Foot Surgery - Before and After
Having to undergo any type of surgery can make anyone nervous. It isn’t every day that you go to the doctor, receive an incision and have major work done to help your body function better than it was before. Surgery can be a lot scarier when it is happening to your feet. This is because you depend on your feet heavily to help you with almost every task you undertake. With the proper care both before and after surgery, you can help yourself along the way to a speedy and successful recovery. Put aside your apprehension and read more about the easy steps you can take to help your foot and ankle surgery go as smooth as possible.
Preparations Before the Big Day
Before going through a foot surgery, a patient has specific exams and tests. These exams and tests will help our podiatrist to better improve the success of the surgery. Before surgery, our foot surgeon will review your medical history and all of your medical conditions. Certain diseases, illnesses, allergies and medications will be reviewed and evaluated. These underlying conditions can make a large impact on your surgery and should not be treated lightly. Sometimes blood studies, urine tests, EKGs, x-rays, MRI’s and other tests will occur before a surgery to help the foot surgeon get a better idea of how healthy you are. After all of this has taken place, your foot surgeon can prepare for your surgery.
How to Deal After Foot Surgery
After your foot surgery, it is important that you follow the post-operative instructions that are administered to you at the time of your release. The type of foot surgery that occurred will determine the kind of aftercare and the length of aftercare required. Some surgeries only require 4-6 weeks of recovery time while others can require 10-12 weeks or more. Bunions, fractures, plantar fasciitis, infections, ingrown toenails and other foot disorders can all require surgery. Foot surgery can be very helpful for many types of problems.
Rest, ice, compression and elevation are very basic and easy instructions to follow after most foot and ankle surgery. Splints, casts, surgical shoes, bandages, canes, and crutches may also be necessary. If you follow your instructions carefully, it is likely that you will make a fast and speedy recovery. Some instructions are more complex and others are simple. Ask your podiatrist if you have any questions regarding your aftercare.
Have questions about your upcoming foot surgery? Need a podiatrist to perform the surgery? Not sure if surgery is the right choice? We can help!
Tri County Foot & Ankle Center located in Bayonne, East Brunswick, Jersey City, Kearny, and Randolph, NJ can help. There our Foot and Ankle Surgeons and highly trained team can help determine whether or foot surgery is right for you. After surgery, our Foot Doctors will educate you on the best practices for before and after care. Call our medical team or request an appointment online today.