ahead and book that appointment yourself—they're your first stop, and from there, you'll figure out the next steps. It's better to act sooner rather than later. I recently scheduled a consultation for my own issue, and I have to wait two months, but fortunately, I'm doing alright for now. Perhaps it's your gait? Or maybe you aren't wearing the right footwear? Whatever you do, please don't overexert yourself until you've had a professional look at it, or perhaps consider scaling back your activity level for a bit. Why not swap running for an elliptical or a stationary bike? Make sure to stretch sufficiently and get plenty of rest. As for shoes, look for something with good cushioning but enough stability. What kind of gear are you actually running in? For everyday wear—especially if you're wearing flats or dress shoes—you might want to try some silicone heel inserts; they could provide a bit of relief. You can find decent Scholl Triplantar insoles—the ones that support both the heel and the arch—over at a place like Walgreens or CVS for about fifteen bucks. Do you notice any irregularities in how you walk? If you aren't sure, perhaps do a quick Google search for terms like "overpronation" or "supination"—it might just be that.

I’m following my routine exactly, no shortcuts or weird tweaks. I'm positive everything is being done by the book. Even my gear is top-tier—I don't just grab any random sneakers or cleats; I invest in high-quality stuff that comes with extra stability insoles and specialized support for running. So, I really can't say the footwear is the issue here. As for stretching? I'm incredibly thorough about it, focusing specifically on the areas that need it most. Yet, nothing seems to help. And honestly, after eleven years of doing this, you think I'm just going to walk away and switch hobbies? No way. I guess I'll just order some new gear and see how it goes. I know shipping takes forever these days, which is why I reached out here to see if anyone had insights. Some people thought maybe it was my weight, but I’m certain that isn't it.