Managing Pain After Haglund’s Deformity Surgery – What to Expect and Tips for Relief

Updated on: January 17, 2024

Make the recovery phase after Haglund’s deformity surgery a breeze. Learn tips and tricks for managing pain after Haglund’s deformity surgery to gain strength and range of motion in the foot in record time. Understand what lies ahead and how the whole experience can be less uncomfortable.

Once the surgery is completed, moderate to severe pain can occur when the anesthetic wears off. The key to managing discomfort is following the surgeon’s instructions, taking prescribed pain management medications, avoiding weight-bearing exercises, and keeping the foot in a proper position. Applying ice packs will be helpful with swelling and discomfort as well.

What Can Be the Source of Pain?

Typically, patients experience incision site discomfort and tissue trauma from the surgical techniques used. The tissue is also inflamed and irritated, but the symptoms are expected to subside within the first week post-op.

The Nature of the Surgical Procedure

Haglund’s deformity surgery, known as calcaneoplasty, entails a couple of techniques that can be used to treat the condition. These entail:

Open calcaneoplasty,
Endoscopic calcaneoplasty,
Zadek surgery,
Ultrasound-guided calcaneoplasty.

Depending on what procedure was performed, the patient can either experience less pain and a faster healing process or a prolonged healing time. It’s generally seen that less invasive procedures translate to less trauma and less discomfort.

Body’s Natural Response to Trauma

The body has an intricately designed way of responding to trauma. The tissue repair and healing process is initiated through inflammation. As the symptoms begin to subside, it will be evident that recovery is succeeding. Patients should not hamper the process by avoiding wearing the post-op shoe and beginning with weight-bearing and walking too early.

Is There Immediate Post-Surgical Pain?

Yes, there is. The patient will feel it as soon as the anesthetic wears off after a couple of hours. In case the ache is too severe, additional pain medications will be prescribed.

Does the Pain Appear in the Early Recovery Phase?

Aches and pains are key elements of the early recovery process, which takes place during the first two weeks post-op. It has been noticed that these symptoms subside within the first week, even though discomfort can linger throughout the entire recovery.

What Are the Potential Pain-Related Complications?

Complications following the procedure can present themselves through aches and pains. The risks patients should be aware of are infection, nerve damage, Achilles tendon rupture, and pain syndrome. The surgeon should be notified about this during the consultations.

Watch for the Signs of Infection

Infection following this type of procedure is not frequent – only 5% of individuals are affected. The tell-tale signs are swelling, redness, tenderness to touch, and throbbing pain. If a deeper infection arises, a secondary surgical procedure may be necessary; the same applies to an occurrence of infection after bunion surgery.

What Are Effective Pain Management Techniques?

Alleviate the discomfort with pain management techniques that will help with speeding up your overall recovery process:

Take medication like ibuprofen and acetaminophen,
Go to physical therapy regularly,
Use ice packs,
Massage the affected area,
Rest the foot,
Avoid walking and weight-bearing,
Use topical analgesics.

When Should You Seek Professional Help?

Patients are advised to get the wound inspected by a doctor when the pain is persistent and severe. It can be a sign of an onset of chronic pain and nerve damage. Having the symptoms treated right away can help with minimizing the issues.

Go Over the Possible Complications With Your Doctor in Miami

Before the procedure, make sure that you are aware of all the complications and the exact flow of the recovery. The best way to be confident in the upcoming surgery is to be informed, and at the Luxe Foot Surgery clinic, we make sure our patients are knowledgeable about every detail. Have our doctor examine your issue and develop a safe treatment plan. We recommend contacting us right away and scheduling a consultation.