How long does the swelling last after bunion surgery?
You will have pain and swelling that slowly improves in the 6 weeks after surgery. You may have some minor pain and swelling that lasts as long as 6 months to a year. After surgery, you will need to wear a cast or a special type of shoe to protect your toe and to keep it in the right position for at least 3 to 6 weeks.
How do you get swelling to go down after foot surgery?
How to Reduce Swelling After Foot Surgery
- Get Plenty of Rest. You probably don’t notice how much you put weight on each foot until you can’t anymore.
- Apply Cold Therapy.
- Use Compression.
- Elevate the Injury.
- Practice with an Ambulatory Aid.
- Use the Appropriate Mobility Device.
Does drinking water help swelling after surgery?
Hydrate. Drinking plenty of water is important to maintain maximum health and keep your body operating at a high level. This fact is especially true during recovery from surgery. Maintaining proper hydration levels will allow the body to heal properly and help abate any bruising or swelling after surgery.
How long should you elevate your feet to reduce swelling?
The more the swelling and the longer there has been swelling, the longer and more frequently your need to elevate your legs. Start with 20 minutes twice a day. This might do the trick. If not, go to 30 minutes or even an hour.
Can I wiggle my toes after bunion surgery?
Sleep is more important. o If you had surgery on your toes, don’t wiggle them. It’s fine to move your ankle back and forth as long as it doesn’t hurt. Don’t worry about wiggling your toes.
When can you walk barefoot after bunion surgery?
Don’t go barefoot at all. For at least the first 12 months after you come out of your walking boot you should wear shoes or supportive sandals at all times when you are bearing weight. Always be wearing either shoes with arch supports or sandals with built-in arch support.
Should I sleep with my feet elevated?
Elevating your legs while you sleep can help your circulation and prevent swelling. It’s best to elevate your legs above the level of your heart. Wedge-shaped pillows make this easier to do. You can also use pillows or folded blankets you have on hand to elevate your legs in bed to help circulation.
Can you elevate your foot too much after surgery?
Raising your injury too high can decrease blood flow too much. Elevating an injury for too long can also do this, and both of these issues can slow down your body’s natural healing process.
What medicine reduces swelling after surgery?
NSAIDs are used to treat mild pain after surgery. They reduce swelling and soreness. Examples of NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
What is a good anti-inflammatory after surgery?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox DS, others), celecoxib (Celebrex) or ketorolac — lessen the inflammatory activity that worsens pain.
How long do I have to elevate my foot after bunion surgery?
You should keep your foot elevated as much as possible for at least two weeks after bunion surgery. This helps to reduce the swelling and pain. You will find that if you have your foot down for too long, it will start to throb, swell and become more painful.