In our Massapequa podiatry practice, Dr. Mark Gasparini and Dr. Novneet Chhabra perform multiple surgical procedures for your feet and ankle. While we try to avoid invasive procedures, sometimes this option is truly your best pathway to recovery or healing. Have you been told you need an operation? Here’s what to expect during your recovery from foot surgery.
Recovery from Foot Surgery: General Guidelines ![surgical tools]()
After foot surgery, many factors can impact the duration and nature of your recovery. These include your age, general state of health and the type of procedure we performed, as well as the part of your foot or ankle treated surgically. However, here are some general guidelines to help you manage expectations:
• Healing time: If we operate on bones, healing should take up to three months
• Bearing weight: You will likely need to keep weight off your affected limb for a period of several weeks following surgery. However, depending on your procedure type, you may be able to get around in a walking or surgical boot, allowing you to maintain some mobility and minimize disruptions to your schedule.
• Resuming normal activities: Again, how long it will take for you to get cleared to return to your regular footwear and activity schedule will depend on the specific procedure you undergo. Generally speaking, however, be prepared to wear nothing but sneakers for several months following foot surgery. And don’t expect to return to high-intensity training until you’ve had at least three months of recovery from foot surgery.
Common Surgeries of the Foot and Ankle
The length of your recovery from foot surgery depends on the nature of the procedure. Here are some of the more common procedures performed in our Nassau County podiatry practice, along with their associated recovery times.
• Bunion Correction Surgery: This is a surgery performed to correct a bony bump at the base of your big toe joint by realigning the deviated toe bone. In the past, recovery from a bunionectomy could last 12 weeks or longer. However, now that we perform Lapiplasty—a 3D bunion correction procedure—in the office, the recovery period is much faster. In fact, some patients are able to bear weight within days of the procedure, experiencing a full recovery in a far shorter time frame.
• Hammer Toe Surgery: A hammer toe deformity develops when your toe bends or curls downward instead of pointing forward. We can surgically correct this deformity and straighten out your toe, with an expected recovery period of about six to eight weeks, returning to your full schedule of activity after about two or three months.
• Repairing the Achilles Tendon: After an Achilles tendon rupture, we will have to stitch up your torn tendon so healing can occur. Expect to be in a walking boot for up to 12 weeks following your procedure, with a full recovery expected between four and six months after your procedure.
• Surgery for Morton’s Neuroma: A Morton’s neuroma is an enlarged nerve located between your third and fourth toes. When conservative treatment options don’t offer sufficient relief, we can surgically remove the inflamed nerve. Afterward, you can expect recovery to last between one and six weeks, depending on the location of the incision on your foot.
• Repairing a Foot Fracture: If you sustain a displaced or unstable fracture in your foot or ankle, we may need to repair the injury surgically, sometimes implanting plates or screws to keep your bones in the proper position during healing. Following this type of surgery, expect to keep weight off your affected limb for up to eight weeks; a full recovery may take longer, depending on the location and severity of your injury.
Recovery from Foot Surgery: A Week-by-Week Guide
Regardless of the type of procedure you undergo, your recovery will get easier with every passing week. Here’s a general timeline of what to expect:
Initial Weeks
The first few weeks following surgery on your foot or ankle will be the hardest for you. Most patients will be advised to rest as much as possible, elevating the affected foot and keeping weight off it, either through the use of crutches or a knee scooter, or by walking in a surgical boot. Some patients may have casts; others may have instructions to clean, dress and care for the surgical incision site. Following your home-care instructions will help reduce your recovery time and optimize your healing.
Depending on the nature of your surgery, you may also begin physical therapy during this time. Your therapist can help you maintain joint flexibility and muscle strength so that you can resume activities safely once you receive medical clearance. Our doctors will also work with you during this time to help you safely manage your pain levels.
Initial Months
By this stage, your foot will likely have healed enough to allow for some weight bearing. We’ll help you ease into this process gradually in order to avoid reinjury. As you regain your strength, focus on weight bearing exercise and moves that improve your balance, as these will be important to your recovery. You may also need to return to the office for follow-up appointments. We may order X-rays or other imaging tests in order to ensure that your affected foot is healing properly.
At this point in your recovery from foot surgery, your pain will likely be minimal if at all detectable. However, every patient is different, so be sure and tell us if you’re experiencing discomfort so that we can rule out any obstacle to your healing while maintaining your comfort as you return to your old routines.
How to Support Your Healing
While recovery from foot surgery can be a lengthy process, you can play a role in reducing your ultimate down time. In fact, by following your post-surgical care instructions, you can help us help you heal in the fastest amount of time possible. Specifically, be sure to rest; take medications only as prescribed; keep your surgical site clean if it’s exposed; adhere to all movement restrictions; and wear or use any assistive devices as instructed. Finally, if you experience unexpected or suddenly worsening pain during your recovery from foot surgery, call our office right away or click here to request an immediate appointment.