Top Tips For Recovering From Foot Surgery 

Are you going to have foot or ankle surgery? What are your worries? What do you think about before having surgery?

Thanks 🙏🏾 so much, I have my foot surgery this Monday. I thought that I could cook after on my own; I was wrong... We definitely need a helper.

i precook a lot of meals prior to surgery. freeze portions, and then microwave my meals at ease. lots of simple foods to eat as well that dont require cooking. plenty of ice packs. and comfy clothes as well.!!

For me, eating raisins and nuts every day helped prevent constipation.

I’ve been on the edge about doing fusion of my big toe. After listening to your broadcast twice I decided to go ahead. I’m also an avid mountain hiker and was worried that with a fused joint I would not be able to do it. Seeing you doing it at 73 gave me a boost of confidence. Thank you for all the hard work and creativity that you are putting in into making these programs.

Wish my Dr. would suggested an even up. It took me a little bit to figure out why are my hips hurting. So I started wearing a platform shoe that made me even. Dah..Such a little thing made a huge difference.

If you have to go up the stairs - go up backwards - down forward . Sit on stair 3 (depending on leg height) - hang crutches on stairs next to you. Going backwards and using good leg lift your bottom up - stair by stair. Move the crutches as you go . When you reach the top slide across the floor (with crutches) over to a bed and lift yourself onto bed (again backwards). Going downstairs you are going down on your bottom too - again poorly leg first - this time frontwards. Putting weight on the good leg - slowly work down the stairs. When you get to 3rd stair you can use crutches to get into upright position. This sounds convoluted - but it´s actually very fast and secure - you have your attention on that foot. Just make pauses - if necessary. Slowly and secure - is best.

The hospital recommended icing behind my knee and it was a game changer.

I seriously didn't realize how difficult the recovery would be. DEFINITELY GET HELP!!!

Never knew about the "Even Up" before. Thank you!

Thank you so much for all the great tips and information! I'm scheduled for an "open reduction internal fixation right calcaneus fracture with allograft" in 2 days, and this video was SUPER helpful. Thank you so much, Dr. Ibrahim!

Fantastic comprehensive video. Lots of great advice to help the healing process. Wish I knew about heal pressure. I was in so much pain when my leg was propped with pillows. Floating my heal would have given me so much relief!

Two weeks after my foot surgery and after I had my initial splint taken off, I was able to put a ziplock bag on, with some epsom salt in a bucket with warm water and it did wonders for the swelling and pain. Noticiable difference after one time. It did more than any amount of ice I put on

Thank you so much. I'm scheduled for surgery next Tuesday. This is so helpful to know what to expect and you explained it so clearly.

Thanks for the useful tips and info. I'm scheduled for an achilles debridement in a few weeks and I'm so glad I came across this.

Thank you for this video. I had MTP fusion and hammer toe correction 4-3-24. I took all your advice and this really helped!

It’s been one week since my surgery for a fractured foot. Your video has been so valuable! Thank you so much for sharing!🙏🏽

I love these tips. The tip about icing behind the knee and the tip about the even up are especially helpful!! Thank you

Thanks for this video! Just had surgery today, and this video helped relieve a lot of my fears and stress I had a couple days before the surgery with so many good tips ☺️

Thank you SOOO much for all of this info- I'm about to have a chiltectomy surgery and this should make things go much smoother. THANK YOU!

Outstanding video! Thank you.

Thank you so much you are a lifesaver! I’m having surgery soon and worried but now I feel better 😢😊😅 thank you so much this was exactly what I was looking for and more!!! ❤

Fantastic, informative video! Thank you!!

I'm getting ready for foot surgery and the info given is really appreciated thank you for sharing

This video is fantastic,it’s just so helpful.

Had a toe infusion, and your information was very helpful for recovery. Thank you. Now I know why lower back hurts .

Thanks just had bunion surgery. Thanks for the tips. Using them all!!

i had sugery without notice so I did not have any time to prepare. but your tips were so helpful. had a metal place put in to hold bone together.

hi there, I have a scheduled surgery for hammer toe and bunion and toe shortening i’m really scared because of pain but hope all goes well your video really had me relieved

Amazing tips Dr. Thanks. I just had my ankle surgery for post tibial tendon repair and other for torn ligament on the same right ankle. It’s been a week and my doc has asked to be partial weight bearing and encourages to do light walking. Am confused if I should be doing that with stitches on both side of my right ankle. I don’t want to put pressure on my tendon. But doc says it will be good to exercise the muscles there and will have a speedy recovery. What is your opinion about it ??

