Our feet and ankles help us move around, but sometimes they can hurt or get injured. When this happens, surgery might be the best way to feel better. Let’s look at some common foot and ankle surgeries, what you can expect if you need one, and how these surgeries can help you feel better and move more easily.
Key Takeaways
- Foot and ankle surgeries are often recommended when other treatments don’t work.
- Common surgeries include bunion surgery, ankle arthroscopy, Achilles tendon repair, and ankle replacement.
- Recovery times vary depending on the surgery, from a few weeks to several months.
- Physical therapy is important for getting better after surgery.
- Talking to a foot and ankle doctor is important for getting the right treatment.
- Following your doctor’s instructions after surgery is very important for the best results.
Why Might You Need Foot or Ankle Surgery?
There are many reasons why your doctor might suggest surgery for your foot or ankle. Often, it’s considered when other treatments haven’t worked. Maybe you’ve tried other ways to feel better, but they haven’t helped enough. Or you might have a problem that’s getting worse and needs surgery to stop it from getting even worse. Here are some common problems that might need surgery:
- Bad arthritis in your ankle that causes a lot of pain and makes it hard to move
- A badly broken bone that won’t heal properly on its own
- A bunion that’s causing a lot of pain and making it hard to walk
- A torn tendon or ligament that makes your joint unstable
- Pain that doesn’t go away even after trying other treatments
- Foot shapes that cause ongoing discomfort
- Bad cases of heel pain that don’t get better with other treatments
If you’re having any of these problems or other foot and ankle issues that won’t go away, it might be time to see a foot and ankle doctor. These doctors can check your feet and ankles, look at your health history, and help you decide if surgery is the best choice for you. They’ll also talk about other treatments and help you make a good decision about your care.
Common Foot and Ankle Surgeries
Now, let’s talk about some of the surgeries that are often done to fix foot and ankle problems. Understanding these surgeries can help you feel more ready if you’re thinking about having one:
1. Bunion Surgery
A bunion is a bump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe. If it hurts a lot or makes it hard to wear shoes, surgery can help. During bunion surgery, the doctor will straighten out your toe. This might involve removing the bump, moving the bone, and fixing the soft tissues around it. The exact surgery depends on how bad your bunion is and how your foot is shaped. It usually takes about six to eight weeks to recover from bunion surgery, but it might be a few months before you can do high-impact activities. Learn more about bunion surgery and how it can help.
2. Ankle Arthroscopy
Ankle arthroscopy is a surgery that uses tiny tools and a camera to look inside and fix problems in your ankle. It’s good for things like bone spurs, damaged cartilage, torn ligaments, and swelling in the joint. This surgery is nice because it uses smaller cuts, hurts less after, and you can usually get better faster than with bigger surgeries. Most people can go home the same day as the surgery, and it often takes just a few weeks to recover. You’ll probably need to do physical therapy to help your ankle get strong and flexible again.
3. Achilles Tendon Repair
The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. If this tendon tears, you might need surgery to fix it. The doctor will sew the torn tendon back together. Sometimes, they might need to use a piece of tendon from another part of your foot or from someone else to fix it. It can take 4 to 6 months to get back to normal activities after this surgery. You’ll need to do physical therapy and follow your doctor’s instructions carefully to make sure it heals right and doesn’t get hurt again.
4. Ankle Replacement
For people with really bad ankle arthritis, ankle replacement surgery can be very helpful. In this surgery, the doctor takes out the damaged parts of your ankle joint and puts in artificial parts that work like a real ankle. This surgery usually means staying in the hospital for a few days, and it can take several months to recover. You’ll probably need to wear a cast or special boot for a while to protect your ankle. Physical therapy is really important to help you get strong again and walk normally. While it’s a big surgery with a long recovery time, many people say it helps a lot with pain and lets them do things they couldn’t do before.
What to Expect After Foot or Ankle Surgery
After your foot or ankle surgery, you’ll need to take time to recover. Knowing what to expect can help you get ready for this time. Here’s what you might experience:
- You’ll probably need to wear a special boot, cast, or splint for several weeks to protect your foot or ankle and help it heal.
- You might need to use crutches, a walker, or a knee scooter to move around without putting weight on your foot or ankle.
- Your doctor will give you medicine to help with pain. It’s important to take it as they tell you to.
- You’ll need to go back to see your doctor regularly to check how you’re healing.
- Physical therapy is really important for most foot and ankle surgeries. Your therapist will teach you exercises to help your foot or ankle get stronger and move better.
- You’ll be able to do more activities as you heal, but you’ll need to start slowly and follow your doctor’s advice.
Remember, everyone heals differently. Some people might feel better quickly, while others might take longer. The most important things are to follow your doctor’s instructions, go to all your appointments, and be patient while you heal.
Helping Your Recovery Along
You can do a lot to help yourself get better after surgery. Here are some tips:
- Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully about how to take care of your wound, take your medicine, and what activities you can do.
- Go to all your physical therapy appointments and do your exercises at home.
- Eat healthy foods that help your body heal, like fruits, vegetables, and proteins.
- When you’re resting, keep your foot up higher than your heart to help with swelling.
- Don’t try to do too much too soon. Increase your activities slowly, as your doctor or therapist says it’s okay.
- Try to stay positive. Recovery can be hard, but celebrating small improvements can help you stay motivated.
- Drink plenty of water to help your body heal.
- If you smoke, try to quit or cut down. Smoking can make it harder for your body to heal.
- When you can wear regular shoes again, choose ones that fit well and support your foot.