Chronic lateral ankle pain is recurring or chronic pain on the outside part of the ankle that often develops after an injury such as a sprained ankle. Other conditions, however, may also cause chronic ankle pain. Some signs and symptoms include: ankle instability, difficulty walking on uneven ground or in high heels, pain, sometimes intense, on the outer side of the ankle, repeated ankle sprains, stiffness, swelling and tenderness.

While ankle sprains are the most common cause of chronic lateral ankle pain, other causes may include: a fracture in one of the bones that make up the ankle joint, arthritis of the ankle joint, inflammation of the joint lining and injury to the nerves that pass through the ankle. In this case, the nerves become, stretched, torn, or injured by a direct blow, or pinched under pressure. Scar tissue in the ankle can also cause pain. This tissue takes up space in the joint, putting pressure on the ligaments.