Life after HyProCure:
The immediate changes
Instantly following your procedure, your ankle bone is stabilized. Your arch may be more prominent and the overall anatomy of your foot will be improved. You should be able to gently step on that foot, but will need to be careful and could benefit from the use of a cane or crutches for a few days.
Over the first few days, there will be some swelling and bruising. The amount of post-procedure pain will vary from foot to foot, and patient to patient, and is managed with anti-inflammatory and pain medication prescribed by your doctor. It is also very possible to have a period of abnormal walking while your foot adapts to its new, corrected position. Initially, it will feel as if you are walking on the outside of your foot. This is only temporary. As the healing continues, you will eventually walk more naturally.
After the first couple of weeks, most of the initial discomfort will have greatly diminished and most patients begin to walk more normally. It is important to still be very gentle on that foot since the tissues are still tender from the procedure.
The long-term benefits
Four to six weeks after the procedure, the tissues are continuing to heal. Most patients are now walking very normally and activity levels can be gradually increased. The chance of displacement after this point is very rare.
The bones, tendons and ligaments throughout your foot and the rest of your body will continue to adapt to the new positions over the following several months. Improvement will be gradual and consistent. It is during this time that most patients begin to feel relief from the many symptoms affecting them. These are very happy months, as you likely begin to feel your knee pain, hip pain, back pain, and many other symptoms decrease and possibly eventually disappear, depending on their severity.
After the first year, your body has typically fully adapted to the new conditions and your quality of life has officially improved.
Keys to a
speedy recovery
- Limit the amount of walking during the first three to five days.
- Take anti-inflammatory meds on a regular basis.
- Take pain meds only when there is significant pain not relieved by the anti-inflammatory meds.
- Ice the surgical site several times a day.
- Wear good, supportive shoes—do not wear your old shoes that you wore with your previous, abnormal foot structure. Check the outer bottom of the heel. There should be no visible wear.