Post Operative Instructions

Home » Patient Education for Foot Care » Post Operative Instructions

Elizabeth E. Auger, DPM

Office: 801-619-2170

POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

• Have all prescriptions filled and take medications as directed at the first sign of discomfort
• Place a bag of ice on top of your ankle for the first 6 hours; the apply ice 20 minutes of every hour that you are awake for the first 3 days.  It is recommended to continue applying ice 20 minutes four times a day after the first 3 days. More often if you are ambulating throughout the day.
• Never walk without a surgical shoe or walking boot unless otherwise instructed.  If you were instructed to use crutches it is recommended that you also where the surgical boot when doing so.
• Walk only as directed.
• Elevate feet 6 inches above your heart, with a slight bend in the knee, when icing the first 3 days.  Placing the pillow at the foot of the bed when sleeping is recommended.
• Keep all bandages dry and in place.  They will be changed at your post-operative appointments.
• Do not sit with your feet down, or legs crossed, for any length of time.
• Eat a regular diet as tolerated.  Increase fluid intake when returning home from the surgical center.
• Abstain from tobacco and alcohol use. Not doing this will slow healing significantly.
• Call Dr. Auger if any of the following occurs – problems with medications, nausea or vomiting; toes are white or blue; the bandage come off or is completely soaked in blood; if you injure the area; if medications do not control pain.
• Take 600 mg of ibuprofen for mild pain every 8 hours in addition to your prescriptions for pain; take this with food.  Some patients choose to use only ibuprofen for pain relief.
• If you had surgery on bones that needed fixation please take 500 mg of Calcium four times a day with food. Also take 5,000 IU of Vitamin D daily with food even if your calcium has vitamin D.

For Wart Post-Op Instructions click here

For Ingrown Nail Post-Op Instructions click here