When you have Charcot Foot it is likely you will undergo at least one foot surgery and possibly more. While the effectiveness of surgery in treating Charcot Foot is regularly debated there are times it just cannot be avoided. When surgery is performed on an individual with Charcot Foot it is especially important to do everything possible to ensure the recovery process goes well. We talked with several people who have undergone Charcot Foot surgery to get their best foot surgery recovery tips to share with you.
Before Foot Surgery Care
Some of the most important steps you can take to ensure your foot surgery recovery is successful will take place before you ever have surgery. Planning ahead can save you foot surgery recovery time and improve the outcomes of foot reconstruction surgery.
Lindsay is a wonderful example of how to plan for foot surgery. She interviewed several surgeons before setting a surgery date, ensuring she was working with a competent surgeon. She also changed her diet prior to surgery and added vitamins and minerals to her diet to help encourage bone growth. She ate to her meter and maintained a stable A1C which also encourages healing.
The steps she took ahead of time helped achieve a very successful outcome of her foot reconstruction surgery.
Prior to her foot surgery, Jessie made extensive plans for her recovery period, including moving out of a third floor apartment and into a one story residence. As a single mom of two small children she knew she would need help to ensure she could stay compliant with being non-weight bearing. She made arrangements for family and friends to come help care for her children, made meals in advance which were frozen and could be thawed later and arranged for transportation to and from her medical appointments.
Here is a checklist of things to do prior to surgery to make your recovery period easier:
- Fill any prescriptions your doctor gives you
- Make physical therapy appointments and follow up appointments as recommended by your doctor
- Prepare meals in advance and freeze them
- Arrange for transportation as needed
- Order any specialized equipment you will need at home. This includes crutches, knee scooter, shower chair or stool, cast cover for use in the shower, ice packs and grabbers.
- Maintain a healthy diet and follow any pre-op instructions from your doctor
After Foot Surgery Care
Foot surgery recovery time varies for everyone but your physician should be able to give you a good idea of how long of a recovery period you are looking at. One of the most important ways to ensure your foot surgery recovery time is as short as possible is to make sure you are compliant with your doctor’s orders. If you are instructed to be non-weight bearing, then you need to be non-weight bearing. Not following doctor’s orders can set your recovery back and can lead to complications.
Pain can delay healing so make sure you talk with your doctor about how to maintain your pain after foot surgery. While some people experience little to no pain others have significant pain. Ice and meditation can also help with pain. Don’t rely solely on pain medication rather a variety of pain management techniques will be most beneficial.
When blood sugar levels are high it is hard for the body to heal. During Jessie’e foot reconstruction surgery recovery she made sure to keep close tabs on her blood sugar, using a continuous glucose monitor and maintaining a healthy diet.
Attend all foot surgery follow up appointments as recommended by your doctor. These appointments may be a challenge to get to but they allow your doctor to assess your recovery, identify any issues and treat and prevent infections.
If you feel like you are having post foot surgery complications of any type, contact your doctor right away. Significant redness, oozing from the surgery site, a temperature over 98.6 degrees are all indicators of infection. It’s important to address any complications as soon as they arise as it can save you in the long run.
Keep an eye on your mental health during the foot surgery recovery time. Being non-weight bearing and home bound can lead to feelings of isolation and depression. If you begin feeling depressed, let your family, support people and doctor know. It can help to have friends or family members come to visit during your foot surgery recovery to help keep your spirits up.
No matter how much you plan and prepare in advance of foot surgery the foot surgery recovery time is challenging. It’s not easy to recover from foot surgery but it is possible. Maintain an open relationship with your doctor and address all your concerns as they arise. Keep in mind, you are not alone! There are many of us with Charcot Foot who have been through the same thing. Reach out to others for support as well.