Post op Peroneal tendon surgery week 5 questions
Posted , 61 users are following.
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
lah2010 dcelmer14
Posted
Hi all fellow surgery people -
I sure hope someone reads this, as I'd so like company in this rehab process.
I'm exactly 4 weeks out from perineal tendons repair, Brostrom, two areas with microftacture, some sour removal and cheilectomy, I think the last one is called. Big mess in my right foot. Affected areas are the outer ankle, the area in front of my foot where the foot and ankle link up, and my big toe.
I've been on my back with my foot elevated for a month. Throbs like crazy and feels like a balloon swollen with water that might explode when it's down for more than a few minutes. I'm down to 1 Percocet at night so I can sleep, though I go some nights without so it doesn't become habit. Those are uncomfortable nights. I too have plenty of tingling, stinging, burning sensations in various areas of my foot, and sometimes stabbing pain. My heel sometimes feels like a hard mass, but I think some of that is losing circulation from the fiberglass cast. I'm one week, at week five, I should move to a cam walker, and start PT at week 6.
I want to say I'm really glad I got all this work done,but the recovery sucks. I have a first grader who's been a champion adjusting. Need someone else to get her to and from school each day, and the money we're spending hiring people to help with basics like laundry, grocery shopping, picking up makes my head spin.
My surgeon only said I'd be uncomfortable for theee days post-op then everyone is different. I'm getting, at week 4 and entering week 5, that incredibly limited mobility and constant pain/discomfort will be the norm for a little while. Taking it I stride, but it's hard.
Rtfoot lah2010
Posted
Hey there! I'm just here to say....Hang in there!! It's such a tough recovery!!! Besides the physical & psychological/emotional demands of being stuck foot up healing - also there's all that home/family stuff to figure out! I'm 4 months out from surgery this week. I live in Alaska and the snow/ice all over our roads and sidewalks has cooped me up more than might have been otherwise, but also - the whole thing just takes so much time. I've been on a couple weeks of PT recess right now - when I go back this week I get to start a little more high velocity stuff and - they say before the end of the season I'll even get to put my skis on and take an easy trail. Over the past several weeks I've noticed more and more often that my foot isn't in charge of my energy! There is hope. Keep on!!
lah2010 Rtfoot
Posted
Thank you. I know all this, and it's nice to be in conversation with other people who've had these surgeries. What did you have done?
Rtfoot lah2010
Posted
julie38356 Rtfoot
Posted
Hi
I had Arthroscopy peroneal tendon repair. I had a longitude split tear and currently 5 weeks post surgery.
Dr put me in a massive aircast camboot and told me i could full weight bare. My foot is still quite swollen, i can't moved my two little toes, its numb. I barely had any sleep last night. The pain, throbbing, sharp pain. Every time i try put full weight on with crutches i get pain up my leg then my calf cramps up. Its so annoying.
I have a week in this boot before i see dr and he said i would start PT. My foot is so stiff.
Will the PT help the swelling? I'm abit scared. I am still currently off work as my work im on my feet alot. Im not sure how long would take with PT before i can walk. It feels very weak.
lah2010 julie38356
Posted
Hi Julie,
It's all normal. You'll be fine. Recovery is long and slow, and it does happen. PT will not take down the swelling - time will. I used compression socks (with no toes) for a while - that helped the swelling tremendously.
Walking begins sometime around 8 weeks, with light weight bearing. At about 12 weeks I was walking but still used the cam walker on uneven terrain as my ankle was understandably weak.
I'm 16 weeks out. I can walk, but it's stiff, I limp and my ankle doesn't bend enough to properly walk down stairs. I had lots more than just peroneal though. I've heard it takes a year for full recovery, so know you're experience now is normal.
Go to PT. Do what they tell you. Healing will happen.
Rtfoot julie38356
Posted
I agree with lah2010!
ice and compression helped with swelling. But....time is the main thing. Follow recovery instructions. Ask questions. And HANG IN THERE. Doctor & PT both said it'd be a long road and it is....but it really does get better.
kellee94011 julie38356
Posted
Everyone here is giving you great advice. And here is the good news, I'm 13 months post-surgery and my recovery is great. No pain, occasional swelling, full range of motion, I walk normally and except for my ankle tiring after a long day or being on my foot for hours and hours, I'm normal. It took a full year, but following your doctor's direction, going to PT and exercising at home will get you there. It was frustrating at times, but just know that you will recover and get back to normal. Good luck!
julie38356 lah2010
Posted
julie38356 Rtfoot
Posted
julie38356 kellee94011
Posted
Thanks everyone. I was dealing with the pain for 9 months before surgery and i couldn't handle it. I was getting quite frustrated but i guess it takes time. I feeling abit down but now i hear all the positive words my heads are up for the recovery.
julie38356 kellee94011
Posted
kellee94011 julie38356
Posted
I had a lot more swelling once I got out of the boot and at the beginning I had some of the other issues, but after a few sessions of PT plus exercise at home, it all calmed down. The exercise gets your blood moving and loosens up your ankle so that it stops turning blue so much. I got a lot stronger after a few sessions of PT, which helped me walk more (and better) which in turn gave me even more strength. But do be prepared that you will have swelling for a long time, even after all this time my ankle swells, my doctor warned me and he was correct. I also walked around on the torn peroneal tendon for about 8 months before surgery and that hurt way worse than anything related to the surgery or the healing process. You're going to be happy you did this once you get past the difficult stages. Good luck!
shana50627 dcelmer14
Posted
It's been a while since we all had surgery. Just curious to see if my status is typical. It's been 9 months since my peroneal surgery. I barely have any pain and my range of motion is good but my ankle feels so tight where the incision is. And it seems the more I excercise it or heat it, the tighter it feels.
Anyone else have this?
Sweetpea1 shana50627
Posted
Hi Shana,
I am 6 months post op and don't have a lot of ankle pain but the tendon on the side of my foot and under my foot hurt badly. I am being sent to pain management for evaluation, I also have terrible swelling if I walk more than a mile a day and still numb on the side of my foot . I am hoping this is all something that will heal in time .
kellee94011 shana50627
Posted
I'm one year post op and pretty much back to normal. 100% range of motion, only a tiny bit of numbness down the side of my foot, no pain but sometimes a tiny bit of swelling (ice and elevate). I can do anything which so much better than pre-surgery when plain walking hurt. Even the scar is not looking fierce anymore. I consider my surgery and recovery a complete success.