• Numbness in your foot. This should go away within 24 hours.

• Pain.

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.

• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if your condition improves.

• Ask your health care provider if the medicine prescribed to you:

  • Requires you to avoid driving or using heavy machinery.

  • Can cause constipation. You may need to take these actions to prevent or treat constipation:

    • Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.

    • Take over-the-counter or prescription medicines.

    • Eat foods that are high in fiber, such as beans, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

    • Limit foods that are high in fat and processed sugars, such as fried and sweet foods.

If you have a splint or boot:

• Wear the splint or boot as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider.

• Loosen it if your toes tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.

• Keep it clean and dry.

If you have a cast:

• Do not put pressure on any part of the cast until it is fully hardened. This may take several hours.

• Do not stick anything inside the cast to scratch your skin. Doing that increases your risk of infection.

• Check the skin around the cast every day. Tell your health care provider about any concerns.

• You may put lotion on dry skin around the edges of the cast. Do not put lotion on the skin underneath the cast.

• Keep it clean and dry.

Bathing

• Do not take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you may take showers. You may only be allowed to take sponge baths.

• If the splint, boot, or cast is not waterproof:

  • Do not let it get wet.

  • Cover it with a watertight covering when you take a bath or a shower.

Incision care

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your incision. Make sure you:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water before and after you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.

  • Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.

  • Leave stitches (sutures) or staples in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer.

• If you have a removable splint or boot, check your incision area every day for signs of infection. Check for:

  • More redness, swelling, or pain.

  • Fluid or blood.

  • Warmth.

  • Pus or a bad smell.

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

• If directed, put ice on the injured area. To do this:

  • If you have a removable splint or boot, remove it as told by your health care provider.

  • Put ice in a plastic bag.

  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag or between your cast and the bag.

  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.

• Move your toes often to reduce stiffness and swelling.

• Raise (elevate) your leg above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.

Activity

• Do not walk on or put weight on your injured leg. Use crutches or another walking aid, such as a walking boot.

• Follow instructions from your health care provider on how to move your ankle and how much weight you can put on your leg. If you have a cast, boot, or splint, you should receive these instructions after it is removed.

• Follow your rehab plan. Do exercises as told by your health care provider or physical therapist.

• Do not return to physical activity or sports until you are cleared by your health care provider or physical therapist.

General instructions

• Ask your health care provider when it is safe to drive if you have a splint, boot, or cast on your leg.

• See a physical therapist if directed by your health care provider.

• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and chewing tobacco. These can delay incision healing after surgery. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.

• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important. If you have a cast or splint, your health care provider will remove it about 2 weeks after surgery. If you have sutures, they will also be removed during this time.