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Post op Peroneal tendon surgery week 5 questions

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dcelmer14
dcelmer14

Hello foot & ankle friends;

I am curious if any of you had also had peroneal tendon surgery; I am currently post op starting 5 weeks and let's say it's been fairly painful and a lot more intense than I was prepared for. The surgery went well, the first 2 weeks I was basically bedrest and in a splint/wrap. Then after 2 weeks the stitches were removed, lets just say I was not mentally or physically prepared for how large the incision was and I almost had a breakdown in the drs office. Ekk! That being said, I was then put into a hard cast for 4 weeks, I have 9 days left of the hard cast and from there I believe I am put into a walking boot for 6 more weeks with PT. 

My question is this; 5 weeks post op is it still normal to have numbess, tingliness and a lot of pain? Also I am still not able to put weight down on the ankle. The dr. confirmed that this is all normal due to the fact that this was a major surgery but I still have worries. My concern is the dr puts me in a walking cast and I really can't walk, what am I going to do? I also have nightmares of PT and how painful it is going to be. 

For a little reference I played college soccer and I am a runner, and I want to do everything possible to get back to where I was before the injury.

Thank you for all the info.

Signed post op concerns Danielle. :-)

1 like, 233 replies

233 Replies

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  • cheryl96314
    cheryl96314 dcelmer14

    Posted

    Had PTT ankle surg with two fusions 9-13-2016, after walking on a foot for a year that felt like sharp knives being shoved in and crying after going home from work. Surgery was a piece of cake, had sedation with a local which lasted quite awhile and kept up on pain meds as instructed. Would suggest anyone having a trike for mobility although it is getting old now. I see my Dr tomorrow and so hope I am put in a boot cast, so I can take a shower and rub my leg as the skin is so dry. And especially to have it off at night, as I am not young and this heavy cast has made my arthritic hip and knee pain so much worse. The burning stinging and electric impulses that  have happened is so much worse than the pain I have incurred. It has gotten better but now radiates into my big toe which is really different. So hopefully tomorrow I will be put in a boot, and possible PT ordered so I can get out of this house. That has been the hardest, as I have always worked and this is so depressing. So find alot to occupy your time, you will lose weight as you have no desire to get up anymore often than you have to. So until my Drs. appt tomorrow, hang in there as it can take up to a year to fully recoer
  • cheryl96314
    cheryl96314 dcelmer14

    Posted

    I am post op 9weeks today, I am scheduled to Dr next week for hopefully will be my soft removal walking cast. The last hard cast they put flat bottom on it and had foam flip flop to attach for standing purposes. At first it caused my ankle/foot to ache alot, and still on pain meds and lyrica for neuropathy. Tingling/numbness is still there but not as bad and to hear that all this could go on for a year. Just want a full shower without plastic bags. Just take your time when walking cast is put on, and start with standing and a few steps at a time would be my suggestion. Good luck
    • kelly68598
      kelly68598 cheryl96314

      Posted

      I never was in a hard cast. Just the one I left the hospital in and he took that off on day 4 and put me in the boot. He also said I need to wean off the pain meds after 4 weeks and won't write me for anymore. It's still painful so I've been making these last ones I got last.

  • cindy30526
    cindy30526 dcelmer14

    Posted

    Hi: I had same surgery exactly a month ago. I was in a cast for 2 weeks and then Cam boot. Once I was in boot doc gave me instructions to do gentle Range of Motion exercises (with boot off). They have helped. And, while I am on the floor doing ROM exercises, I do other exercises to strengthen my core. I am not allowed to walk on my foot until Jan. 9th. I used to run. I hear that one needs to "prepare" and place effort into healing like they do for a big race. To think of my PT as training, helps me psychologically.

    I am pleased with everything so far, but I have been surprised at the pain I have at night! Anyone else have intensified pain at bedtime?

    • Ankle_Surgery
      Ankle_Surgery cindy30526

      Posted

      That Pain at bedtime in which part is located? I have pain at night also sometime, it’s under foot toes (maybe first metatarsal and other toes) also sometimes my knee have pain... I asked doctor and he told me that I should use those gel pads under my feet! But I didn’t have these pains before surgery, I wonder if I should use those pads forever?

