Managing Pain After Foot Surgery - Best Foot Doctor NY (2024)

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    Managing Pain After Foot Surgery - Best Foot Doctor NY (13)

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Home > Managing Pain After Foot Surgery

Some injuries and foot conditions will require surgery. If your NYC podiatrist has recommended surgery, you may be concerned about post-op pain and what you can do to minimize the pain. This article will discuss the common reasons for post-op pain and how to manage it most effectively, including our MLS class 4 laser therapy option to reduce or even eliminate pain after foot surgery.

Causes of Post-op Pain

Some pain after surgery is normal. The body has undergone a traumatic experience and your cells and nerves need time to heal. Inflammation is expected in the surgical site along with some pain and swelling the first few days after surgery as the tissues begin to heal.

Bunion surgeries rank among the easiest to heal from, with most patients reporting 3/10 pain, while patients undergoing femur fracture surgeries face a harder recovery.

When to Contact Your Doctor

Contact your doctor immediately if your pain continues to worsen and is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:

  • increasing swelling
  • redness
  • warmth at the incision site
  • a fever

These may be signs of infection and you should be evaluated right away.

Pain Worse at Night?

Some patients find that their foot pain is worse at night after surgery. This is usually due to increased pooling of blood in the feet at the end of the day. This is normal, but if you are concerned about it our staff in any of our NYC locations (Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn) will be happy to answer your questions.

Managing Post-op Foot Pain

After surgery, you will first notice pain as the anesthetic wears off. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication for you to take for the first few days. After that, the pain should become more manageable. Talk to your doctor about a reasonable pain goal. For some surgeries, it is not realistic to expect pain to be completely masked by medication during the first few days.

Pain Medication 101

Remember these basic rules of pain medication

  • Take the smallest dose of pain medication necessary for pain relief
  • Take the medicine as scheduled, do not skip doses. Keep the education at a therapeutic level in your blood
  • Wean yourself down to smaller doses as quickly as possible
  • Choose over-the-counter pain medication rather than prescription strength when possible
  • Remember that NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen and naproxen) are anti-inflammatory as well so they will help reduce inflammation and swelling, not just treat your pain
  • Always follow your podiatrist’s instructions regarding taking, changing, and stopping any medication

Other Pain Management Options

There are several non-pharmacologic options to help decrease your pain.

  • Ice. Ice packs help reduce swelling and decrease pain sensation. Wrap an ice pack in a soft cloth and put it on your surgical site for 20 minutes at a time.
  • Elevate. Keep your foot elevated whenever possible.
  • Rest. Give yourself extra time to rest and follow your doctor’s orders on resuming activity.
  • Physical therapy. Stretches, massages, and gentle exercises under the supervision of a physical therapist have been shown to dramatically help with pain management after surgery.

Laser Therapy to Decrease Pain

At Best Foot Doctor NY, we utilize MLS class 4 laser therapy after surgery to help alleviate our patient’s pain. With this treatment, about a quarter of our patients report only mild soreness in the days following surgery. Laser therapy is an excellent option to manage pain after foot surgery.

Reach Out Today

Surgery can be a daunting experience. But, experienced NYC podiatrists are available to answer your questions and help you make the best decisions for your care. Contact us at Best Foot Doctor NY today to schedule a consultation.

Managing Pain After Foot Surgery - Best Foot Doctor NY (2024)

FAQs

Managing Pain After Foot Surgery - Best Foot Doctor NY? ›

At Best Foot Doctor NY, we utilize MLS class 4 laser therapy after surgery to help alleviate our patient's pain. With this treatment, about a quarter of our patients report only mild soreness in the days following surgery.

What type of doctor is best for foot surgery? ›

Both podiatrists and orthopaedic surgeons are qualified to treat foot and ankle conditions, surgically and non-surgically. In general, the best bet is to choose the doctor you feel the most comfortable with, or who has the most experience treating your particular condition.

