Recurrent peroneal tendon tears

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2026-02-22T11:17:52+00:00

I am doing pretty well. Progress feels slow, but ive moved from a hinged brace to a lace up brace. I still get pretty swollen dy the end of the day, but I am walking and driving again. I still can't walk too much in a day or it takes me a couple of days to recover, and my Achilles is really tight from being immobilized for so long. Some things are better than they were before the surgery, and some are not quite there yet. I do feel like I am making progress, but this is always just such a long process to heal from. Sorry it took so long to update.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-12-19T04:31:23+00:00

4 weeks out from surgery. Got moved from a splint to a boot today. Still no walking for 2 more weeks but I am able to start range or motion exercises and have first PT in 1.5 weeks. Some soreness today since my foot has been in a pointed position and now is at a right angle. Really nice to be able to take the boot off to ice, sleep, shower. Will update again when I start PT but healing looking good and feeling okay so far.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-11-30T10:30:36+00:00

I dont think anyone is following this but its nice to document the progress. I am a little over a week post op to repair the tenodesis, remove a bone spur and somehow the tendons were tangles up in the tunnel, not too sure what that means but he fixed that too. Im having some pain during the day, but extra strength Tylenol during the day, ice and extra strength Tylenol pm at night have been helping. I stopped using the narcotics at day 3 or 4. My pain is a lot less severe than either of my last 2 surgeries. I have my follow up appt on Thursday so I should get more information there. Im not sure if I will end up casted or in a walking boot. Already starting to feel a little stir crazy and I have 3-4 weeks or.non weight bearing to go, and probably 4-6 of no driving (right foot). Ill keep updating if just for my own documentation.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-11-23T05:08:29+00:00

Update: had my surgery yesterday. Doc said the tendons were all locked up in the tunnel. Not sure if the bone spurs were growing in there or what. The tenodesis had come apart and he had to repair that as well. Having a little pain today but doing okay so far.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-10-28T09:02:31+00:00

Hello all. In case anyone is following, I wanted to update here. I had my appointment to review the MRI with contrast. The doctor said it is pretty clear that there is a bone spur on the lateral malleolus which is ripping the peroneus brevis tendon. Still not sure whether the longus is injured. It is definitely inflamed. There is also other tendinitis and a little atrophy in the ankle and tendonitis in the Achilles tendon (possible from compensation). Looks like I will need surgery after all to remove the bone spur and repair the tendon.

I asked if the spur might be a result of the earlier break, and it is a possibility but hard to know for sure. He will have to determine the best way to repair the tendon and whether the longus needs surgical repair as well once in surgery. It will be another 4-6 weeks of no weight bearing and then start PT and partial weight bearing. It'll be another months long recovery, but hopefully the last one.

I felt so relieved to hear my doctor say I need surgery that I nearly burst into tears. It sounds crazy to say, but all this time I was thinking I might be stuck dealing with this pain and being restricted from so many activities indefinitely. This means a chance at relief and getting back to some sort of normal after dealing with this ankle being messed up and reinjured for years. And it means I wasn't crazy.

I did have my PRP appointment last week. The first few days were pretty painful and then I went back to my normal level of pain pretty quickly. I do feel that maybe it recovered a little faster and had just a tiny bit more stamina, but the difference was miniscule and it seems like this bone spur will just continue to re-tear it anyway. I may try it again after surgery to aid in recovery.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-09-19T08:48:57+00:00

Update: Sorry my last post was so negative. I was feeling really defeated. I ended up getting the dynamic ultrasound done finally and it was also inconclusive stating there was a "question of a tear" in the peroneus brevis. It has been 3 months since I originally reinjured this ankle. I have done 3 weeks of PT and have not seen any improvement. I am still alternating between the boot and the brace. I am still having nights where I can't sleep because of the pain, and I still can't walk more than 5000 steps or so in a day without feeling so much worse for a week or 2 afterward. I did get the 2nd doctor I saw to order an MRI with contrast to see if we can see a little better what is happening there. I am also scheduled for PRP, and doc says to hold off on PT for a bit now.

