I had an ankle injury years ago and I need to know why it still hurts?

I hurt my ankle back in 1999 playing basketball, I sprained it really bad, my whole foot was swollen, it was my right foot. Now it's 2006, I'm playing basketball like I always do still, and I'm just wondering why it still feels funny. O.K. when I try to do a heel raise and it feels as if there's not enough strength in my ankle. Even to this day it feels like that when over the years I've done so much walking and other activities I should have already regained strength in the back of my heel where the achilles tendon is. It doesn't feel strong at all, is there a possiblity that I've injured something that I can never get the strength back in it or is there rehab or some exercises I can do to get the strength back if possible?

There is a slight chance that you tore a ligament and it healed improperly. This creates a problem, because if this is the case, the reason you are still having problems is because scare tissue has formed around the injury. You should get that checked out ASAP, surgery may be needed.

It healed wrong.

Arthritis may be the cause.

Go and see a specialist.

Trying to diagnose lioke this could be dangerous

Your ankle hasn't healed correctly. I have the same problem, I just deal with it. I tore ligaments and everything. My foot was very swollen. I suggest going to a doctor and have it checked out.

having had a similar situation with my ankle, the answer is that it either healed improperly, or you damaged the ligaments (possibly both) either way, you might want to see a doc, or a sports rehab therapist and possibly both.

Hi, I am active in sports myself and I understand what you are going through. You see, when you get your sprained ankle, your ankle joint is out of alignment. What usually western medical practise will do is to ice it and reduce the swelling and let the ankle heal, much like what you did. But the key problem of having an out of alignment ankle is not fixed. So over time the swelling disappear but you find that your ankle movement is restrictive compared to pre-injury time.
Usually when I get a sprain, i try my darnest to reset the misalignment. Because once I get my joint back, the pain and swelling will go off, almost immediately. I do this for my ankle and my finger joints should I sprain them during a game.
If it is bad for me, I usually consult a Chinese chiropractor or pugilist master to help me reset the joint. This solves my problem immediately and I can get back to games the next day.
I am in Singapore and there are many Chinese physicians around. For you, I would recommend going to Chinatown and make enquiry if your injured ankle can still be treated. I find the eastern methodology in correcting the sprain is better than just letting it heal. Same goes for broken bones or dislocation. Western practice will leave you with crooked bones or limb or awkward joints, whereas the eastern treatment, you get back the natural shape. I had broken my arm before and can see the difference. I had friend who dislocated his elbow and went for western treatment. He has a crooked elbow since..
Hope this helps.