Really Really Not Ideal

I've ever so slightly got an issue with my left ankle.

It hurts.

Not a lot lot, but enough.  And I'm not entirely sure what's going on.

My only/best guess is that my new boots that I got last year that hurt my ankle area all last Winter are doing the same in a slightly different way.  This is my guess because I ran errands (walking errands) in them a couple of weeks ago and didn't feel anything at the time but then when I put the boots back on for work that next week they seemed to hit right where it hurts.  Hmmm.... so that's my current guess as I haven't hit it or sprained it or anything I can think of.

So first thing I did was stop wearing the boots (I've been trying to stretch them out with my Nalgene water bottles...sigh) and wear my runners.  I also tried to stretch and strengthen the ankle since I'm not sure what's going on with it.  And I kept up my exercise, in my runners of course.

It hasn't helped.

In fact, and this is the kicker, the walking seems to make it worse.  Which... really really doesn't feel fair.

I've been very anxious lately and going to the gym and getting on the treadmill helps a lot.  Walking around my neighbourhood or even around my apartment helps too.  And right now, when I walk, my ankle hurts.  

When I was a kid (long story very short) I hurt this same ankle and ended up in Children's hospital because of that injury and I have a lot of PTSD from that experience that pops up with medical situations and let me tell you that right now?  I am fully completely losing it over this ankle "injury" due to the PTSD resurfacing from my childhood.  It sucks

It MAJORLY sucks because at least I've put together than this is happening, but I can't go exercise to help reduce the stress and anxiety from it happening.  I have physio soon to try to diagnose and more importantly to find out what I can and can't do (can I cycle?  swim?  or is it pure rest and if so for how long?)

I'm struggling with not meeting my exercise type goals.  I've tried to adjust to a reasonable goal to hit (20 minutes of non weight bearing yoga is "ok", for example) but I'm still stressingly anxious about that.  Plus it's hard to rest an ankle.  You gots to use them quite a lot.  And not knowing what the issue is I'm not really sure what my best things are to do.  Ice?  Heat?  Anti-inflammatories?  Stretching?  None of the above?  Will this go away?  Is this age related?  Could I *BE* any more anxious about it? (Rest in peace Mr Perry and Chandler.)

So I'm hoping the physio sorts out what's gone and going on and I'm hoping I can get back to some decent cardio ASAP.

I'm also thinking I might take my old worn boots that DON'T hurt and the new hurty boots to a cobbler and ask for professional help.  FWIW, I've worn these types of boots for decades, I have absolutely no idea why this time they're hurting me.  It really sucks.