This is a very informed video thank you so much ! 👍🏼

Your tips are awesome. I’m having Hallux Rigidus surgery tomorrow morning. Ty Ty 🙏💐

Hello doc! Just want to ask you this and I hope tou can help me. I’m just confused what is the best splint or foot support for my condition: I had a foot surgery after a glass ruptured my extensor tendon in my right foot. Right now I can’t walk been a month already and it hurts a little when i try to move my toes.. It kinda looks like drop foot now and i still have my wound but its healing..So what’s the best type of aplints for me? Please doc help me. I feel like I need a splint or support for my foot to bear no weight so my tendons would heal faster. My doc didnt advise me anything like that after my surgery 😭

Thanks for this informative video. Preparing for surgery n a couple months.

Very helpful! Thank you!

Am 3 weeks post op after ankle surgery,just saw your video,very helpful tips n extremely important ones.cant stress enuf about your pain med tips,absolutely spot on,once my anesthesia wore off the pain was bad,i really wish id taken my pain meds while i was numb.

Having big toe fused in November. Love the video. Sounds like first two weeks are the most important. Well all of it is! THANK YOU SO MUCH for the video.

Just had foot surgery bilaterally last Friday and have cam boots. They are meant to be on 24/7 and flat for a reason, so leave them as they are. You only have to wear them for a few weeks, you're not appearing on the catwalk so just go through the process and you'll be better.

This was great. I'm having an achilles tendon reconstruction soon. I haven't been able to find anything to tell me these things. Your video is exactly what I wanted to know. Can you tell me what kind of DME I might buy before my surgery?

I broke my right ankle 15 years ago, over the years I have had a dozen surgeries including a replacement prosthesis, I strongly recommend using a water proof cover showering to keep the dressings dry.

Best advice...this is a compliment, but I thought you were an Ortho nurse! You really took into consideration practical challenges and solutions! Need more doctors like you. BTW I am a nurse and may have Posterior Tibial Tendon sx soon.

All good tips here . Thanks.

Never heard of Evenup shoes, great tidbit. Thank you.

Thank you! It was exactly what I was looking for. Especially the exercise after and the even up! This is my second time have in my foot worked on. I could definitely use that even up the first time. I’m glad I know about it now.

Just had Arthrodesis Fusion with screws for tarsal colalition 2 months ago now, my recovery ends Oct 31st, was non weight bearing for the first 6 weeks, and now these last few weeks I can walk in cam boot till end, I did almost everything from that video.

Very helpful video , I learned I didn't follow med advice and am "chasing pain" as Dr. Ibrahim's warned. So, set alarm as suggested. Also tempted to take off boot since hurts but this video reminded me DO NOT! So greatly appreciate your posting this and other peoples tips like @Phoenix industries soaking wrapped foot in epsom salt and warm water after initial sprint off. Had to crawl up stairs like a toddler keeping booted foot in air since pre set up bedroom with little kitchen, small fridge etc. I'm glad I did this and read recovery -intensive, will change the next couple months how to live for sure but video helped a lot. I did not realize how painful the foot would be. Waiting for meds to kick in for quite a while. My doctor called 10 minutes after I took the 2nd Percocet and he said take 2 since such pain. That was an hour ago and still feel it but hoping it settles. Also felt better when I put both feet on pillow, not just one in boot. Appreciate video and all the comments.

I might have to have foot/ankle surgery (I'll know in a few weeks). Some really good info on here. Thank you! :)

I never knew about an EVEN-UP. Thank you, that's like a no-brainer after seeing it.

Great video -ty!

Best to hire someone- a visiting angel or some company like that. I don't know a friend that would do anything like that even for money. I am in California! Nice tip about icing behind the knee.

Great video, loved the tips. I'm having a left foot ganglion cyst removed from between my calcaneal and cuboid bones and suspect I also have the problem on my right foot. It's a very uncommon pathology says my physiotherapist so finding any info online is very hard. My surgeon has said he will operate on both feet in the same surgery but my physio has warned me against this despite me having good support at home to do so. I've bought a toilet chair and wheelchair in preparation. I'm trying to avoid 2 x 3 month recovery periods. Can you offer any advice or know of a video about the recovery process after bilateral foot surgery? TIA. Cheers from Australia. Mel

Me and my wife love you for all your tips for us thank you so much

Hi, thank you for the information I am considering ankle fusion surgery since I have a bad case of arthritis on it and I am deathly afraid because I’m overweight and I know it will be more difficult. Do you have any tips for that specific type of surgery?

Just had surgery a few days ago, thank you so much this was so informative, now I know that I need to allow my ankle to hang off the pillow I was beginning to experience pain there as you had mentioned to much pressure from the pillows. I can finally feel my toes lol.

