Patients must follow their doctor’s instructions carefully during recovery to ensure proper healing and minimize the risk of complications.
The following should be adhered to in order to hasten your recovery from foot surgery.
While the amount of discomfort and swelling will vary from patient to patient, for your best personal results, please follow these instructions:
- Sit sideways in the back seat of the car with the surgical foot elevated, while returning home from surgery.
- Remain off your feet as much as possible for the first 3-5 days. Place a pillow under your calf so the surgical foot is elevated. It is important to walk as little as possible during this time.
- Place an ice bag (a bag of frozen peas works best, as the bag is easy to contour over your ankle) over the surgical area 15 minutes out of every hour. This should be continued, as needed, for several weeks following surgery. Ice will significantly decrease inflammation and post-op pain.
- Wear new and supportive shoes. A “worn out” shoe will hinder your recovery and cause pain. Make sure the shoe you are wearing does not rub against the incision area. Please note that you are required to wear a post-op sandal for the first 2-3 weeks then transit into runners or tennis shoes.
- DO NOT apply any ointments/gels/creams to the incision area. Do not apply hot water bags or electric heating pads to your foot; this will increase your pain.
- Keep the operative area completely dry. While it may seem ideal to bathe right after surgery, a wet bandage can cause bacteria to grow and puts you at risk of infection. If the bandage should accidentally get wet, dry immediately with an absorbent towel and call your doctor’s office.
- A soiled bandage is normal. Do not be alarmed if you see a moderate amount of blood on your bandage after the procedure.
- Make sure to eat prior to taking any pain medication. Failure to do so may result in nausea, vomiting and/or light-headedness. If this happens, stop taking the pain pills.
- Follow a light diet and abstain from the use of alcoholic beverages while taking medications. Eating salty foods and/or drinking lots of fluids will increase your swelling.
Call your doctor’s office immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Active and persistent bleeding at the incision site.
- Prescribed anti-inflammatory medication/pain medications are not decreasing your inflammation or pain.
- Nausea, vomiting and/or light-headedness due to medication(s).
- You experience a temperature over 38.5 degrees..
- Should you incur any other problems not discussed in these instructions.
Stay off your foot as much as possible. Every step you take leads to increased trauma of the surgical site. The highest level of post-procedure inflammation is in the first three to five days. Rest and elevate your surgical foot as much as possible during this time.
However, you do need to use your foot. If you “baby” your foot too much it will take longer for the soft tissues to adapt to their new functions. “Listen” to your foot; it will let you know when you are doing too much. When your foot really gets sore, take a break, and let it rest. After a short time, you should be able to do more. Be sensible.
Take an oral anti-inflammatory (if prescribed). The primary reason for post-procedure pain is inflammation. A pain pill masks the pain but does not treat the underlying reason the pain is still present – inflammation. Make sure the oral anti-inflammatory is working. There are many different brands; one could be effective for one person while not having any effect for someone else. You should feel at least some relief within a half-hour after taking the medication.
Ice is your best friend. Ice helps to decrease inflammation and swelling. Also ensure that you elevate your foot at least 10 to 15 minutes an hour. Ice should be used hourly the first 3 to 5 days, and then slowly decreased. However, ice should be used at least once or twice in the evening for several weeks following surgery. We suggest using a moist dish towel and a bag of frozen peas. Application for approximately 15 minutes is usually sufficient.
Bandages must be applied to keep the site of incision clean and dry. However, make sure your bandages are not contributing to post-procedure pain. Your foot may develop some swelling and the bandage can act as a tourniquet. If your bandage feels extremely tight and your toes are swelling, have the bandage replaced.
New shoes will aid in a quicker recovery. After your procedure, it is extremely important not to wear your old shoes. Discard your worn-out shoes, as they will lead to increased strain on your tissues. The wear pattern on these shoes will counter-act the correction. You may notice a slight increase in soreness several months after your procedure, most-likely due to the wearing of a worn-out heel on your shoe.
In general, the following timeline can be expected:
Immediately after surgery: Go home and rest. Elevate your foot as often and as much as possible to reduce swelling. Take pain medication as instructed and avoid smoking. Wear post-operative shoe all the time, even at bed for the first 2 weeks. Place a plastic bag over your foot when showering.
You should be able to gently step on your foot immediately following the procedure, but it’s important to use extreme caution. Patients are recommended to restrict activities to home only for 1-2 weeks following surgery.
The first few days: Restrict your activity to going to the toilet only for the first 3 days. You will be able to stand and take weight on your heel. Bend your knee and ankle regularly to stimulate circulation. Most people can stop taking their painkillers after 48 hours. Do not leave the house, drive, or get the foot wet.
3-7 days: You should aim to be moving around for 15 minutes in each hour (not in one go) resting with your foot elevated for the remaining 45 minutes. Still do not go out of the house, drive, or get your foot wet.
1-2 weeks: Your foot will be checked in the clinic and your dressing will be changed. You should still stay in your house, do not drive, and keep your foot dry. Keep wearing your post-operative shoe. Your stitches are removed 2 weeks post-op.
2-4 weeks: You will be advised to gradually increase your activity and exercise your foot as tolerated. You may wash and bathe normally and apply moisturising cream to improve your skin condition. You should continue applying ice compresses to your foot several times each day to reduce swelling. You may now stop wearing the post-operative shoe and change to wearing wide comfortable shoes such as trainers. Start to bear weight through the foot with it flat on the ground with the aid of crutches. An x-ray is usually ordered at this point to check the placement of the implant.
4-12 weeks: Gentle light unrestricted activity within your own level of comfort. Rest with foot elevated when able. After this you should be able to progressively walk without crutches and take weight through the foot. Slowly return to full activity. Your foot may still ache and be swollen at the end of the day.
Rest – 3-5 days (minimal weight bearing for essential things only like bathroom breaks 5-10 minutes maximum per hour)
Walk – 2-4 weeks (movement limited outside of house)
Driving – 2-4 weeks (for any hospital procedures under general anaesthesia, you cannot drive until after 24 hours when you are off narcotics. Therefore, you will need someone to drive you home from hospital)
Return to sedentary work – 1-2 weeks (If you work at a desk with minimal time on your feet and you are able to elevate your foot/feet)
Return to active work – 4-6 weeks (If you have a physical job or are standing a lot and unable to elevate your foot/feet)
Low impact exercise – 8 weeks (slow walking, cycling, golf using a caddie)
High impact exercise – 12 weeks (fast walking, running, jumping, playing sport)
As with any surgery, there are potential risks and complications associated with HyProCure® surgery. These include infection, bleeding, and nerve damage. However, these risks are rare, and most people who have the procedure experience little to no complications.
