Are you someone who suffered an ankle fracture 15 years ago and “healed up” but still notices that it aches or bothers you? Or perhaps you had bunion surgery a few years back and it’s “healed up” … However, you’ve eliminated certain activities ever since, knowing it’ll become symptomatic if you push it.
That’s the reality many people live with. Luckily there are many options for patients suffering from post-surgical pain, and many can be done from the comfort of your home.
(Patients should talk to their doctor before attempting any of the suggestions in this article)
These include passive and active exercise motions commonly performed at physical therapy facilities. Depending on the body part and injury, things like assisted movements using partial weight bearing, full ROM exercises against resistance targeting concentric/eccentric phases, and balance and agility drills can all be very beneficial for long-term relief.
All of these have one theme in common à Move it or lose it!
One of the pillars and principles of podiatric surgery is early mobilization after surgery (at the surgeons’ discretion). I commonly suggest that the patient go to two or three physical therapy sessions and build their own at-home routine with the therapist. From there, you will have a foundation that you can build on and evolve.
You may need to pop a few Ibuprofens after one or two sessions. There may be a few wincing moments… but the human body was meant to go.
So, get up my brothers and sisters and go. Go, and may the wind always be at your back!
The Podiatry Doctors
