What to Do After Your Ankle Surgery
Ankle arthroscopy is often recommended for patients suffering from ligament damage following a severe sprain, to remove debris due to torn cartilage or a bone chip, or evaluate the extent of damage following a specific injury. Keep reading for some great tips on ensuring a safe and speedy recovering following ankle surgery.
Stay Off of Your Feet
You will want to get plenty of rest and stay off of your feet as much as possible immediately after undergoing ankle surgery. Your orthopedic surgeon will generally provide you with non-weight bearing crutches to utilize for one week before progressively increasing your weight bearing tolerance using a cam-walker boot.
Take Medications as Instructed
It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions regarding the use of any prescription medications such as Vicodin or Percocet as well as over-the-counter medications like Advil or Motrin.
Ice Your Ankle
Placing an ice pack on your ankle three times a day for approximately twenty minutes is a great way to alleviate pain and reduce ankle swelling following surgery. However, be sure to wrap the ice in a soft cloth rather than placing it directly on your skin to avoid irritation.
Caring for Dressings
You will want to leave your dressings on for the first three days after your procedure. It is important to keep the dressing dry during this time. After the dressings come off, you may resume showering as normal.
Begin Exercising
Performing straight leg raises, knee flexion, quadriceps sets, and ankle pumps as instructed by your surgeon can help reduce swelling and help you regain muscle tone and flexibility following surgery.
Visit Your Orthopedic Surgeon
One of the most important things to do after ankle surgery is to visit your orthopedic surgeon for a follow-up visit approximately one week after your procedure in order to ensure successful healing.
Whether you are suffering from a severe ankle sprain, an ACL tear, or a herniated disc, New York City orthopedic surgeon Drew A. Stein, MD is here to help. Contact our office at (212) 398-2300 to set up an initial consultation Dr. Stein.
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