You know how difficult it is to get through your day with foot pain. That’s why you’ve booked surgery to remediate your bunions, hammertoes, or other podiatric condition.
After your surgery, however, you shouldn’t take any steps at all or put any weight on your recovering foot. Making some changes to how your home’s arranged before your surgery, can make your post-op life easier.
At FootCare Specialists, Inc. — with locations in San Mateo and Half Moon Bay, California podiatrist, David J. Kaplan, DPM, has assembled these tips to help you prepare yourself and your home for your recovery from foot surgery.
Directly after your surgery, you need someone to drive you home from our office or the hospital. Even local anesthesia makes you too groggy to drive safely.
The first days to weeks of your recovery are the most intense. Ask a close family member or friend to do basic tasks, such as preparing and cleaning up from your meals. The first few days, you might want to have someone stay with you.
You may even need help for several weeks, depending on the extent of your surgery. If you don’t have help readily available within your circle of family and friends, consider hiring a caretaker.
Just as you won’t be able to complete household tasks, you may not be ready to go back to work right away, either. Depending on the kind of work you do, we may suggest you take off for a day or two or even more while you recover.
If you live in a house or building that has steps leading up to your residence, install a ramp or request one from your landlord. Make sure whoever helps you home is also able to help you up any stairs or ramps.
If you live in a house or apartment that has more than one story, move your bedroom and/or office to the ground floor. Move any items you might need — including toiletries and office supplies — to your new space.
Buy any supplies you need beforehand, so you won’t be caught shorthanded during recovery. Also make modifications to your home — especially your bathroom — that will help keep you safe as you recover:
Go through your home and remove, reposition, or modify possible tripping or slipping hazards:
If you have small pets that could get under your feet or trip you, arrange for them to stay with a friend or in a kennel for a few days. If you have small children, arrange for in-home childcare.
Whether you want reading materials, writing materials, or something to eat or drink, make sure you won’t have to travel to get it or carry it from one place to another. Keep the remote to the TV near your bed. Install sound-activated light switches so you don’t have to get up to turn the lights on or off.
In addition to creating your recovery space before your surgery, practice using all your new gear. Request your crutches or walker before your surgery so you can try them out and get a feel for what obstacles may arise when you can’t walk freely. You might also want to purchase grips for your walker or cushions for your crutches.
Try out your commode chair, without the use of the foot that’s undergoing surgery. Try to get in and out of the shower or tub too.
Go through your work day to see if you’re able to reach everything you need. Practice having your meals and snacks in your “new” space.
With enough thought and preparation, your foot surgery recovery can be easy and glitch-free. If you’re ready to say goodbye to foot pain, schedule a consultation by calling us today, or requesting an appointment using our convenient online form.
