Thread: Ankle Tendon/Nerve Damage? Ankle funny bone?

Ok, so, here is how things played out.

I am a teacher, and, had a rough day with my students. As I was putting chairs away, I swung one around me on the ground and it hit the leg of the table and bounced back and hit me square on the ankle. Instantly, a radiating pain shot up my leg and down my foot and dropped me on the spot, almost like I just hit my funny bone. It was more of a burning sensation than a pain, but, it dropped me on the spot, and I could not move my leg for about five minutes. After five minutes and a little hobbling, everything felt better. A student who was walking by heard my cursing and came in to help me up...yes, I was in that rough of shape.

Fast forward two days to me putting on my ski socks. As I placed my angle on my opposite knee, I hit the same spot and this wierd feeling shot down my ankle and into my foot, again, like a funny bone feeling. After a few minutes, I was able to pinpoint the spot, and now everytime I press it and roll the tendon or nerve, it sends this wierd pain/whacky feeling down to my toe along my foot, almost like I am hitting the funny bone in my ankle. I can trace exactly where the feeling is and it only happens when I pressure that particular point. I spent the day skiing on it and no problems, but, I worry that if I hit it just right, then I am going to be in a shitload of trouble if it is in a tight spot or in some trees.

My thinking is that it is a tendon rather than a nerve, but, I am no doctor and would love to avoid going to one. Plus, what are they going to say?
A. You have nerve damage and we want to cut on you
B. You have tendon damage and we want to cut on you
C. Stop skiiing and rest it (yeah fucking right!)

So, maggot doctors, help a fella out!

Give it a month.
You probably won't miss much skiing anyway.

So, uh, what do you think happened? Nerve contact? And, if so, why is it still there? Nerve inflammation?

Tell it to me straight doc...

Does your "give it a mont" mean no skiiing for a month?!?!?

Edit: Please disregard my apparant fear of going to the doctor...my fiance is a rabid anti-doctor type person and it is rubbing off, but, she is coming around.

Originally Posted by drmark

Give it a month.
You probably won't miss much skiing anyway.

Probably a contusion injury to the posterior tibial nerve. THere is no reason not to ski if you can, and you are near the snow.

Good information to know. When I stand and I roll the nerve, it is located just under the ankle protrusion on the outside of my left foot. I kinda have to get my fingers underneath the bone and lift up to trigger the nerve and pain, then, it shoots up my leg and down my foot...really freaky feeling. I can also trigger the pain from further up my leg, but, cannot trigger it from my foot.

I am going to take it easy and not ski until we get our next dump. My friend who works the lifts at WC said that they are just going to have the bunny slope open soon anyway, which is a good incentive to stay at home, nurse the injury, and get back to business when the snow flies again.

Is there anything I can do to hasten recovery? Exercises? Meds? Anything like that?

Thanks for the info Mark! Looks like a hell of a clinic you work at! If I ever really mess myself up...maybe I will take the trip down!

Originally Posted by drmark

Probably a contusion injury to the posterior tibial nerve. THere is no reason not to ski if you can, and you are near the snow.

outside of the foot?
This is not the posterior tibial nerves.
If you can roll something, it may be a dislocation of the peroneal tendons.
(diagnoses in these cases, aren't so easy on the internet)
See a doc.

Made an appt. with the Dr. It is now definetly bothering me on a much more consistent basis and even popped once when I was walking down the hallway back to my classroom. Since the injury happened at work, I now have to go through Workman's Comp which really sucks since I dont get to choose my Dr.

Either way, thanks for the help Mark! I am going to stay off it for a good long while cause I would rather ride late season than be injured for the whole season.

Ill post an update after I see the Dr.

I agree with Dr. Mark, possible peroneal tendon sublux and or peroneal nerve contusion. The popping sensation when walking may indicate the tendon sublux, see your doc.

Just thought I would post an update.

Saw the Dr. a week and a half ago and she diagnosed it as a bruised peroneal nerve. She gave me some steroids, said it could take up to 8 weeks to heal, and sent me on my way.

And, she said that skiiing is fine since I can't really do anymore damage to the nerve. It has gotten better but still has that electric schock sensation if I touch it just right. I am going to give it another month and if it is not better go and see her again and see what further course of action she recommends. Surgery is out of the question now until March unless it is totally necessay.

Thanks for the help fellas! Now I just gotta hope for a quick recovery.

Edit: I have now skied on it five times and everything is feeling totally kosher.