Can anyone diagnose my chronic calf problem which baffles all professionals

[CovidCorvid]

Ongoing since 2018. Started off with a constant dull ache in the calf and soon progressed to ankle pain and struggled to walk. No injuries or accident though I was running a lot back then.

Ankle pain became dominant and I’ve seen consultants, physios, podiatrist,etc.

The ortho consultant found a cyst in my fibula which he removed, right at the distal end. Also found my peroneal tendon was torn which he fixed. No improvement

Still have bad lateral ankle pain behind the bony bit on the outside. Feels like the tendon snaps over it. Also a lot of pain at the front of the ankle where it meets the foot and it cracks a lot there when I move my foot. I have very limited range of flex ion. The pain in my calf is immense and related to exercise. If I do anything it gets worse. It feels like the calf muscle is under pressure from the inside out, like it might explode. Throbs all night.

I have had weekly physio for six months and no change.

I’m back to see the consultant soon and considering asking for amputation.

That sounds bloody awful. Have you had any x-rays or an MRI scan of the area?

I had X-rays which were fine. Then an mri scan found the cyst and also multiple small fibula fractures. Haven’t had any images since the surgery which was 9 months ago.

Consultant has requested an mri and ct scan so currently waiting for those. But the mri previously missed my torn tendon even though id been saying I thought it was torn so I’m not very beliving of them.

@CovidCorvid
I’ve had very similar symptoms since my second Covid jab in June. Both legs! Very tight painful calves particularly the left one and severe lateral ankle pain behind the bony bit on each foot and under my heel. MRI scan shows longitudinal tears in both of the Peroneal Brevis tendons. I hadn’t recently injured them so my working theory is that I’ve developed some sort of inflammatory condition, possibly Psoriatic or Rheumatoid Arthritis, which I believe can attack the tendons and muscles. Have been seeing a Rheumatologist because my bloods showed mildly positive for RA factor and ANA so he ordered the scan but then dismissed the possibility of an arthritis because I had no inflammatory markers in my bloods, and none showed on the MRI or on my body except slight swelling over those tendons. However I’ve recently also developed pain in my fingers, wrists, elbows, hips and knees so am going back to see him to push for more investigation.
Is there a possibility this could be what is causing your problem? Possibly less likely because it’s only in the one leg for you.
Either way, I can really empathise with you because the foot and leg pain is really debilitating.

Have you been investigated for chronic compartment syndrome?

Yes I was thinking complex regional pain syndrome perhaps triggered by the tear? So sorry you're going through this.

@NoelFieldingsBlouse. Not sure as you say it’s only one leg. No other problems, but I will ask about blood tests. Sorry you’re having issues as well.

@BigGreen

@CMOTDibbler. I did ask the physio about compartment syndrome but never really got an answer. To me a lot of the symptoms fit. I’ll mention it to the consultant when I see him next.

@biggreen my physio thought I had complex regional pain syndrome when I first saw him after my operation as I was very sensitive over the area but he worked on desensitisation and reckoned it was no longer an issue. He’s passed me to a colleague now and on handover specifically said I don’t have it