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Foot & ankle · After bunion or toe surgery
Count the weeks from the day of your operation. The date is on your discharge card.
If your doctor wrote a different plan on your prescription, follow that instead of this page.
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Keep the foot raised above the level of the hip most of the day, especially in the first days: this is what brings the swelling and the pain down. The dressing holds the toe in its new position: keep it on, clean and dry, and do not loosen or change it yourself. Wear the special shoe we gave you for every step. Keep the ankle moving.
Weight bearing As written on your prescription — usually walking on the heel in the special shoe, with crutches or a walker if we gave you them. Walk only short distances, at home.
Wear the special shoe, fastened, for every step. Put your weight through the heel, not the front of the foot, unless we have told you otherwise, and use the crutches or walker as we advised. Take short, even steps.
Should feel: The weight going through the heel Should not feel: Pushing off from the toes, or pain at the front of the foot
Pump the feet up and down to keep the blood moving.
Should feel: The calf working Should not feel: Calf pain or swelling — tell us
Sit with the leg straight. Press the back of the knee down and tighten the thigh.
Should feel: The thigh muscle tightening Should not feel: Knee pain
Lie down, good knee bent. Keep the operated leg straight and lift it 20 cm.
Should feel: The thigh working Should not feel: The knee bending or back pain
Not yet Walking barefoot or in your own footwear, pushing off from the toes, getting the dressing wet, letting the foot hang down for long, or driving. Squatting, sitting on the floor or using an Indian toilet — until we have told you it is safe.
Move to the next stage only after we have seen you, and the X-ray if one was planned.
Stitches out. Keep wearing the special shoe, and the toe spacer or strapping if we gave you one. Start the toe exercises when we allow — if a wire comes out through the toe, only after we have taken it out. If a toe joint was fused (joined solid) in the operation, never bend that joint. Swelling of the front of the foot by evening is normal and can last for several months; raise the foot when you rest. Carry on with the earlier exercises.
Weight bearing As written on your prescription, in the special shoe. Walk a little further each day.
Sit with the operated foot resting on a stool. Hold the foot just behind the big toe with one hand, and with the other hand gently move the big toe up, then down, as far as is comfortable. Do not force it.
Should feel: A gentle stretch at the big toe joint Should not feel: Sharp pain, or pulling at the wound
With your hand or a towel, gently pull the toes back towards you, and hold.
Should feel: A stretch under the toes and the sole Should not feel: Sharp pain
Move the ankle slowly in circles both ways.
Should feel: The ankle loosening Should not feel: Sharp pain
Not yet Walking without the special shoe, tight or narrow footwear, running or jumping, or driving until we agree. Squatting, sitting on the floor or using an Indian toilet — until we have told you it is safe.
Move to the next stage only after we have seen you, and the X-ray if one was planned.
Out of the special shoe into a wide, soft, roomy shoe, as the X-ray shows healing. Walk normally, rolling through the foot onto the toes. Build up the strength of the toes and the calf. Some swelling and stiffness of the big toe can last for some months. Carry on with the toe exercises.
Weight bearing Full, in a wide roomy shoe, unless we have told you otherwise.
Scrunch a towel with the toes.
Should feel: The foot muscles working Should not feel: Cramp
Sit with both feet flat on the floor. Lift the heels, lower them, then lift the toes.
Should feel: The calf and the front of the shin working Should not feel: Sharp pain
Rise onto both toes and lower under control.
Should feel: The calf working Should not feel: Sharp pain
Walk daily. Build the distance slowly.
Should feel: Easier walking over weeks Should not feel: Swelling next day — do less
Not yet Tight, narrow or high-heeled footwear, and running, jumping or sport, until we clear you. Squatting, sitting on the floor or using an Indian toilet — until we have told you it is safe.
Call either clinic during consulting hours, or send a WhatsApp message any time.
