Ankle Joint Swelling ,, Lymes or Gout?

I've never had gout, but, boy, did I have the Lyme related ankle swelling and pain. My right ankle swelling/pain lasted about 6 months and then abruptly improved. It was immediately followed by swelling/pain in the left ankle which also lasted 6+ months. Walking was next to impossible for that year.

Last winter I had a nuclear bone scan on the right foot and ankle (my foot was also involved with pain/swelling). The scan showed a raging arthritis in the ankle and that became my diagnosis. Funny, I thought, that arthritis in an ankle could cause so many other body wide symptoms. I've since learned that a radiologist should suspect Lyme when only one joint is so severely affected.

I don't have any special recommendations for flare ups, but the prescription Celebrex helped immensely.

Ice did not help me. What felt best, but I don't think helped much, were the Epsom salt baths. Keeping it elevated as much as possible also helped a bit with the pain.

I have not been on herbs, only antibiotics, so can't help you there.

Sorry you are so uncomfortable.

I have bart and my ankles, feet, achilles will all ache from time to time, and I've noticed swelling in my feet and ankles. When I'm having good days, there's no swelling. When the pain is there, there's swelling.

I try to pay even closer attention to my diet on bad days - drink lots of water and am more diligent about avoiding grains, cow dairy which cause me inflammation.

Lyme sure went for any previous injury I ever had.