Charcot Foot Support

pain management

Foot Surgery Recovery Tips

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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.

Should I take pain medication for my Charcot Foot?

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Should you take pain medication if you have Charcot Foot? It’s a question we have received from a couple of different readers. The interesting thing is some people with Charcot Foot report absolutely no pain because of the neuropathy they have and then others report a good deal of pain. Those who do have pain report chronic pain which makes the question of using pain medication a difficult one to answer.

Pros and Cons of Pain Medication

The obvious pro when it comes to considering pain medication is the fact that pain medication can relieve pain. None of us want to experience pain so it is an obvious benefit to be able to have the pain reduced. However, it’s important to consider the downside to pain medication.

Pain medication is incredibly addictive. When you are already battling so many health conditions the risk of addiction must be considered. Addiction will only increase the troubles you are currently facing due to Charcot Foot.

You also have to be realistic about the effectiveness of pain medication. Pain medication can relieve some pain but it doesn’t eliminate it completely. It’s important to weigh the benefits and risks before taking pain medication.

Additionally, pain serves a purpose. It is a clear indicator to us that something is wrong. Pain can tell us the shoes we are wearing don’t fit right, it can tell us we have walked to far for the day or stood too long. It can indicate a new fracture or wound that needs attention. Using pain medication can prevent us from recognizing problems quickly and addressing them.

Managing pain without pain medication

There are ways to manage Charcot Foot pain without medication. There are several pain relieving creams which can be applied to your feet which can help. We even did a more in-depth review of some pain management options here.

Soaking your feet in Epsom Salt is a wonderful way to reduce pain and swelling. It can also help you relax which will in turn reduce pain. You should never soak your feet if you have any open wounds or sores. After a foot soak make sure you dry your feet completely and apply lotion.

There are over the counter pain relievers which can be helpful. It is important to talk with your doctor before taking them to ensure they won’t cause problems if you have other health concerns, like kidney problems.

Elevate your feet and go non-weight bearing as much as possible! We know it is annoying but one of the best ways to reduce pain is to get off your feet and elevate them. Think toes above nose. While you are resting those feet listen to a relaxing guided meditation to help you relax.

Talk with your doctor about pain medication

Always talk with your doctor about using pain medication. Have a frank discussion about your concerns, the risks associated with pain medication and the possible benefits. No one knows your body and your pain better than you. It is your job to educate your doctor on what you are experiencing so they can provide the best guidance.

It can be helpful to keep a journal or calendar documenting your pain prior to appointments with your doctor. You may notice a spike in pain at night or over the weekend. By documenting you can identify trends and help provide your doctor with a clear view of what you are experiencing.

What ways do you manage Charcot Foot pain? If you have found a tactic that works for you and would like to share it with others please contact us. Additionally, if you have a question you would like answered, please reach out to us. You can see our response to previous questions about how to explain Charcot Foot to others.

Chiropractic Care and Charcot Foot

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Many people with Charcot Foot never consider visiting a chiropractor or seeking chiropractic care. While a chiropractor cannot cure Charcot Foot there are many ways chiropractic care can be beneficial for those living with Charcot Foot.

Chiropractic adjustment

A chiropractic adjustment can be incredibly beneficial for those with Charcot Foot. We often spend so much time non-weight bearing or sedentary that it is easy for our spine to get out of alignment. How often do you find yourself laying on the couch with one foot elevated and experience pain in your lower back? It’s common! A visit to a chiropractor for an adjustment will realign your spine and reduce some of the discomfort associated with sedentary life.

When wearing a boot it is also very easy for your hips and pelvis to become unaligned. You may notice hip or knee pain the longer you wear a boot. A chiropractic adjustment will also realign your hips and pelvis. This can help prevent sciatic pain and reduce walking with a limp.

Total Health Chiropractic

Chiropractors often focus on the total health of their patients. It has been our experience that chiropractors take a more holistic approach than medical doctors. This can prove beneficial for those with Charcot Foot because of the wide range of health conditions and symptoms we have.

Total health chiropractic includes not just chiropractic adjustments but also looking at how nutrition impacts overall health. Chiropractors are often well versed in vitamin and mineral supplements. They can make well-informed recommendations to help improve your health and address any nutritional deficits you may have.

Whether you seek chiropractic care for a chiropractic adjustment or for total health chiropractic care it can help. There is no cure for Charcot Foot but exploring all health options, including chiropractic care can help decrease secondary pain and symptoms. As usual it never hurts to visit with your physician and seek their input on chiropractic care.