What is a Subluxing Peroneal Tendon?
What are Subluxing Peroneal Tendons?
Subluxing peroneal tendons can be a quite devastating injury to incur. If you have an active lifestyle, you should definitely know about the risk of this injury. You may be asking, “What is a subluxing peroneal tendon?” Basically this is an ankle injury normally caused by a bad sprain, where the tendons which run behind your outer ankle bone are no longer held in place. Subluxation is just a fancy term meaning “partial dislocation.” The peroneal tendons run behind the outer ankle bone and are stretched out every time you take a step.
Normally there is tissue holding your tendons in a groove behind your ankle bone. This tissue, called the retinaculum, keeps them from popping out of place. However, in a bad ankle sprain, the retinaculum can be torn or stretched out beyond repair. The reason that this area does not repair itself is because there is not a lot of blood is pumped to that area, and a healthy flow of blood is needed to repair certain types of damage after an injury.
How do you know if you have Subluxing Peroneals?
When you sprain your ankle badly, make sure that you take it very easy until you are able to apply pressure again. Use crutches and don’t overwork yourself. This recovery period could take a couple of days, or a couple of weeks depending on the severity of the sprain.
If you notice that the greatest pain is emanating from the area surrounding your ankle bone, that is your first clue that you may have an even greater problem. When you touch the bone if there is pain, then it is likely that you have either fractured the bone, or injured your retinaculum, which connects to the bone.
Perhaps the biggest sign that you may have subluxing peroneals is the very characteristic ankle “pop” that may or may not be heard, but will definitely be felt each time it happens. This pop happens when the peroneal tendons come up and over the outer ankle bone. It may or may not be a painful experience, but the feeling is very distinct and you will know if it happens to you. If you feel this happen, even one time, then sorry to say it, but you have subluxing peroneal tendons.
What should I do if I have Peroneal Tendon Subluxation?
Unfortunately the only “cure” that is likely to work and stop your ankle from popping, is to have surgery. If you choose not to have surgery, then you risk tearing your peroneal tendons with every step you take. Each time the tendons pop up and over the bone, they are stretched in an unnatural way. Allowing this to continue can lead to an even more serious surgery if you re-sprain your ankle. Once the tendons are torn, the surgery becomes an emergency, and the recovery will be much longer.
Don’t waste your time going to a regular doctor if you suspect subluxing peroneals. Go straight to an ankle specialist or to a sports medicine doctor. You will waste time and money at a regular doctor’s office because this condition is fairly rare, and it is often misdiagnosed.
If you have joint hypermobility, or if you are born with a shallow groove behind your ankle bone, then you are more likely to suffer from this ailment. Active athletes are also at risk because of the strenuous levels of exercise that they often participate in. Cardio workout injuries are common, and though they can't always be avoided, there are some things that can be done to avoid getting them.
For more information on this disorder, from people who have lived through it, check out the subluxing peroneal tendons blog, here!
About the Author
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Emma Green Emma Green has been through surgery twice to correct subluxing peroneal tendons in her left ankle. She is passionate about dogs and health. You can visit Emma on her blog at subluxingperonealtendons.blogspot.com, or on Google+. Feel free to contact her with any questions at emmagreenie@live.com |