I had a bunion not a severe one but,enough for surgury it also gave me a hammer toe on my index toe n I got a ganglion cyst on the inside of my big toe .got my surgery may 28th this year. I watch a lot of medical videos my hubby says I'm weird lol but,it helped me a lot so I know what to expect. I also read up on recovery times etc...I got the shower chair,knee scooter,walker..my daughter had ankle surgury 2 years before so that helped. But,I also got my doctor to give me a form to get a temp.handicap placard good for 6 months that really helps. One thing I assumed but,found out later I thought I get temp.disability checks I applied a few weeks before surgury so I didn't have to wait long I was told.. Apparently you need to get it taken out every year! So I had nothing saved up plus if I did disability pays for you to go back to work because I was on limited restrictions for work. Boss liked that idea no money out of his pocket I got it when I was pregnant but,I lived in a other state .Ugh.live n learn. Now I have been on restriction since July when I was going back to work..still am because you will have swollen feet for a bit...takes time for bones to heal. But,I gota complications my screw on top of my foot the bunion one tip a little then a few weeks later it caused a fracture. Mind you I got x-rays every other week nothing till I was prepping for going back to work. I thought I screwed up my foot like the weekend after surgury I tippedover on my scooter oh did that hurt but, xray was good.. I felll 2 more tips but,nothing. I go in on Nov 1st to see what's up. Doctor pretty sure is gonna take out screw. Said it was temporary anyway... now that I didn't know could happen. Not sure if it's in office or under surgury again? And,not sure if I have restrictions extended.. Sorry so long lol I have before n after pictures too if you want to see.haha

Thank you so much and God Bless you!!! 🙏✝️🙏🌈

Thank you for this.

Great great advice in video

Well its me again been 3 months bunion and hammer toe brilliant glad l went through with the surgery and hey yes I'm going to have the other bunion removed 👍 I'm on my own but l know what to expect 2nd time round. Many tnx for your videos ❤❤❤

Thanks Doc

I fell and had a trimalloear fracture and needed immediate surgery was in hospital 3 days after and now I’m 3 weeks post and just had my stitches and staples removed. I got put into a walking boot but still non weight bearing I really wish I would have been put in a cast cuz this doesn’t feel right on my foot.

thanks doctor!

Awesome information . Thank you

Very useful information .

Thanks for the information!! Will be having double bunion surgery (big toe and pinky toe) on both feet in 2 weeks and I am super nervous!! Any tips on how to walk in boots on both feet? Also, I keloid so I am afraid my scar will get ugly. Any tips on trying to prevent that? TIA!

Hi, I suffered bilateral calcaneal fractures about three years ago. I'm in a lot of pain with them as my fibula (leg bone) is impinging into my ankles. And I also have hindfoot valgus where the heels are pointing away from the feet. I also presume you know what the subtalar joint is. I had to have subtalar fusions on both feet after it happened and I was wondering, is there a subtalar joint replacement out there? I know they can replace the ankle joint but I was just wondering if there was any research being done on a possible subtalar joint replacement? The subtalar fusions just make my hindfoot feel very rigid and locked in place after the fusions. It makes walking on uneven and rocky ground very difficult. So I was wondering if you knew anything about a possible subtalar joint replacement at all? Thank you. :)

Hi do you have a video specifically on lapiplasty recovery and, or swelling post lapiplasty?

Great tips. I am about 9 days post surgery. I had right big toe joint replacement. Another tip I would add is that I was told to wear "something comfortable" to the surgery appointment. Most people would think of gym cloths/ yoga pants..But being a mom we tend to think ahead. I wore a moomoo type of dress cause they had said I would be in a surgical gown with nothing else. And of course, after being under general anesthesia and trying to get dressed afterwards I knew that could be an issue AS WELL as the cast they were going to put me on my foot. So they moomoo dress was perfect. I also have a long removable hand held showerhead..BUT, it would have been more handy if I could have a "pause"button. Another thing as well...due to the anaesthetic, I could not feel my right foot so walking was difficult. I had my son go to goodwill and get me 2 crutches. WOW what a difference. I could easily go from room to room without hopping or dragging my foot. I go back in 3 days so see if I get stitches off. Oh another thing...i would have gotten a second post surgery shoe. Reason: one to wear outside And a second to use exclusively to walk around in my clean house

SO important to use something to even up your leg length! It took only a couple of days for my hips and lower back to complain when I was allowed to start walking with the boot. I strapped one of my husband's sandals to my regular shoe, which helped, but it was silly looking and a bit awkward. I wound up purchasing a pair of rocker shoes on-line, after measuring the sole's height of the boot, about 1.5", and looking for something with that height. The rocker shoe fit the bill perfectly, and my hip and back pain vanished.

Hi Dr. Dooreen another great informative video! I have a question on my Brostrom Procedure. I’m 4 wks post op and not sure if numbness is normal at the upper BACK part of foot ( area that is not casted) I can feel and move toes do have some slight numbness. Also is it normal to feel more numbness when I get up? Current use a knee scooter to get around at home. Noticed this after going to get a snack, going to RR, or after showering as foot is not elevated.

