Having a long toe can sometimes be very problematic, especially if you lead an active lifestyle. That’s why many with this issue opt to undergo surgery. However, before you book your appointment, it’s important to get familiar with the toe shortening surgery recovery time. The more careful you are, the better the final outcome will be, and you’ll be able to get back to your everyday activities without experiencing pain or any long toe-related problems.
What Is the Average Toe Shortening Surgery Recovery Time?
In most cases, the full recovery will take about six weeks for healthy people, and unfortunately, there is no way to speed up this process. If you try to get back to working out, running, or other activities that will put wounded feet under pressure, you might disturb the recovery process and cause even bigger problems. This is why you should gradually get back to normal activities starting from 2 to 3 weeks after the surgery. During this period, you are supposed to return to your everyday routine by doing some physical exercises that will help your foot and toe settle into the proper position.
What Is the Week-by-Week Timeline of the Recovery?
Toe shortening recovery time is the same as recovery from hammertoe surgery. In general, it depends on the method of performing surgery. For the majority of people, a complete healing period lasts approximately six weeks. If the surgery isn’t complicated, some patients are even back in their shoes in two weeks, but they won’t be able to start doing every activity right away. Healing age might be prolonged by many factors, such as:
- Age,
- Smoking,
- General health,
- Nutritional status,
- Other medical problems and chronic disease.
What Should You Expect During the Recovery?
Recovery time after this procedure depends on many factors, but in most cases, it isn’t too long and beats the negative consequences of an untreated long toe. Recovery should not be painful, so this isn’t something you should worry about. Even if you experience some pain, it should be limited to 48 hours after the surgery, and your doctor will prescribe you some painkillers for this period.
The swelling and pain should decrease after that, but if they don’t, and the situation gets worse, this might be a sign of poor healing, infection, or some other problem, so you should definitely consult with your doctor about the next steps. After two to three weeks, you should be able to get back in your shoes, and once the six weeks pass, you should be able to get back to your usual routine.
You Should Watch Out for Signs of Infection
It is rare for patients to get an infection after this surgery, but it can occur if the surgeon isn’t careful or the patient doesn’t follow the recovery steps. No matter the case, symptoms of infection are clearly visible, so it won’t be hard to notice them and recognize that you have a problem that needs to be fixed right away.
For example, you might notice that your foot is red and swollen, as well as experience pain and itching in this area. If you are worried about your condition and notice that these symptoms are getting worse, you must consult with a specialist and start taking the prescribed medications. With proper therapy, these symptoms will go away quickly, and your recovery will continue.
What Is Long-Term Care After the Toe Shortening Surgery?
If you had this procedure and properly recovered from it, the condition shouldn’t come back. However, you may still experience some other issues if you don’t take care of your feet properly. This means that you should wear comfortable shoes, be careful with activities that put a lot of pressure on your feet, and try living an overall healthier lifestyle.
Consult With Your Surgeon About the Toe Shortening Surgery Recovery Process
It is important that patients follow all the specialists’ instructions because, in the end, only this will lead to full recovery. If you don’t stay calm and patient, you might cause unnecessary complications that will lead to a longer recovery. The more responsible you stay, the better your progress will be, and you can expect excellent results in the shortest possible time.
If you’re curious about possible toe shortening surgery risks, estimated surgery costs, or want more details about this procedure, you can always book an appointment at Luxe Foot Surgery clinic and get all the information. One of our experienced specialists can explain all the recovery steps and how long the process might take, so feel free to contact us directly or send an inquiry through our website.
FAQ
Can You Walk After Toe Shortening Surgery?
You can’t walk immediately after toe-shortening surgery, but if your recovery is going well, you should be able to get back into your shoes in two to three weeks. Just make sure you don’t put too much pressure on your feet until the recovery process is done.
What Happens After Toe Shortening Surgery?
After toe shortening surgery, your bones should be realigned, so your long toe should be shorter than it was before. In most cases, this will reduce pain and make your feet look more symmetrical. You should also be prepared for a recovery period of about six weeks.
How Long After Toe Surgery Can I Walk?
Once the toe shortening surgery is done, you should be able to walk again in about two to three weeks. After six weeks, when your recovery process is over, you can participate in all the activities without any worries – if the recovery process goes well.
How Long Is Toe Shortening Surgery?
This isn’t a very complicated surgery and usually lasts for about 25 to 30 minutes. In some more complicated cases, it can take a few hours, but this is very uncommon.
