Chronic Foot Pain After Injury: When Ligaments Don’t Heal Right

Why Is My Foot Still Hurting After an Injury?

If you’ve sprained your ankle, fractured your foot, or had another injury, you probably expected the pain to go away after a few weeks. But for some people, the pain lingers—long after the bruising has faded.

So, what’s going on?

In many cases, chronic foot pain after injury is caused by problems with how the ligaments and soft tissues healed. Let’s walk through what that means—and how we can help you get back on your feet.

What Are Ligaments—and Why Do They Matter?

Ligaments are strong, stretchy bands of tissue that connect bones to each other. They keep your joints stable and moving smoothly.

When you twist or injure your foot or ankle—like during a bad sprain—these ligaments can stretch or tear. Most of the time, with the right rest and rehab, they heal well.

But sometimes, things don’t go back to normal.

When Ligaments Don’t Heal Right

Here are a couple of common issues we see in the clinic:

Ligament Laxity

This means the ligaments are still too loose or weak after healing. It can lead to:

• Wobbly ankles or unstable steps

• Pain during walking or standing

• Frequent re-injury

Think of it like a rubber band that’s been overstretched—it’s just not holding things together like it should.

Scar Tissue and Adhesions

Injuries can also leave behind scar tissue that sticks to nearby structures. This limits your range of motion and causes pain when you try to move normally.

You might feel stiffness, aching, or even sharp twinges that weren’t there before.

Other Causes of Long-Term Pain After Injury

• Nerve irritation or entrapment

• Poor footwear or overcompensation when walking

• Joint misalignment from an old fracture

• Muscle weakness from lack of proper rehab

Even a small injury can lead to big problems if the deeper structures don’t heal properly.

How Podiatry Can Help

At Coventry Foot Doctor, we often see patients who’ve been living with post-injury foot pain for months—or even years. Many tell us they were told to just “rest it” or “wait it out.”

Here’s how we approach it differently:

Full Biomechanical Assessment

We check how your foot moves, how stable it is, and what structures may still be irritated.

Soft Tissue Therapy

We use techniques like massage, mobilisation, and sometimes shockwave therapy or laser to break down scar tissue and ease stiffness.

Strength and Rehab Plans

Targeted exercises to rebuild strength and improve balance—especially if ligament laxity is an issue.

Custom Orthotics

Insoles made just for you to support unstable joints and reduce strain on healing tissues.

Don’t Let Old Injuries Hold You Back

If you’ve been putting up with ongoing foot pain, don’t ignore it. There’s usually a reason—and more importantly, there’s help.

Even if the injury happened months (or years) ago, there’s a good chance we can reduce the pain and improve your movement with the right care.

Ready to get your foot pain sorted?

Give us a call or book an appointment online. Let's find the cause—and the solution—together.