How would I know if I tore a tendon in my ankle?

leinbacha · 09-29-2008, 12:18 AM

I have a long history of spraining my ankles (i.e. 25 yrs). I took dancing for 18 yrs and would fall off pointe.... and know I'm just not very graceful... My last sprain was 6 weeks ago. I stepped wrong during a hike and sprained my left ankle. I heard a "pop"... but I had to put an elastic brace on and my hiking boot on and hike back to our car. It was sore... but not the worst I have ever felt. It did bruise (badly) under my ankle bone (outside)... but didn't swell very badly. I wore tennis shoes and by brace for the past 5 weeks and went about my life. It was tender to the touch, but now there is no pain, no swelling, but a clicking, I have very limited mobility in it and appears to be a little flatter arch than the other foot. It actually feels like something is jammed in my ankle... like another "popping" would fix it... but I'm to afraid to pop it! I went to my family Dr. who said that I may have partially torn or completely torn a tendon and he sent me to PT. If that doesn't work I'll have an MRI and then be referred to a surgeon.

So... after that description my questions is if I have torn a tendon would I be walking on it painfree? (like I am)... I don't want to have surgery... but w/2 yrs old twins and a 5 yr old I really need to be fully mobil! Plus... my job requires "proper dress" and that usually isn't tennis shoes.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! THanks for your help.....

leinbacha

hurts2walk · 09-29-2008, 12:30 AM

In my experience with totally ruptured tendons..it was extremely painful. If you have an MRI it will show tendon damage and you can go from there. Good luck!

heidi35 · 09-29-2008, 06:46 PM

I have torn the peroneal tendon on the outside of my ankle 3 times and have had pain everytime, not always horrible pain, I could walk but not run. I also had the popping and still do, that is very painful when it pops.
good luck

krisj5kids · 09-30-2008, 05:25 PM

I had 2 tears in my peroneal tendon this time and they didn't show up on the MRI. The dr. found them when he was doing surgery for something else. I had pain where the tears were. No popping, just pain for me.
I think with tears though that surgery is usually what has to happen.