Torn tendon, surgery or conservative measures?

[TornTendon]

I've had a very painful ankle for months and have finally had an mri report which diagnosed a torn tendon. A lateral tear in my peronus brevus, don't know how big the tear is.

I'm currently in a walking Cam boot trying to rest it though I admit I'm not overly compliant and am still cycling for the daily commute. I previously wore the boot for a month in sept and it didn't help.

Google suggests that these tears don't heal well on their own and normally require surgery. I've had conflicting opinions from physios, one (who im paying) says try and avoid surgery and he can help with rehab, etc. Another physio who I know says they won't normally heal and surgery gets good results. Obviously there would be a lengthy recovery period after surgery which I would find very difficult.

But I don't want to plod along for another 7 months and to be no further forward.

I'm at the hospital again tomorrow to see the consultant and am wondering whether to take surgery if offered, ask about it if they don't mention it?

Has anyone Else had surgery and it worked? Or not had surgery and still recovered?

I had a complete reconstruction of the peronus brevus (but they couldn't actually find mine).

It was a tough surgery and a big one, I am not going to lie, but I am SO happy I did it. I can now do all the things I couldn't do before. My ankle (6 years on) is still not amazing, it does swell etc however I have never regretted the surgery.

I had 6 weeks non weight bearing unable to do anything. 6 weeks trying to get back to normal with walking and overall I ended up with being back to normal in about 3-4 months.

Wow, 6 weeks non weight bearing sounds tough.

Were you in a cast and on crutches?

I'm hoping if they say surgery it gets done sooner rather than later. I need to be at work not off sick in sept.

Glad the surgery worked for you. To be honest I can't see it healing without surgery. I'm a bit worried tomorrow they will just say they want me to spend another x weeks in a boot, etc.

I've been having physio since July, resting, ultrasound, steroid injection, etc.

I'm a veteran of 3 big ankle surgeries but I haven't had the one you mention. The non weight bearing period is tough but I would go for the surgery if you are offered it. My Achilles healed very well after surgery (for damage from a screw from previous surgery - very rare apparently!). On the other hand I have a torn tendon in my hip that the doctors swore would heal naturally and it's still torn 3.5 years later in spite of loads of physio, cortisone and prp injections.

Thank you. Am crossing my fingers I don't get fobbed off tomorrow.