It’s day 4. Â Thursday. Â Three days after my surgery. Â And I thought I’d give you an update on what was actually done, an idea of what the surgery (may have) looked like and how I’m working at getting better.
What Was Done?
- Peroneal Tendon Repair: Â Repairing the tears in my peroneal tendon (the MRI showed a few)
- Fibular groove deepening osteotomy: Â The bottom end of the bone was flat instead of concave and he had to create a deeper groove for the tendons to sit in place. Â According to Google it involves drilling into the bone, depressing the center (breaking it) and in that way deepen the groove to make it concave.
- Peroneal longus to peroneal brevis transfer: No idea, but I’ll ask the doc for more info tomorrow. Â But he told me once I was fully awake that I only had about 1mm of tendon left by my ankle, so I guess he had to do a graft or something. Â Will report back.
What Does It Look Like?
Here’s an idea of what was done (plus, it’s not so gory like actual pics).
How Am I Getting Better?
I continue to feel better, but it’s amazing how energy sapping bed rest can be! Â I have officially been booked off sick for this week, even though the doc said I shouldn’t do anything before next Wednesday.
But the way I operate, when somebody tells me to expect to feel better within the next four to ten days, I’ll immediately decide that the four-day window applies to me!
It’s hard to not do anything when you’re not actually sick. Â I don’t have a cold or flu or some infectious disease that’s left me bedridden. Nor am I doing something significant like recovering from chemo. Â Nope, I just have a sore foot in a thick surgical cast, and it drives me absolutely insane!
Like this morning, when the kids were fighting over something stupid and Da Husband was struggling to navigate the morning suicide hour on his own, I grabbed my crutches, hobbled over to their bedroom and laid down the law. Â Except that I kinda stumbled along the way and had to hobble back in agony.
Then I decided to have a bath which was lovely, but the few minutes that my foot was not elevated brought on more pain.
And a few minutes ago, when I told my mom that I just needed to get off my bed and go for a walk (and I mean, like a 7-metre walk on crutches, from our room to the kids’ room and back), I lost my balance, fell against the wall, banged my foot and had to limp back to where I am now once again on my back and in agony.
Will I ever listen?
Probably not.
But I have a serious case of cabin fever and I’m still 99% bed-bound for about 10 days and then house-bound for another four weeks.
It’s hard to have to ask somebody to make you tea or bring you a glass of water. Â My mom’s been great (our nanny is busy writing her exams) and has not only been totally committed to helping me every minute of the day; she’s also been running my errands for the past two days. Â But there’s only so much kindness anyone can endure before your incapability to do anything for yourself starts to drive you crazy.
Ntombi will be back tomorrow and I already have a long list of stuff she’ll need to sort out for me, excluding all the meals and snacks she needs to prepare!
From what I know Da Husband and Da Son will go fishing on Sunday. Â Hopefully I can organise a playdate for Da Chick so that I can spend the day on my own on the couch (that is, if I can actually get downstairs).
It is only day 4!!!
I need to let go.
I need to let go.
I need to let go.
At least I have Jackie Chan and Justin Bieber keeping me company!
Super Kitties: Jackie Chan & Justin Bieber
On April 23, 2013 I had a 4 hour long surgeryFHL (big toe) transfer to replace a shredding Achilles from a 2001 injury. I also had a torn peroneal brevis from a 2009 injury while hiking. It’s been 8.5 weeks and I am FWB in a heavy armored boot. The Achilles tendon repair is healing pretty well. But I guess there was a lot of scar tissue that had to be removed around the torn peroneal brevis tendon. It is still very swollen and incredibly tender so that I wake every hour during the night due to jolts of pain every time I move. I am keeping my foot elevated and using Kodiak cold therapy to help reduce the swelling.
I’m supposed to be able to move to two shoes after my next doctor’s appointment on Wednesday. Don’t think I could get my foot into a shoe. Little nervous, but so tired of dealing with constant pain.
Good luck with your recovery, Deborah. It’s such a long road, hey, but with patience we’ll get out on the other side.
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It’s now been 19 weeks. The peroneal area outside ankle still stays swollen. What PT are you doing? I’ve got pretty good ROM a
nd strength. However sitting for a couple hours or walking any distance makes the ankle swell.