      Meanwhile I was in cast I was happy but after start first walking all these showed their faces…

    • cindy30526
      cindy30526 Ankle_Surgery

      Posted

      Update... Jan 9th will mark 2 months since surgery. Little pain, unless I push it. Incision healed but tender. I work on massaging scar tissue every day. Will be in walking boot until Jan 30. 
    • Ankle_Surgery
      Ankle_Surgery cindy30526

      Posted

      Update... Jan 9th will mark 4 months, 4 days since surgery. Breathe taking pains, especially when walking. Incision healed not tender anymore, but pains are in Toes especially big toe and metatarsal, and the worst pain is on top of foot, it is almost where ATFL Tendon has been located maybe. I go to PT 2 to 3 times a week. We work on Range Of Motion as PT things if it became too late to have enough ROM, then it would be a big problem in future.
  • richardg2004
    richardg2004 dcelmer14

    Posted

    I am 5 days Post-Op and really have very little pain. First couple days i had some pain, i think most of it was from the wrap being too tight and the foot swollen. It by day 5 it is all but gone. Today I have only needed 2 200mg Motrin.

    I have an appointment in the 29th to have the splint removed and the incision checked out.

    Word of advice. Get the knee scooter if you can. It is 1000% better than crutches.

    • cah2126
      cah2126 richardg2004

      Posted

      Hello there I had my surgery on the 14 for peroneal tendon and bromstom repair. I'm 14 days post and still I have my toes numb and can't feel them or move them. The pain was bad at first but now just take it to sleep I'm at 2 pills per day. I'm still in nbw till the 29 when I go see the doctor.

    • cindy30526
      cindy30526 cah2126

      Posted

      Toes are probably numb due to swelling, but check with your doc, especially if toes are discolored all the time. Mine would look blue when my foot wasn't elevated. I have found that my Range of Motion is very little in my toes right now. I started PT last week.

    • cheryl96314
      cheryl96314 cindy30526

      Posted

      I am 15 weeks out and still have numbness down inside of foot to big toe, theripist states this could take up to a year to remedy as there is one long nerve that goes down the inside of your foot to your toe and will take time to heal and get circulation to return. It nothing that will keep you from getting better just annoying

       

    • cindy30526
      cindy30526 cheryl96314

      Posted

      Thank you! Did you or do you have a walking cam boot? My PT said to walk until I get to a level of 6 out of 10 pain. I started full weight bearing dec. 27. Was on my foot about 4 hours one afternoon. No pain then, but following 4 days much inflammation and it hurt to walk. Really had to back off. Today trying just 2 hours. How much did you walk in cam boot vs resting when you first started walking.
    • cheryl96314
      cheryl96314 cindy30526

      Posted

      I actually take my dogs for a walk once a day around a block, slow and steady and by the time I get home its time to rest, Dr told me it wi it will be at least 3 months before I become comfortable without pain to walk. I have what they call a arizona boot that goes inside my shoe to strength my ankle back up as besides having this tendon replaced I had triple fusion of the ankle. So hopefully by summer I will be skipping or at least walking without being uncomfortable
    • Ankle_Surgery
      Ankle_Surgery cheryl96314

      Posted

      cah2126, How is your situation?

      cindy30526, My PT also said to walk until I get to a level of 8 out of 10 pains.

      cheryl96314, Dr also told me it will be 3 months before I become comfortable without pain to walk, but its near 5 months and actually nothing changed after months 2 till now.

    • cindy30526
      cindy30526 Ankle_Surgery

      Posted

      I am finding that if I do my PT Exercises and twill around on my foot no more than 2 hours I am more mobile. When I overdid it, it was painful to walk for 4 days. It will be 2 months since surgery Jan. 9th.

      Are you saying your foot has improved at the 5 month mark or it is the same?

    • Ankle_Surgery
      Ankle_Surgery cindy30526

      Posted

      My foot is the same in 4 month mark. Problem comes down in 2 months mark, but then no change till now... Actually I feel it’s going down side. I have new pains also, especially in inside of my ankle (opposite side of the surgery), this surgery this soon is my biggest regret in life so far...

      I’m in misery, I woke up with stiffness, then I feel some kinds of voices in toes and metatarsals area, then after walking I feel pain in inside knee, then at night the pain in metatarsal goes very high!

      I wish I go back, I remember the only problem that I have was being unable to wear normal shoes, & having instability on uneven surfaces, which was not that much bothering, now I’m almost unable to walk without pain...

      The worst pain is the pain in big toe joint, which sometime happens to me, I want to cut my leg off in that times, It really bothers, I will see the surgeon today...

      I hate him, he was too urgent for surgery, he didn’t told me that I may feel worse after this surgery, I wish I go back to my pervious situation...

    • cindy30526
      cindy30526 Ankle_Surgery

      Posted

      Oh, I am sorry. I am now at two month point and it is really sinking in that this is a long haul. I am fortunate.... I have the best surgeon and physical therapist so they are a tremendous help physically and emotionally. If you don't like your surgeon, I would do reasearch to find out who is the best orthopedic doc around that deals with ankle. A second opinion could help.

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