Peroneal Brevis Tendon Surgery - Post-Op

Yes I did have that! Sometimes I’d even wake in the middle of the night with the calf pain... It would happen at random times. The ankle pain, I was told, is the nerves reconnecting and the muscles are still adjusting and recovering from the trauma of recovery. At twenty weeks you’ll notice a big difference! And honestly you won’t remember when things stopped feeling painful, or getting those electric shock feelings. You’ll be able to sleep through the night and you’ll just be happy to finally get a good nights sleep. Finding shoes that fit and don’t aggravate it will be your biggest challenge in the months ahead. I’ve purchased literally ten pairs of trainers! The first ones were low to avoid rubbing the incision site. And so it went until the incision isn’t at all sensitive anymore and I’m wearing my current pair for exercise. You’ll get there! You haven’t done any additional damage... It’s all very normal to have those pains! Hope this helps to ease your worries. 

I’m 14 weeks.  I still have pulling and pain by ankle and the side of foot and my calf aches like crazy.   I am feeling worried I might have another tear too..   I made an appt to see the surgeon next week.   It’s such a long slow process... trying not to get too impatient or frustrated.   Hopefully with a little more time we will both be feeling better!   Good luck!!

Are you in physical therapy? That’s a huge part of the success of your outcome. I started as soon as I came out of the cast. I bought the items I needed to continue my therapy at home on the days I wasn’t in therapy at the hospital. Therapy will make you sore until the tendons are healed and the nerve endings come together completely. I would have a lot more soreness after working my foot and ankle. As the therapy progresses, you’ll be more sore. Eventually that passes. But it’s imperative to have PT. 

Hi Donna . yes I am in physical therapy also since my cast came off.   I do my exercises and stretch every day.   The therapist said I may take longer to heal because of my profession.  I am a hairstylist and stand for work.   I hv shortened my schedule and I make sure to take breaks often between clients.  But I do think this may be adding  time on to my healing.   Your input has been very helpful. I really appreciate it. : )

Yes-I’m hoping this is all normal. My surgeon said he’s not sure why I’m having pain at 12 weeks post op. I feel like every day is a little different ache. The calf pain comes and goes. Im hoping my muscle is trying to come back since I’ve been working it more. 

Thank you for your feedback! Very reassuring. Definitely pains that only someone who has gone through this surgery can relate to!

You may not believe this, but I too am a cosmetologist! I have been wearing trainers since coming out of the cast, up until this month... I was able to find a comfortable pair of shoes from a company called Clark’s. They make lots of shoes for hospital staff, etc. but I found pair that are actually comfortable to wear all day! The heel is low, but there is one, so my trousers don’t drag along the ground. I thought I would never never wear anything beyond trainers ever again, so I’m so happy to find them! They only come in black or tan so I bought both. I’ll agree it’s a tough profession to be in, after this kind of surgery! Using the foot peddle is loads of fun! Even the standing angle on the foot, while at the shampoo station can be a problem. Warm Epsom salt baths are soothing for me after a long day of standing! Best of luck to you! 

I know that I had pains as well. But I worked very hard during my PT at my local center and did it at least twice a day at home. I found the equipment to be fairly cheap and once I had the exercise program to follow, I just kept increasing the reps for each. I’m sure that caused some of the pain. But the body also takes time to recover from the shock and trauma... I know that was true for me anyway. I now suffer from sciatica pain on that side, I’m hoping it will eventually fade. But I’ve been given new exercises to help with that as well... And those seem to be working. Other than that and the fact that I still have some degree of swelling (which I knew there would be for a year) and I don’t have full ROM as I had before, I’m doing really well. I’ll bet one day you’ll wake up and the pain will have gone. Life just goes on and you don’t really notice when the pain stops, you just know when it’s here at the moment. Hope the pain soon fades away for you! There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Donna-you mentioned getting equipment to help you at home...what did you get? Also-I had  another MRI on Friday to double check everything. Hopefully there’s no more damage and I’m just experiencing healing pains! Still lots of pulling pains all around my ankle. Will this ever go away? 

