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POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS
OUTPATIENT SURGERY
Everyone reacts differently to surgery. The instructions given here are designed to make you as comfortable as possible, help speed healing, and protect your surgical correction. Swelling and discomfort are normal after any surgery. You will help yourself to heal faster, with less discomfort, by using good common sense about your care.
- Go home, take it easy. Elevate your surgical foot above the level of your heart and use a pillow under your knee to keep it slightly bent.
- Use an ice pack over the affected area or behind the knee if you are in a splint or cast and can't get the ice directly on the surgical area. Alternate using the ice for 20 minutes then taking it off for 20 minutes. You can continue icing as long as there is swelling, i.e. 2-8 weeks.
- The foot and ankle are most painful the first few days after surgery. If the pain persists after taking your prescribed pain medication, loosen the bandage because a tight bandage is a common cause of postoperative pain initially.
- Use a foot cradle (made from a large cardboard box), if necessary, to keep the pressure of the blankets off the operated area.
- For the first two to three days, limit your walking to necessity, i.e. the bathroom. Wear your postoperative shoe whenever you are up and use the crutches or walker as needed.
- Exercise your legs periodically by bending the knees and ankles to stimulate circulation and lessen the chance of developing a blood clot. The symptoms of a blood clot are usually swelling, redness, and pain in the calf in the operated or non-operated leg. If these develop, call the doctor right away.
- Keep the operative site clean and dry and do not remove the bandages.
- It is normal for some bleeding to show through the bandage, however, should bleeding persist, call the office.
- Monitor your oral temperature. If it gets over 101 degrees, call the office.
- Eat a balanced diet. Good nutrition is essential for wound healing.
- Take the postoperative medication as directed. For the first few nights, take a pain pill before going to bed even if you are not experiencing any pain. This reduces the chance of being awoken by pain in the middle of the night.
Call the office if you have any questions. Back to Foot Care Instructions |
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