What to expect before foot surgery with WYOS

Whether it’s your first procedure or one of many, any type of surgery can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re not prepared.

When it comes to orthopedic foot surgery, the more you know about the before and after, the better. From hammer toe to great toe arthritis, foot problems can greatly affect your quality of life and, in severe cases, surgery may be the best way to get you back on your feet.

So if you are suffering and are looking to get back your quality of life, here’s some tips on what to do before and after foot surgery:

1. Ask Questions
There is nothing wrong with showing up to your appointment with a list of questions — in fact, we encourage it. Often at the moment, patients can get nervous and forget some vital questions that have been on their minds for days. Please be sure to tell your doctor about any existing medical conditions and any medication that you are currently taking. From what medications to stop taking, to why this procedure is right for you, the more informed patients are, the better their recovery process is. Understanding the healing time, surgery time and length of recovery will allow you to prepare mentally for the procedure ahead.

2. Prepare Your Home
To ease your stress, and make your recovery a little bit easier, you’ll want to ensure your home is all ready for you after surgery. If you have a two-story home, and your bedroom is upstairs, you might want to arrange to sleep a few nights on the first level. Ask for help with cooking and cleaning, and make sure any toiletries or clothes are easily accessible. Know that some surgeries require postponing bathing (soaking activities or swimming) for an extended period of time, so this means you should take a shower or sponge bath until you can safely soak in water without risking complications with your incision. Your dressing also needs to be kept clean and dry. Use Seran Wrap, Press and Seal, or some other commercially available cast covering bags or sleeves.

3. What to Expect Before and After Surgery
You’ll want to arrive a few hours early the day of surgery. Be sure that you are free of jewelry, all piercings, makeup or nail polish—and, if you wear them, please remove contact lenses. The length of your procedure all depends on the type of procedure you are receiving, so be sure to talk with your doctor about the estimated time frame. Often your surgeon will request a follow-up appointment 10-15 days after surgery to ensure you are healing as planned.

4. Pain After Surgery
Some surgeries will require pain management and physical therapy. We encourage you to talk about post-surgical pain relief and pain medications before you have surgery. Consider talking with your surgeon about pain expectations, your previous experiences with pain, and what kind of pain medication they might prescribe after the procedure and the side effects that it may have. Elevating your leg above your heart and using lots of ice can improve a significant amount of pain.

If you are living your life with foot pain caused by a hammer toe or great toe arthritis, the experts at Wyoming Orthopedics and Spine (WYOS) in Gillette, Wyoming are here to help. At WYOS, we recognize that each patient is unique and create a customized treatment plan to get you back on your feet. If surgery is necessary, our physicians will explain the surgical process and answer any questions the patient may have.

To enjoy an active and healthy life at any age, call WYOS at 307.686.1413 or visit www.wyomingorthospine.com to learn more.