Guide To Treating Peroneal Tendonitis

Cortisone Injections

Cortisone injections are not used unless strictly necessary, as they can cause damage to the tendons. Generally speaking, doctors will only resort to cortisone injections as treatment when the peroneal tendonitis is recurring and does not improve. New research has suggested while cortisone injections can be highly beneficial in the short term, they can actually slow down or harm long-term progress.

This is likely because patients will feel comfortable putting weight on the ankle and engaging in physical activities before the peroneal tendons have had the chance to properly heal. For the same reasons, these injections may actually increase a patient's odds of the injury happening again.

Surgical Tendon Release Or Repair

For cases involving a moderate to serious tendon injury, surgical tendon release or repair may be an option. The main reason surgery is prescribed is to help repair and treat tears to the peroneal tendon. Surgeons are also capable of repairing the tissues responsible for holding the peroneal tendons in place if they've become injured.

Surgery for peroneal tendonitis is typically only recommended for non-serious tears after four to six weeks of more conservative treatment methods haven't yielded results. Most peroneal tendon repair surgeries are open surgical procedures that involve incisions. Depending on how complex the surgery is, patients may still be able to leave the day they have the surgery.