I realize it is quite a bit later, but Deborah are you recovered? I have to get this surgery and am scared to death!
Just wondering how things went? My husband had a tendon transfer then they went back in and took his hamstring and transferred it. He can barely do anything without it swelling.
I jjust had this same surgery on Sept. 20, 2013. I am 61 and boy was a lot harder to deal with than when i had other type surgeries in my 30s and 40s. I just found your post from a google search. I am hoping you will have continue to post as you progress. I certainly feel your pain and and relate to not being able to do anything for my self much. I also had plantar fasciitis and he did a partial release of the fascia along with the tendon surgery.
So not looking forward to any of this… :'( Hope your feeling better
How long before you were back to being able to walk without issues? I have to have this tendon repair and possible groove deepening done soon. Ruh roh!
Hi there, after my cast came off I was referred to a physio who looked at my foot and worked out a rehab plan to get the movement going again and to gain strength. I was walking within three sessions. I still went back to him a few times after to regain range of movement aznd strength.
Hi. I’m 17 and facing this surgery. I am a runner and yogi. I’ve been in a boot for about three months ( not being able to run is very depressing) I’ve already been sent to PT. about 2 months into that he said he will not touch me anymore because it’s not helping and all he’s doing was hurting me more. So he referred me to one of the top surgeons and he said my peroneal tendons are snapping in and out of socket (which is VERY painful) due to a flat bone instead of deepened. My mom and dad doesn’t want me to have surgery but the surgeon,of course, does. I do too considering this is in issue that cannot be fixed without it and if I don’t fix it while I’m young it’ll be harder on my body when I get older. So I’m asking if it will be harder and more painful in the future when running or in cold weather if I proceed with the surgery.
I had this surgery two weeks ago today. Two days ago stitches came out and cast was put on for two more weeks. I bought a knee scooter, which I now can’t use because the cast is to restrictive up top and my toes go blue so at 56 I’m using crutches for the first time in my life. My main issue is the burning pain on the top of my foot and incision area. It is constant burning and some numbness too. I fell several times once real bad scooter and all went down. I’m black and blue from falling while trying to do the simplest tasks like getting prepared to sit on the toilet. I guess from these posts I won’t be in my regular boots by winter? The Dr. said one year for pain and swelling to subside completely, so don’t call before! It really is hard to loose your independence just thankful it is temporary!
Day 8 after left foot perineal brevis. Had the right foot operated on 3 years ago and rsd (now called crps) set in. Took almost a year to heal then. I am hoping for a good outcome this time around. Surgery was not as extensive as only 25% tear and tightened the sheath. So far a positive attitude but a long road ahead. Good thoughts!!
I came across your recap via google and I had the same surgery done the end of March 2014. I managed to tear the peroneal brevis tendon in my left ankle; to quote the doctor “it was shredded”. I saw a picture of it and it looked like a piece of string cheese that someone had started pulling apart. I was on bed rest for 4 days. I was under strict orders to not drive until my follow up 10 days after surgery when I was put into a boot. Then I was stuck at home on sick leave for 4 weeks. I started physical therapy around week 5. I was on crutches for 2 more weeks without putting any weight on it, but progressed to an ankle brace by week 10. I’m at 4 months out now and I’m still in the ankle brace, it still gets still stiff, and I’m not cleared to do some of my regular activities from before like running. My tendon started popping out again so it’s looking like the groove deepening didn’t work.
I swear the worst parts of the whole process was the nerve block wearing off afterward, the challenge of carrying anything while on crutches, and navigating the stairs in the house. I decided that once I was laying down somewhere with my foot up I wasn’t moving and people had to bring me stuff.
I’m booked in for this op .i run about 15 miles a week ,any idea if I will still be able to run after the op.
I had peroneal tendon surgery 16 weeks ago. My ankle hurts pretty bad still but I can walk normally. It is painful but possible. I have been having serious pain in my calf lately. Has anyone else experienced this as well?
I am 16 days post op for a longitudinal tear of the Brevis and a retinaculum reattach. My Ortho surgeon had me in a soft cast for 9 days and then over to a boot and told I could start walking in the boot anytime. On day 16 now and barely putting 25% on my bum ankle. I’m ready to bust out of the house! What tips do you have for learning how to be FWB again? I’m a teacher and will be off a total of 4.5 weeks (thanks to winter break). Hopefully I will be able to return to work at that point. Driving with a boot on the right foot will be interesting.