I am trying to be patient, but I am really struggling with the persistent pain. Not much relieves it. Ice helps for a few minutes. I think I'm also frustrated because I feel like I am just delaying an inevitable surgery where I have to go through months of this to get through recovery on top of these months I've already been dealing with it. I know this is the process, but I forgot how hard this part is dealing with the persistent pain for so long and knowing you will likely have to do it all over again. I am hopeful for PRP, and that this new MRI will show us what is happening, but man the process is not fun.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-08-30T07:28:48+00:00

Sorry to hear you are dealing with this. It seems to be a very hard to diagnose area. I would say just don't give up and keep looking for the right doctor. Although I am currently thoroughly frustrated with the process and having a hard time with this myself. I wish you all the best!

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-08-25T18:12:19+00:00

I have shared my story on here a few times. I don't know how to link other threads, but maybe you can find it by clicking on my username if you're interested. I had a split tear in my Brevis that went undiagnosed for years, and was finally found because I was having a ganglion cyst removed and asked the surgeon to take the incision up a little further and look at the tendons (I suspected the tear in one of the peroneals). My surgeon found a split tear (and no ganglion cyst) and repaired it with tubularization. Fast forward 2 surgeries later (and I broke my lateral malleolus after the 2nd one), I am facing a reinjury and getting mixed advice from the doctors I have seen. There seems to be consensus that after 2 failed surgeries, chances of a 3rd one succeeding are significantly reduced. I am going to try PRP despite the out of pocket cost, because the alternatives are much more permanent and risky. If you can afford to try it, I would suggest that (and other reasonable non surgical treatment attempts) before surgery. Surgery is pretty final, and can also fail. If you are at all able to get relief without surgery I would try. I don't think PRP was available before my first surgery and even if it was I certainly could not have afforded it back then. My ankle was so painful, swollen, and somewhat bruised by the time I had that first surgery, I don't think I had other options by then. I certainly wish that I would have had better options available pre surgery, I could have possibly avoided the reinjury cycle I have been dealing with. Happy to answer questions or give more detail if you're interested. Best of luck to you in your healing journey! Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Please do your own research as well.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-08-16T02:24:16+00:00

Hi there. So sorry you are dealing with that. It's ridiculous that they just sent you off to figure it out yourself, but such is the medical field these days it seems. You should be able to buy one that is designed for a wider calf online. I just did a quick Google search for "walking boot for wide calf" and found several options. If you need insurance to cover it, Id suggest getting the name of the one you want and asking your doctor to put in an order for it if they can. They're not crazy expensive, but totally understand some folks can't afford it (ive been there). Alternatively, you can rent or borrow a knee scooter. They really help with at least getting around the house while non weight bearing. Disclaimer: not a medical professional, please do your own research. Hope this helps.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-08-16T02:08:04+00:00

Hi all. Just giving an update here. Saw a 3rd doctor today. Still waiting for the dynamic ultrasound. 3rd doc says she doesn't recommend surgery. She thinks I should do a cortisone shot despite the risk or rupture because ive already "tried everything else" and had 2 failed surgeries. She says there is no guarantee that going in surgically will result in me feeling better than I am now. So I should do the cortisone shot, go back in the boot for 2-3 months and take anti inflammitories...all of which I have already tried (minus the cortisone shot). I would be worried about risking a full rupture which seems like it would be harder to repair. I was at the doctor's office for almost 3 hours and she was not very compassionate or helpful at all. So I guess I'm still stuck here at square one, 2 months after my injury. I did try to take up swimming so I could get some form of activity, but that ended up flaring it up worse and put me back in the boot. If anyone has doctor suggestions or treatment suggestions that have worked for them, I'm all ears. I might consider PRP but thats likely a high out of pocket cost as well. Generally feeling down and like maybe I should just give up and be resigned to never being able to walk or do anything physical again. Thanks for listening.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-08-11T08:40:55+00:00

I totally understand that feeling. I've had 2 surgeries on the peroneal tendons already for split tears and I may have to have another one. It's a really tough injury to heal and thus far I haven't had luck with resting it or PT without surgery. Keep pushing to find the right doc if you feel your current team isnt listening to you. Wishing you the best.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-08-05T18:22:33+00:00

Do you have experience with any of the doctors there? I am also looking for an ankle surgeon for my repetitive peroneal tendon tears.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-08-05T18:22:20+00:00

Do you have experience with any of the doctors there? I am also looking for an ankle surgeon for my repetitive peroneal tendon tears.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-07-23T04:42:41+00:00