When I can walk normal after 2nd 3rd & 4th Metarasal facture surgery?

First, let me thank you for the very best surgery information ever. I wish I would have seen this video prior to procedure. What shoes can be worn after ankle fusion surgery? Does your shoe size change? Can patients wear a low heels after surgery?

A lawn chair in the shower works for me. My foot in a trash bag, resting on scooter, it does not get wet at all. Hand held wand is awesome. We built the shower to bathe the dog easily, but I've used it more than him. I can easily wash my own hair. Do need help getting out, as I'm 3 wks post op.

How do you ice your foot without getting it wet? I am still in a splint and 6day post surgery

Hi, i got the eotts procedure done on my left foot (i also have a bunion untouched) its been 3 weeks post op and im still using a walker to move around and ive got quite a bit of pain. Do yoy have any suggestions on how i can help myself progress in this situation? Will i need to see a physiotherapist?

How do you off load the heel ? During elevation Dealing with this now Had surgery 2 days ago

May be having an Os trigonum removal surgery in a few months. Thanks for this video!

Hello Dr. Nooreen, I would like your opinion please. I’m 46 years old, and have had what looks like bunions on both my feet pretty much since I was 15 or 17. They were not bad then but they are a lot worse now. I have no pain at all, the only thing I have keep and Eye out for is moisture after showering. If I don’t dry between my toes thoroughly the skin will brake out. Do you think I should get the surgery? I’m worried I’ll have problems in my older years. Thank you.

Thank you for the video

Thank you!!!!

I have a complex ankle fracture and needs surgery.I have walking disability and I use walker when I walk and then now that I have fracture and will undergo surgery I have so many fears

Dr. Ibrahim , do you have any tips on how to use the bathroom without letting your foot hanging down? I struggle the most on using the bathroom. I find it so hard to find a position with my leg/foot hanging …

Absolutely awesome advice, thanks

Thank you so much for your before and after suggestions. Had a MTP fusion of my L great toe this morning.

Is it possible to get surgery to make my foot smaller?

I am going to have a bunion removed from my right foot first in September 2023, I have a two bulging discs in my l 4 and 5. Help please. Thanks Bx

I’m having surgery (5th metatarsal) soon. First time and very nervous and so on. This was helpful but feeling anxious as I’m a larger person so hopping is abit harder and worried about going upstairs when I come back (living upstairs from then on for couple of weeks) and esp going toilet since our toilet is in a small square space…

Were you good on your crutches?

Thank you 🙏

I just had surgery after breaking my ankle. I could not use crutches, kept falling. Got a knee scooter and it’s a game changer.

Well my surgery is Sept 9th. And they gave me that same boot. Why does it have such a thick bottom? Is it so you can walk on yr heal more than yr toes?. Where do I get an even up?

I have to have bunion removal and a hammer toe straightened. However l live on my own and will not have any help I'm more scared about coping afterwards help 😪

I am having surgery Wednesday due to rheumatoid arthritis in my toes they are straightening and fusing putting pins thur all my toes I have knee scooter cause I cant use cruches and got my air cam boot So wish me luck have alot anxiety over this

I’m 80 days after arthroscopic surgery and still have pain after walking long distances or being on my feet for long periods of time. How can I heal quickly? I’m on no medication, male, 46, doctor has me only doing toe raises. I’m frustrated.

Omg thank you so so much for all of your help my name is Marybeth mckelvey July 25 is my surgury of my mind foot reconstruction I've been so worried about losing my foot cause I had no way of knowing what to do before or after thank you God bless

I bet you were really good on crutches.

I had a bimallorial fracture. The orthopedic surgeon did a surgery ro correct it and I am abt 7 weeks now post surgery. It has been a challenge even with a knee scooter and not returning to work r ankle non weight bearing. My bf has helped me some bit it is still extremely hard to get around but being a massage therapist I do know to do stretches for foot until I can get into see a Physical therapist. I would like to know how long recovery time is? They said like 3- 4 months. I would like to be back before this year is out. Very stressful..

Having my first flat foot reconstruction in a month! Getting a gastrocnemius recession with double calcaneal osteotomy and cotton osteotomy of the midfoot, which is pretty intensive since my feet are really flat and very painful. Really hoping this surgery reduces my pain!

"Least amount of pain possible." That'd my dream at this point. I had surgery on Tuesday. I am still in excruciating pain. Two oxis every 4 hours during the waking hours. It still hurts like hell. On a slightly bright side, it hurts just a little less. Only a slight reduction but it's something

Having 5th metatarsal avulsion surgery tomorrow. Wish I had just suffered through it after seeing this video.