Ryan Law loves to run. So much, that in the past seven years, he’s run 11 marathons and seven ultra-marathons/endurance events (3X50 milers, 4X55k+, and Half Ironman – this guy knows how to #BeActive – we are talking serious distance here people!). But for years, he had been fighting through a chronic injury that was painful and performance-depleting.
After extensive online research to better understand the risks and potential upside of having surgery, in October, 2017 Ryan chose Dr. Alan Ng to perform surgery on his inflamed peroneal tendon. Due to an osteochondroma – a growth that forms on the surface of a bone near the growth plate – the tendon was inflamed and causing chronic pain.
Dr. Ng removed the osteochondroma and some damaged tendon tissue, carved out the channel along the ankle bone, and reattached the peroneal tendon. Shortly after surgery, Ryan began the road to recovery, working toward running and then up to more mileage over time.
“I started running again in March – about five months post-surgery – and I was able to return to my previously established 35 to 50 mile-a-week average by late May,” Ryan recalls. “My performance was not hindered by the surgery and if anything, it improved.”
Just this summer, in July, Ryan competed in the Copper Mountain Under Armor Mountain Running Series, less than a year after his surgery. And he’s still improving. This coming October will be a full year since the surgery and all signs point toward significant overall improvement. Ryan has every reason to be optimistic: “I suspect full recovery has not happened yet,” he said. “As I have yet to hit a full year and all my symptoms have improved since the surgery which is very reassuring.”
Dr. Alan Ng specializes in foot and ankle reconstructive surgery and trauma, and loves to help his patients getting back to the activities they love. And when he’s not helping patients he loves being active too – playing golf, skiing and mastering the martial arts of karate and Muay Thai kickboxing. Learn more https://advancedortho.org/alan-ng-dpm/