What kind of doctor should I see for foot pain? ›

As a general rule, if foot pain is your only issue, a podiatrist is a great choice. If you have pain all throughout your body, such as the neck and back, you should see an orthopedic doctor. If you can find a doctor that is trained in both orthopedics and podiatry, that is much better in the long run.

What is the best pain relief after foot surgery? ›

Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen) 600mg every 6 hours OR Celebrex 100mg every 12 hours. Tylenol (acetaminophen) 650mg every 6 hours. Neurontin (gabapentin) 300mg every 8 hours for the first 3 days only. Hydroxyzine 25mg (or 10mg if >65 years of age) every 6 hours.

Who is the best person to treat foot pain? ›

Most people experience sore feet from time to time, but it's wise to see a podiatrist if your feet regularly ache or swell. Everything from poorly fitting shoes to arthritis can cause foot pain. A podiatrist can provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment options to relieve your foot pain.

Is it better to go to a podiatrist or orthopedist? ›

Podiatrists specialize in foot and ankle care. Conversely, orthopedists cater to general musculoskeletal problems. Although an orthopedist technically has studied foot and ankle problems, a podiatrist specializes in them. This specialization allows a podiatrist to better address issues unique to your foot and ankle.

What is the downside to foot surgery? ›

Complications of foot and ankle surgery can include infections, swelling and stiffness, and wound haematoma (bleeding). If you're generally healthy the risk of a serious complication from an operation is very small. Every possible care is taken to prevent complications, but in a few cases these do happen.

What is severe foot pain called? ›

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, tissue in the foot used during walking and foot movement. Plantar fasciitis can be caused by a number of factors, including type of shoes, foot structure, overuse and types of walking surfaces. The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain.

What doctor should I see if I hurt my foot? ›

Foot injuries, like most injuries, can induce some degree of pain, but if it becomes severe then a podiatrist needs to address it. Severe pain may indicate a fracture or internal problems such as a shattered bone or nerve damage. It is better to be safe than sorry.

What helps unbearable pain after surgery? ›

After your surgery, your doctor and care team can advise on effective ways to manage your pain that don't involve the use of opioids, including: Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), which can be taken separately or together.

What is the most painful day after foot surgery? ›

Six weeks after the operation, the majority of people felt no pain. The most severe pain was felt three days after the operation, and the least severe pain was felt six weeks after the operation.

What is the most painful foot condition? ›

Morton neuroma, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendinopathy are among the most common painful foot and ankle conditions.

What is the best painkiller for foot pain? ›

Oral analgesic medications such as acetaminophen (paracetamol) or aspirin are often the first line choice for quick relief of foot pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen are also often recommended and can help to reduce inflammation at the same time.

How to stop nerve pain in the foot? ›

Ways to Treat Nerve Pain at Home
  1. Soak in Warm Water and Epsom Salt. Soaking in Epsom salt can help ease the pain and discomfort associated with nerve pain. ...
  2. Compression Socks/Neuropathy Socks. ...
  3. Rest. ...
  4. Ice the Pain. ...
  5. Check Feet Daily. ...
  6. Avoid Alcohol. ...
  7. Anesthetic Lidocaine. ...
  8. Massage Your Feet.

Is a podiatrist the same as a foot surgeon? ›

This depends on the particular issue you have. Both professionals are qualified to treat foot, ankle, and heel problems, surgically or otherwise, but a podiatrist is especially qualified to treat these particular problems. If your problem falls into one of those three categories, then go see a podiatrist.

Which specialist is consulted for foot conditions? ›

Podiatrist. A podiatrist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats foot problems. They can advise you on how to take care of your feet and ease symptoms.

What is another name for a podiatrist or foot doctor? ›

Podiatrists treat everything from bunions to infected toenails, and patients are guaranteed to receive the best answer for their foot problems from a podiatrist. But there is another term that many people – particularly older patients – still use for foot doctors: chiropodist.

What is the difference between a podiatrist and an orthotist? ›

Podiatrists specialise in assessing and treating various foot-related conditions to promote overall lower limb health. On the other hand, orthotists are trained experts in orthotics, which involves using external devices to correct bone and muscle alignment in the body.

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