Embarrassing Illnesses

Week one:

• Rest completely and keep your foot up as much as you can.
• Apply ice to relieve swelling and pain.
• You'll be prescribed painkillers that you should take regularly, beginning before the anaesthetic wears off.
• Avoid bathing or swimming. A wet dressing increases the risk of infection and tissue loss. Also, getting in and out of the bath could cause you to slip or fall, increasing your risk of displacing/breaking the bones in your foot.
• End of week one: Go for a check-up and have your dressing changed. If pins, screws or plates have been used you may be sent for an X-ray.

Week two (10-14 days):

• Try to move around with crutches or a stick, but stop if it's painful.
• Keep your foot raised as much as possible when sitting.
• If you still need painkillers you could be overdoing things.
• You can have a bath and swim again.
• Make sure you do your daily exercises
• End of week two: Have the dressing and any stitches removed (although this may happen at the end of the third week if you've had stitches under your foot). You can usually stop using crutches. You can start to walk around a bit more, but be sure only to do short distances.

Week four:

• You can drive again as long as you can do an emergency stop without discomfort.
• You'll need to inform your insurance company to say you've had surgery.

Week six:

• Your foot should be beginning to return to normal, but may still be swollen at the end of the day.
• You can usually wear ordinary shoes again.
• If your job doesn't involve too much standing or walking, you can usually go back to work (your surgeon will advise).
• You may have another appointment and any external wires or casts removed.
• If you're having problems doing your exercises, you may be reviewed and referred to a physiotherapist for help.

Three to six months:

• Around three months after your operation, you'll normally have another check-up and be discharged.
• Your bones should have healed and you ought to be more or less pain free.
• Your foot will be less swollen, although slight swelling can continue for up to a year.
• You should now be feeling the benefits of the surgery and be able to play impact sports again, provided your surgeon says so.

One year: Your foot will usually have fully healed.