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Activity You may ride home in the car after the operation. Limited activity and leg elevation is required for the first 48 hours to limit bruising and swelling. It is OK to be up for meals and bathroom visits during the first 48 hours. After 36 hours, it is OK to take off all bandages and begin showering. We do recommend continuing wrapping the ACE bandages from toes to knee on a daily basis to help relieve some of the pressure. More strenuous activity, such as aerobic exercise, walking for exercise, etc. should be delayed until recovery is more complete and sutures are out. Vigorous exercise and heavy lifting are restricted for about two weeks. Most patients can return to work within one week. Diet Your first meal after receiving anesthesia should be light and easily digestible. Following this, there are no restrictions.
Medication It is normal to experience some discomfort following this procedure, proportional to the extent of surgery performed. The postoperative pain may be exaggerated by standing and straining and relieved by lying flat and elevation. External support with ACE bandages also helps. You will receive a prescription (for an oral narcotic or anti-inflammatory) to be taken as necessary. We would encourage using Tylenol or Advil for pain control in place of the oral narcotics when the pain lessens after several days. Please remember that narcotic pain medication may be constipating, cause drowsiness or nausea, and that you should not drive while taking them. |
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Wound Care Your incisions need very little care. After 48 hours, you may take a shower and let the water run over the wounds, then pat them dry with a towel. There is no need for ice packs or topical antibiotic ointment. Sutures are usually removed between six to ten days postoperatively. Follow-up Care Please call the office as soon as possible to make an appointment with our nurse practitioner for suture removal six to ten days following your surgery. Please notify our office in the event of severe leg swelling, pain that is not controlled, or signs of infection (redness, tenderness, drainage or fever greater than 101). |