How to Recover After Foot Arch Surgery

Plantar fasciitis is a degenerative change in the membrane of the foot muscles, extending from the heel to the toes. This condition affects around 10-15% of the population and often causes pain when you start walking after sitting for long periods. Surgery to treat plantar fasciitis is recommended for a small group of patients when traditional treatments have failed. This is an outpatient procedure, and recovery time varies depending on whether it's open surgery or endoscopic plantar fasciotomy. The surgeon determines which type of surgery to perform, but a recent study shows that endoscopic surgery is a safer choice, offering quicker recovery times and higher patient satisfaction.

Wear Post-Surgery Boot. Since endoscopic surgery is less invasive than open surgery, recovery time is also shorter. The doctor will bandage your foot after the procedure and place it in a specialized post-surgery boot. You will need to wear the boot for 3-7 days afterwards.

• The doctor may recommend wearing the boot longer than this period, and you must always follow their post-surgery instructions.

Avoid moving your foot during the first week. Although walking is not prohibited, your doctor will advise you to keep your foot at rest as much as possible during the first week after surgery. The goal is to reduce pain, speed up recovery, and prevent complications such as soft tissue damage around the surgical area.

• Your doctor will usually ask you to rest your foot for most activities, except for standing to use the bathroom or eating.
• Make sure to keep your foot and bandage completely dry to reduce the risk of infection.

Wear supportive shoes once the post-surgery boot is removed. During your first follow-up appointment, your doctor will decide whether to remove the boot. If removed, they will usually recommend wearing supportive shoes for several weeks afterward, which help reduce the pressure on your foot.

• Typically, a podiatrist or surgeon will have you use custom orthotic insoles before performing plantar fasciitis surgery. Therefore, after the boot is removed, you must continue using these insoles to support the healing process until your foot is fully recovered.

Allow your doctor to remove the stitches. The doctor will remove the stitches during your next follow-up appointment, which is usually between 10 to 14 days post-surgery. Once the stitches are removed, you can comfortably wash your foot, and it will also be able to bear your body weight.

Do not attempt to return to normal walking activity for at least three weeks. Even after the stitches are removed and with orthotic insoles, you may still experience discomfort while walking during the first three weeks.

• If your job requires long periods of standing, this is when you need to take time off. It's important to arrange this with your employer before scheduling your foot surgery.
• If you must stand for extended periods, apply cold packs and elevate your foot during breaks for relief. You can use a bottle of ice water on the floor and roll your foot over it, a method that also provides gentle stretching for your foot arch.

Attend follow-up appointments as scheduled by your doctor or physical therapist. Your doctor will schedule follow-up visits based on their recommendations. You may also need to meet with a physical therapist who will guide you through safe stretching exercises for your foot muscles and tendons, ensuring the best results after surgery. Always keep your follow-up appointments with the physical therapist and attend them in full.

• Massage your plantar fascia by rolling a small, hard object like a golf ball under your foot.
• Another exercise for your foot muscles and tendons is to curl your toes inward to grip a towel or mat placed under your feet.

Consult a therapy expert before resuming intense exercise. Even though you may be able to walk without discomfort, doctors or therapists will advise against rushing into high-impact workouts. Ask for their guidance on the best exercises and set a schedule to gradually return to your regular workout routine.

• If they suggest switching to lower-impact exercises, like swimming or cycling, for several months after surgery, that should not be surprising.

Wear a post-surgery boot or brace as directed by your doctor. Consistently wearing the post-surgery boot or brace is essential for the complete recovery of your foot arch. Even if you feel better and nearly pain-free while standing, it is still necessary to wear the boot to allow your foot to heal completely. The absence of pain and improved mobility do not mean your body is fully healed. The boot or brace may need to be worn for 2-3 weeks.

• Your doctor will likely recommend complete rest for the first 1-2 weeks, except for essential activities like eating or using the restroom.
• Make sure to keep your foot and bandage completely dry to reduce the risk of infection.

Use crutches. It is best to rest your foot as much as possible, but your doctor will provide crutches for you to use when you need to stand. Regularly using crutches will help offload some of your body weight from the injured foot.

Take pain medication as prescribed by your doctor. While this procedure is minimally invasive, open surgery typically causes pain during the recovery period. Your doctor will prescribe painkillers to make the recovery more comfortable, and you should take them as directed whenever you feel pain. However, if the pain persists, contact your doctor.

• Your doctor will likely suggest transitioning to over-the-counter pain relievers once the prescription runs out. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can help manage pain.

Schedule and attend follow-up appointments. You must schedule follow-up visits to monitor your recovery progress and determine when it's safe to remove your post-surgery boot. It is crucial to attend all follow-up appointments and refrain from removing the boot until your doctor gives you approval.

Start wearing shoes with supportive insoles. Once the post-surgery boot is removed, your doctor may allow you to wear regular shoes again if everything is healing well. Since surgery is often a last resort, you might have been advised to use custom insoles before. It is important to continue using them to provide proper arch support, aiding in the healing process.

Apply ice to reduce discomfort. After removing the post-surgery boot, you can use ice to ease discomfort, particularly after standing for extended periods. To apply ice, place a bottle of ice water on the floor and roll your foot over it. This method not only provides cold therapy but also helps stretch the area around the plantar fascia.

Attend physical therapy sessions. If your doctor notices any risk of complications or evidence that you’ve put too much strain on the injured foot, they may schedule additional follow-up visits to monitor your recovery. However, typically at this stage, you only need to meet with a therapist to learn exercises and stretches that aid in recovery.

• A common stretching exercise is massaging the plantar fascia using a small hard object like a golf ball rolled under your foot.
• Another exercise for the muscles and tendons in your foot is curling your toes inward to grab a towel or mat beneath your feet.

Avoid high-impact sports and running for at least three months. Although you may be able to walk without discomfort, doctors or therapists will still advise against rushing into high-impact exercises. It’s best to avoid activities like running for at least three months. Ask your doctor for recommendations on safe exercises and plan to gradually return to your regular workout routine.

• They will not ask you to stop exercising altogether but will likely suggest low-impact activities like swimming.

• This article provides general guidelines for foot tendon release surgery, and you should always follow your doctor's advice and instructions.
• Contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe pain or signs of infection after surgery. Symptoms of infection may include redness, swelling, discharge from the wound, and fever.