Aging Gracefully and with Great Health

Preparing For Your Post-Foot Surgery Recovery

7 November 2014 by For Content

Post-operative recovery from foot surgery can be a lengthy, painful experience. Over time you may begin to feel cooped up and unable to do what you need to while you stay off your feet. Use these tips to make your recovery as easy and uncomplicated as possible:

Follow Your Doctor's Directions

Your doctor is going to give you a list of instructions about things you can and can't do while you're recovering. These will probably include keeping the operation site clean, staying off your foot while it heals, taking your medication regularly and possibly performing minor exercises to maintain healthy circulation.

It is absolutely imperative that you follow your doctor's directions and not deviate in any way. If you ignore any small part of their advice, you may end up with a longer recovery time, injuring your foot, or suffering more pain. Even if their advice seems pointless or silly to you, just follow it and understand that they have a good reason for it.

Prepare Your Home

You should take steps to make it as easy as possible for you to reach and do everything you need to while you're unable to move around easily. Consider putting the following things within reach of the bed you'll be spending most of your time on:

• Entertainment - A computer, TV, reading material and any kind of craft or hobby you enjoy will help your recovery time to go by more quickly.
• Communication - It's extremely important to have a phone within reach for emergencies. Consider putting a land-line phone and your cellphone near your bed in case of power outages or lines going down in a storm.
• Comfort Supplies - Extra blankets, pillows and backrests should be within reach. If you get prescription painkillers before your surgery, keep those within reach of your bed.
• Emergency Food & Drink - You don't need to keep regular meals by your bed, but having water and quick snacks on-hand is a great idea. Prescription narcotics may make you fall asleep for a long time, and you could wake up with low blood sugar. Between disorientation and your foot's condition, you shouldn't walk around in this state. Drink and eat and wait until you feel better before trying to get up.

Use A Knee Walker, Not Crutches

Walking with crutches can be dangerous while you're on heavy-duty painkillers. Instead, ask your doctor about whether a knee walker is right for you. Knee walkers work a lot like regular walkers, except they have a platform for your knee. It's strong enough to support your weight, and you can walk with the healthy foot while the other one is safely supported above the floor.

Knee walkers are easier to move around in, and you're less likely to fall if you're woozy from your pain medication. If you started to slip while walking with crutches, you might instinctively try to catch yourself by standing on both feet, which could injure your foot and lengthen your recovery time.

Recovering from surgery can be unpleasant, but by following these tips you'll reduce your risk of further injury and keep your recovery time to a minimum. If you want to learn more about knee walkers, try taking your questions and concerns to a company like KneeRover for help.

Share

Search