Ankle Surgery

After surgery, you will have swelling in the foot, and pain from the incision. The swelling is related to the increased blood flow to the foot in response to the “surgical injury”, as well as the decreased capacity of blood to return to the heart due to fewer lower leg muscle contractions (which have the effect of increasing venous blood return). Swelling is often directly proportional to pain. The greatest swelling occurs in the first 3-4 days after surgery. Consult with your Doctor on use of lipofoam and post surgical garments. After that the swelling gradually diminishes. However, it often takes many months (or even a year for major surgery) for all of the swelling to resolve. The pain associated with swelling can vary widely. If it is not managed appropriately, it can be very uncomfortable and frustrating.