Time for Foot Surgery

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At Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle, we know that many of our Nature Coast patients postponed elective podiatric surgeries during the height of the pandemic. Now that hospitals are getting back to doing these procedures, you may be thinking of re-scheduling. Many common foot disorders such as bunions, hammertoes, heel spurs, and corns can be corrected with surgery. Our podiatrist, Dr. Lawrence Kales, specializes in minimal invasive foot surgery, and our goal is to get you back on your feet as quickly as possible with the least amount of trauma. Below are some ways to prepare for an upcoming foot surgery.

Understand Your Surgery

The first step to successful foot surgery is having a good understanding of what’s involved in the procedure the foot surgeon will be performing. Don’t hesitate to ask questions such as:

  • Will the surgery be done as an outpatient or require a hospital stay?

  • What will you need to do to prep for the surgery?

  • How long will the surgery take?

  • What can you expect regarding pain post-surgery?

  • How long will it take to recover?

Set the Date

Once you know what to expect regarding recovery, you can look at your calendar and choose a time for the surgery that will have minimal impact on your work and family schedule. It’s best to allow extra time to recover than to have the pressure of a big family event like a wedding or important work projects looming too close to your surgery.

Do Your Homework

Ask the foot doctor how long it will be before you can bear weight on the foot being operated on and if you will need to use special accommodative equipment afterward, such as crutches or a scooter. You may find that you will need to re-organize the space in your home—especially if you have a bedroom that is upstairs—to enable an easy recovery.

Line Up Help

The chances are that family and friends will ask if they can help you. Accept all offers! People to shop or run errands, cook meals, and shuttle children to activities will be helpful and allow you to recover fully and with much less stress.

If you have additional questions about an upcoming foot or ankle surgery, feel free to contact our Spring Hill (352 683-5799) and Hudson (727-868-2128) office directly.

foot health, podiatristPasco-Hernando Foot & Anklesurgery, hammertoes, bunions