Putting Your Best Foot Forward After Foot Surgery

Healthy feet are important … so much so that the slightest foot injury can throw a cog into the machine that is the human body. Foot surgery is not a “one-size-fits-all” process; depending on the type of foot surgery you undergo, you might be back on your feet in days, weeks, months, or even up to a year.

“Simple” Foot Problems Are Not So Simple

With so many damaging issues that our feet are susceptible to, proper foot care is essential to keeping us balanced. But foot problems do crop up and those such as ingrown toenails, athlete’s foot, blisters, bunions, cysts, heel pain and stress fractures may easily be solved in your podiatrist’s office. Sometimes surgical procedures are necessary if your feet do not respond to treatments — when it comes to Achilles tendon ruptures or Plantar Fasciitis, for examples, surgery may be the only way to keep you on your feet and stay that way.

What to expect after foot surgery

The long-term prognosis of your foot health is determined by the type of problem but in the short run, it’s like this: feet surgeries are now often done in outpatient hospitals or clinics. If your foot ailment requires a local anesthetic, you may be in and out of the hospital within a couple of hours with a specially-designed cast or walking boot. But for serious issues that require deep-sleep anesthesia (like tendon repairs or heel spurs), your time in the recovery room will depend on how well you’ve tolerated the drug. Upon release, you must be attended to by a family member or friend; hospital staff will not allow you to drive home yourself or to be taken by taxi.

The Long “Run”

Your doctor will let you know specifically for how long to wear the boot or cast — you’ll need to make follow-up appointments so that he or she can evaluate your progress.

For more information about healthy feet, foot ailments and how to fix them, contact Southwest Foot & Ankle in Lewisville at 972-318-2738, in Plano at 972-805-9985, or in Irving by calling 972-318-2655.