Understanding Your Ankle Pain: Could it Be Peroneal Tendinitis?

Ankle pain happens for many reasons, from arthritis to fractures. Ankle sprains and other issues can also lead to ankle discomfort — but what if it's peroneal tendinitis?

Most people aren't aware that peroneal tendinitis is a significant cause of ankle pain, especially with overuse or injury. At Phoenix Foot and Ankle Institute, Dr. Jeffrey E. McAlister and his team investigate the many causes of ankle symptoms to provide cutting-edge treatment options.

He's an experienced foot and ankle specialist offering treatments such as ankle bracing, regenerative medicine, and shockwave therapy for foot and ankle conditions.

Symptoms of peroneal tendinitis

Peroneal tendinitis is a condition that occurs when the tendons on the outside of the ankle become inflamed from overuse or injury. They connect the lower leg muscles to the foot bones, providing stability and supporting balance.

Outer ankle pain may be a sign of peroneal tendinitis, especially after an injury such as a sprain. You may be dealing with this condition if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Pain radiating to the foot
• Swelling
• Weakness or instability
• Crepitus
• Pain when pointing the toes up

Anyone may develop peroneal tendinitis, especially athletes. However, others can also have peroneal tendinitis, especially those who are over 40, are overweight, or who don't stretch or warm up before physical activity.

Ankle pain and peroneal tendinitis

Outer ankle pain is a key sign of peroneal tendinitis. You may experience pain that follows the length of the tendons on the outer aspect of the ankle.

The ankle pain often worsens with movement or activity, and you may notice the ankle is weaker than the other one. Ankle pain usually persists without proper rest and treatment.

Ankle pain that's on the outer part of the ankle and has swelling or redness is a good sign you're dealing with peroneal tendinitis.

Seeking treatment for ankle pain

Ankle pain that persists despite home care and rest requires an evaluation. Untreated peroneal tendinitis can lead to tendon rupture, in which the tendon partially or completely tears.

Subluxation is another consequence of untreated peroneal tendinitis, which causes the tendons to dislocate. The result is ankle instability and weakness, along with intense outer ankle pain.

We carefully evaluate ankle pain and offer various diagnostic studies to determine the cause of your discomfort. After discussing symptoms and palpating the ankle, we may recommend an MRI or CT scan to evaluate the tendons for a definitive diagnosis.

What are my treatment options?

Once we diagnose peroneal tendonitis, treatment depends on its severity. Mild-to-moderate cases without subluxation or rupture usually require conservative therapies like:

• Rest, ice, compression, and elevation
• Ankle bracing and immobilization
• Anti-inflammatories
• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy

We also recommend regenerative medicine to help heal the tendons using your own platelets to speed up the process. If these treatments fail to relieve pain, or if you develop a tendon rupture or subluxation, you may require surgery for symptom relief.

Surgery is only necessary if you have severe pain or disability from peroneal tendinitis. It requires anesthesia and a recovery period, which we discuss with you before making a decision.

To schedule a consultation for ankle pain and associated treatments, call our friendly office staff in Phoenix or Scottsdale, Arizona, at 602-761-7819, or book your appointment online today.