Regardless of why you’re having a foot or ankle surgery, you’ll want to know how to take good care of the area in order to achieve your desired treatment outcome.
It’s quite easy to strictly follow your foot surgeon’s instructions during the first few days after your procedure. However, it can eventually get difficult to stay motivated to keep following everything to the letter a few weeks into your recovery—after all, you’re already starting to feel better.
Here are some straightforward tips to help you ensure a comfortable, safe, and speedy recovery after your foot or ankle surgery.
Tip #1 Keep Your Foot Elevated as Much as Possible.
Right after your surgery, your foot surgeon will likely discuss proper foot elevation as one of the most important things you can do. That is because properly elevating your foot reduces trauma to the affected area which, in turn, can help facilitate proper and faster healing.
Keeping your foot elevated can also bring on other benefits, such as minimizing the swelling and pain, thereby keeping you comfortable during your recovery, and preventing potentially life-threatening blood clots (deep vein thrombosis).
Tip #2 Take Your Medications as Prescribed by Your Orthopedic Surgeon.
You may be tempted to skip doses of your medication, in fear of overmedicating yourself. Your surgeon may indeed say that you only need to take your pain medications if you’re actually in pain. However, since foot and ankle procedures do have a little risk of infection, you need to take the prescribed antibiotics as ordered by your doctor to prevent the onset of surgical site infection. Do not skip these doses, and be sure to take all of them. These are also crucial for ensuring proper wound healing.
Tip #3 Keep Pressure Off of Your Foot and Ankle.
Adhere to your surgeon’s post-operative instructions on how to keep pressure off of your foot while you heal. Your doctor will likely recommend that you use crutches or a wheelchair. Your physical therapist will also prescribe exercises and stretches to help your foot and ankle gradually regain their strength and to promote healthy blood circulation in the area.
Trusted Foot and Ankle Surgeon in Central Maryland
After surgery, don’t try to be a hero and let your body heal itself without taking your medications and doing the other things your surgeon ordered that you do. Following all of your doctor’s post-operative instructions can go a long way toward helping ensure you have a speedy and successful recovery.
Here at the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland, our foot and ankle surgeons have earned the trust and confidence of scores of patients for the exceptional treatment outcomes they provide. You can count on us to take all necessary measures to help minimize your risk of complications after your surgery and keep you comfortable and safe throughout your recovery.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with one of our outstanding orthopedic surgeons, call us today at (410) 644-1880 or toll-free at (855) 4MD-BONE (463-2663), or simply fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to serving you!