Hi, yes it will get better. And I promise that one day you’ll wake up and lace up your running shoes and you won’t remember any of this! At least you won’t feel any pain anyway... You may remember it taking so long to heal. 

I bought some things through Amazon that helped me to recover quicker at home. I can’t post pics here but I’ll list them below. Make sure you are doing the exercises as instructed by your therapist... For many months, my PT wouldn’t allow me to tilt or bend my ankle in the same direction as when I injured it. So make sure you’re following their advice, and let them know the equipment you purchased to use at home. My doctor encouraged this for me. 

• balance (or wobble) board to practice slow ROM exercises 

• a hand towel to practice scrunching and picking up with your toes 

• marbles in a plastic bowl. Spread the marbles on the floor and pick them up with your toes and drop them in the bowl. As you progress you should time yourself and work to continually beat your previous time.

• bolster or roll to place under your calf and do your band and/or towel stretches

• rubber bands (I kept and used the ones my PT gave me at my sessions - each time you progress to a heavier band with more resistance)

• a small beach ball to place behind your back and practice squats while keeping the against the wall. Also for stretching exercises. 

• an ice sleeve exactly like the ones they use after your workout. I didn’t need it after the swelling was under control but it came in handy for a shoulder tear a short while ago. It fits foot, knee or shoulder. You pump it up and thirty minutes is about all you can handle. 

Thats pretty much it. I worked out at home twice to three times a day on the days I wasn’t at therapy. And twice on the days I went there (once with them, and later that evening at home). The PT really is the key to progressive recovery. 

Hope that helps! And YES, it will get better day by day. 

Yes you’ll get there! And while they say it takes a full year to fully recover, you’ll be feeling much better as more time goes by. At the four month mark I was fed up and I felt I should have been healed farther along. But give it two more months and you’ll notice a real difference! I felt better beyond the six month range, as in really no pain. I can run again and walk for hours now in regular shoes. It’ll happen and you’ll get there! 

Thanks Donna! I’m hoping I get there soon. I think I miss driving more than anything.  One of my friends called me and told me how they just went food shopping and they hate the store they hate the lines and I told her you take stuff like that for granted.. just like I used to. This recovery does put a lot of things in a much clearer perspective. I can’t wait to go food shopping again ! 😂 

What’s stopping you?! I wheeled through Wal Mart in one of those motorized carts like a professional! One day I got one that would only go in reverse... That was loads of fun!  Shopping isn’t a big deal until you feel you can’t. So I get it, but don’t let that stop you. Find someone to take you and help you into the handicap carts. 

It’s baby steps and when you’re given the okay to drive, you’ll panic a little first time. I know I did. I was terrified my ankle would react and I’d be in trouble in the middle of traffic. But, it didn’t happen, and before long you’re right back into your old routine again! Until then, utilize those handicap carts that most stores have, and at least that gets you back among society again, and you won’t feel so isolated and stressed. 

Well I went to CVS the other day, I put my crutch in the cart and got a few things. It was painful as heck and I was extremely slow moving but I mentally felt better just going out and doing something. My friend drove me there and I was so glad to go. The next day I paid the price but I’ll keep doing it anyway. Thank you for all your feedback on this blog. You are giving many people hope!! 😊

I bought a large round bolster and when I used the carts I would use the bolster to keep my foot elevated. I found that was problem. And, if you can get the knee skooter (most medical supply stores rent them) they’re excellent for quick trips! But they do take some getting used to and can really pick up some speed on a slick store floor! I was rounding corners like a race car driver in mine, and I have low-pile carpet. I forgot that and had a near wipe-out in the store rounding an endcap. Could have been the start of an entirely new adventure for me! Don’t get discouraged, and I’m so glad you’re getting out! 

I got rid of the knee scooter it gave me knee issues lol, like my foot wasnt enough!! lol. I wonder why some days my foot feels so much better and other days in so much pain. And the whole foot hurts not just where I had surgery. Anyway love talking with you Donna!!!