I was wondering how long before you was put in a walking boot ? I’m facing surgery on my tendons as well.
I didn’t get a boot. I was in a leg cast for six weeks and after that in an ankle brace for another six weeks. My physio put me in a boot for a week after I had some issues, but it was sorted quickly.
How long before you went back to work ?
I had surgery on my ankle on January 15 2016 with a torn tendon. I am in a cam walker didn’t have a cast but still have no feeling in my foot is that normal? I have a job that I stand on feet for 12 hours a day I don’t know if I will be able to that.
Hi Janette, how are you doing now? I had my peroneal brevis tendon repair done this Mon the 29th. I am in a splint cast boot with cruthes for two weeks. My next appointment is March 15th. I will have the splint cast removed and will be wearing the air boot for 4 weeks, then I will have therapy for 4 weeks. How long did it take you to recover? I am having a hard time like most people I am sure to rest and keep the foot elevated. Any advise, it will be greatly appreciated. Nadia
@Janet (if you’re still reading this),
I had an inch or so long tear in my right PBT surgically repaired one week ago today. I was in a splint with surgical dressings until my follow-up last night when they put me in a boot. Doc didn’t say how long I’d be booted, but he originally was talking about a cast, so I’m happy with the boot.
The surgical wound looks like I put my foot in a meatgrinder, but the doc seemed ok with it. Also, I’ve had virtually no pain aside from occasional twinges and doc said they only shot up my ankle a bit during surgery – no higher leg nerve block.
My only gripe is the ball of my foot is swollen and numb. Hopefully that will resolve soon.
Good luck if you have the surgery!
Thanks for making your blog and answering the other peoples questions. I just had the tendon surgery 5 days ago. Your answers have given me some hope. I am still in the hard cast my Dr said 4 weeks in the hard cast maybe longer he will see after the checkup at 4 weeks he had to deepen then groove for my tendon so he had to cut into bone and due to other medical issues he is counting on scar tissue to hold things together. I have had a many surgeries and this one is a tuff one. My Dr also insists that I stay highly medicated due to having heart issues :/. Your blog give me hope that I will walk again with physical therpy thanks also made me laugh a little. I got a wheel chair 😉 so no cruch mishaps other then transferring. Also random falling asleep lol talk about imbasicing. How did your scar turn out?
Hi: I just had personal and brevis ankle tendon repair nov. 9 2016. I have follow up on 22 and hope to get in boot. Off pain meds and not too much swelling. How is it going for those that had this done? Except cabin fever, I am not doing too bad. Have no appetite though and a f smell of food makes me feel ill.
I would love some responses… feel pretty isolated in this adventure.
I’m having peroneal surgery next week and I’m really stressed about not being able to get into my house when I get home from hospital (porch stairs plus crutches-disaster). Also, I get terribly claustrophobic when lying down for long periods of time, so I’m anticipating a terrible nightmare period after surgery. I’m so anxious about these issues, let alone the expected pain. Would I be able to put ANY weight on the foot afterwards? The doctor was fairly vague on this; just said that I won’t be able to work or drive for 6 weeks.
I shared your cartoon with my podiatrist, who LOVED it. He would like to get the original, frame it and hang it in his office.
Do you know where I can it?
I will be having tendon repairs or replacements, and maybe an ankle fusion. Both tendons are torn and I have severe ankle arthritis. Terrified of the ankle fusion! Know anyone who has had one?
Thank you for your post. I dont know if you are still monitoring this site but thought I would give it a try. I am having surgery on May 7th to repair 2 torn tendons and a fracture as well as realign my heal to reduce my high arch. I am terrified. I will be 66 this year and in general good health but for some reason this surgery scares the heck out of me. Can you share any encouraging words or things to watch for that might help? It is my hope that you are well healed by now and are doing well. Best, Chris
Thank you for this! I am going to have it on 2/11 With another tendon repair and want to know what to expect as I have small children, a spouse and I expect to do the same thing. Looks like I’ll be laid up for at least 6 weeks.