GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

• Apply an ice pack to your foot/ankle for the next 72 hours. Ice and elevate for 30 minutes each hour for 2weeks. You can use a commercially available ice pack or a bag of frozen peas or corn works just as well-just cover with a towel.
• Bruising may appear on your leg or foot- this is normal. Some swelling all the way down to the ankle and foot is also normal- elevating your foot above the level of your heart helps decrease this.
• If you have an upset stomach, take only cool clear liquids such as Gatorade, Jell-O, Ginger Ale or popsicles. If nausea persists and you are unable to keep down any liquids after the first night of surgery, please contact my office.
• Low-grade fevers (less than 101 F) are common after surgery. These fevers should go away a few days after surgery as you start to move around more. If your fever persists for more than a few days, or your wounds have a large area of redness around them (more than a few the size of a quarter), contact my office.
• For the first 48 hours after surgery, inhale deeply and hold your breath for 3 seconds, then exhale completely. Repeat 10 times, 4 times daily.
• If you smoke, avoid cigarettes for 48 hours after surgery. This might be a good time to consider stopping smoking altogether!
• Any prescriptions you are given after surgery should be filled immediately and taken according to the directions on the label.

 

 

The pain medications given to you can frequently cause: constipation, fatigue, nausea, and itching. (If you feel you are likely to be constipated, you may take a stool softener such as Metamucil or Citrucel). For these reasons, we recommend that you try to switch to an anti-inflammatory medicine (“NSAID”) and Tylenol for pain relief as soon as possible. NSAID’s include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, generic) and naproxen (Aleve) – take only one type of these with meals. Take them only if you have been able to tolerate them in the past and do not have any stomach or kidney problems.

 

Exercises

• Unless otherwise instructed, do not place weight on your leg.
• Do all these exercises starting 24 hours after surgery:
  • While sitting, bend and straighten your knee as far as comfort will allow.
  • Flex your calf muscles and hold the muscle for 10 seconds. Do this exercise 10 times, at least 5 times a day.
  • Flex your toes into the carpet 10 times, 5 times a day.

• Elevation of the foot/ankle is the best way to avoid swelling and stiffness. Elevate your foot/ankle above the level of your heart for the first 2-3 days after surgery.

 

Bandages

• Your bandage may show blood stains within 1-12 hours after surgery. This is not cause for concern. If the dressings are soaked with blood within the first day or two after surgery (dark red, as opposed to pink fluid) call my office.
• Keep your dressing/splint dry. Place your leg in a garbage bag while showering, or better yet take baths with your leg completely out of the water. Do not try to stand in the shower. Place a shower stool or wooden stool in the shower to sit on.
• Remove dressing 72 hours after surgery (including the yellow bandage which should not be reapplied) and wash with soap and water daily. Reapply bandages wrapping the ACE from the toes up towards the knee.
• Do NOT soak foot; no iodine/betadine, no hand sanitizer, no pools, and no hot tubs.

 

Work

• Your comfort level should be your guide for return to work. We will discuss your return to work status at your first post-operative visit.
• Do not walk or stand for excessive periods of time.
• Do not operate heavy machinery that requires pedals.
• If you have an automatic car and the surgery was on your left leg, you may start driving again once you are no longer taking narcotics. If the surgery was on your right leg, you should not drive.

 

Important

• Report any complications to my office immediately. This includes excessive bleeding, wound breakdown, redness around wounds, uncontrolled pain, or a fever over 101.
• Eat a balanced diet and get plenty of rest.

 

 

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, please call the office for further instructions:

827-2480 from 8a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

After hours, or weekends for an emergency call: 220-4493.