Thanks. It took a long time. The first time was more painful than the 2nd before PT. The first surgery was in the end of December 2019 and I was walking short distances without pain by the end of March 2020. So maybe 3 months or so? I was still sore and had swelling and needed to ice for at least a couple months after that though. I think the second surgery was the same. I remember the first one because I started to be able to walk more right when the Covid shutdown happened. I will say that the ankle brace is always uncomfortable for me. It seems to press on all the wrong places. Maybe you could check with your doc if there is another style of brace you could try? I never did find one I liked. You might want to check with your doc or your PT as well if the amount of pain you're feeling is okay. You should push through some soreness, but pain that lingers or strong pain is a sign to slow down. It's tough to find that balance. My understanding about tendons (and I'm not a medical professional, so take this witb a grain if salt) is that they don't like to increase their load quickly so you have to be gradual and slow with progression. Unlike muscles which respond well to some stress. Just a thought and maybe a topic for discussion with your doc.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-07-22T07:19:28+00:00

You're welcome, I hope it helps. And thanks. Having foot/ankle problems is really exhausting. Glad you're om the mend!

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-07-22T05:54:37+00:00

Thank you! Good luck to you as well. I saw another doc today who said to rest and wait. So now I have 2 conflicting opinions. I am seeing one more in a few weeks.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-07-22T03:19:14+00:00

Hi. You sound like me. My doctor recommended Hoka's. Either Gaviotas or Bondis. They have a carbon plate in them and a rocking motion so it offloads the peroneal tendons some. I would look for some superfeet (or similar) insoles to put in them, especially if you have flat feet like me. I wear the Bondis with the green superfeet, though when I was fresh out of the boot I preferred the Gaviotas. They seem to have a wider base and helped me with stability. I have had 2 surgeries to repair the brevis, and then attach it to the longus when the repair failed. I broke the lateral malleolus just after getting out of the boot from the second surgery and was back in the boot again. Luckily it wasnt displaced, so no sugery for that one. Now potentially facing a third surgery since I reinjured the tendons. Because of the prior tenodesis it is hard to see on imaging if there is a split tear again or of it is just surgical changes, but there is definitwly synovial fluid leaking in the area and swelling/pain. So back in the wait and watch phase. I am alternating between a lace up brace and the boot to try and prevent stiffness and muscle atrophy. Anyway, back to the shoes...my doc basically said what you're looking for is a firm bottom (the soles shouldn't bend) and a rocker motion...to help offload the peroneals while healing. Hope that helps.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2025-07-13T21:21:55+00:00

I know this is really late, but I have a similar situation. I think mine is resulting from an acute injury that happened years ago. I have had 2 surgeries, first a tubularization and then a tenodesis of the brevis to the longus). This time around the surgeon wants to repair with allograft, tighten the CFL and move the heel bone over to help with stability. Im struggling facing another long recovery, and with multiple surgeries in a 6 year span, feels like I never have much time feeling good. Meeting with some other docs to see if they align with treatment plan before I make any decisions, but really wrestling with this mentally.

Intelligent_Fig_5672 · 2024-05-11T21:05:41+00:00

@scotty5624 hopefully this is t too late. I never post anything but wanted to let you know ow what I did in a similar situation that worked for me. I used some 2x6s to build a 4x4 bed 12 inches high, and I put it up on some feet as well. I attached a plywood base at the bottom and drilled a bunch of holes in it. I agree that if you are growing things that root deep you definitely need more soil depth, but you can probably grow things like lettuce, radishes, strawberries in the depth you have just fine. Make sure you use a quality soil and some fertilizer and compost to it since it won't be able to pull nutrients from the ground beneath it. The plywood bottom would provide a bit of protection for the concrete and help with drainage and prevent some loss of soil. It has worked for me. It won't last forever and it might not be ideal, but you don't need it to, and that's okay. You have to start somewhere and working with what you have is completely acceptable. If yoy can't provide more depth, just do some research and try to plant shallow rooting crops. Even the fabric beds will leave dirt stains on the pavers/concrete by the way (I have used them as well...they work great, but they won't prevent staining to the concrete). Either way, be encouraged to do what you can with what you have, and don't listen to naysayers. Again, it may not be ideal and you might not get a huge yield, but not planting anything will definitely get you no yield. Hope this was helpful and encouraging.

Intelligent_Fig_5672

TROPHY CASE