How to treat sore ankle from exercising barefoot?

Jackie as a retired nurse I’m sorry to say you may not find any relief from traditional docs due to your advanced age. Kudos to you for working to keep yourself stretched and mobile but you may have over done it a little. You might be able to find a physiatrist who can make some recommendations but please be cautious. Due to our litigious society they will step cautiously.

I seem to have permanently swollen and sore ankles. I’m using a red heat light on them to see if it will help. I also wrap them.

Thanks. What do you wrap them with? Do you use an ankle brace?

@jackiet - Have you seen a good podiatrist? I had terrible pain in my left ankle and it turned out to be bone-on-bone, needed to have a total ankle joint replacement. They could tell by the x-rays. No P.T. for it, it wouldn't help. We tried one coritsone shot and it helped for a while but wore off and the ankle was even worse afterward because with greatly reduced pain, I used it more. So we went on to what we knew was the solution, and he referred me to a DPM, FACFAS. I don't know if your problem is the bone or soft tissue, but a good doctor of podiatric medicine will figure out what to do.
Elevation and icing helps, too- just be sure to wrap the ice bag in a cloth so it's not right on your skin, and no longer than 15 minutes at a time. Good luck with this, I know it's painful.

Have you gone to a podiatrist? I have some arthritis on my right foot and if my tennis shoe is tied too tight it will cause pain on the top of my foot near the ankle. I also went to an acupuncturist and her treatments did help me. Applying heat can help. There should also be some foot exercises you can do to strengthen the muscles in your feet. My podiatrist some years ago gave me 3 foot exercises to do as I have high arches and I needed arch support in my shoes and when I didn't have the support, my arches were painful.
Good Luck, keep trying to find someone that will help you!

@gigi4 Good ideas. I went to PM doctor today and he said he thought it was a strained or slightly torn ligament rather than a muscle or joint. He thought that because the initial injury also included the hamstrings and I was able to resolve that. He told me to apply Voltaren 3 or 4 times a day, and that ligament issues take 3-4 months to heal. Mine has been going on for two months as of this date.

After going around in circles I’m hoping this is the answer.

@uisge Thanks for sharing. In my case it, at least for now, appears to be a torn ligament.

@jackiet Good to hear you received good advice! Hope this all works for you and you can get back to do what you do! Keep us posted!

@jackiet oooooh ouchie! Can they repair it?

I ended up with plantar fasciitis after walking barefoot around the house and on the beach. My foot doctor told me walking barefoot was primary cause of PF. Now I walk around house with my Oofos recovery sandals on. Really helps. Still have remnants of PF but getting much better.