How to Properly Elevate Your Foot and Ankle After a Surgery

Dr. Paul Steinke demonstrates how to properly elevate your foot and ankle after a surgery to help prevent swelling and promote healing.
This video is for educational and informational purposes. It is not a diagnosis, and it is not necessarily medical advice every person and their situation. This video was performed by a licensed and board-certified foot and ankle physician. If you are concerned about a possible medical condition, a treatment plan, or if you have questions about your medical care, please contact a trusted medical professional.
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Foot and Ankle Associates of North Texas (FAANT) practice philosophy is to be there “For Your Feet - Wherever They May Take You”. We are a group of like-minded foot and ankle surgeons, Dr. Clifford Bliss, Dr. Adriana Karpati, Dr. Lauren Pruner, Dr. Nathan Stickney, & Dr. Paul Steinke, who strive for excellence. Our two full-service clinics are located in Grapevine and Keller, Texas. Our physicians are all extensively trained and offer your family state-of-the-art technology and training coupled with common sense and compassion. We strive to educate our patients and partner with them in their quest for overall foot health.

[@BeComingNyrell]

When you bring that leg down from elevation-say to get up or go to the bathroom KNOW THAT YOU WILL NEED A MINUTE after the blood rushes back to that foot!

[@mahnli]

It's horrible!!

[@BeComingNyrell]

@@mahnli I know love I pray you a speedy healthy and safe recovery ❤️‍🩹 😘

[@marcosmolina8638]

Good stuff to know I just got surgery today thanks.👍

[@mahnli]

@@marcosmolina8638 take care! Elevate, elevate, elevate! Hope you recover quickly!

[@BeComingNyrell]

@@marcosmolina8638 you are welcome well wishes on your recovery!

[@joewright219]

I had surgery two weeks ago. The surgeon and none of the staff told me anything about elevating my foot after the surgery. I got basically no instructions on how to do it or for how long or how important it is. I’m finding out after the fact that I’ve been doing everything pretty much wrong. Thank you for this video.

[@jinna0512]

Exactly. I was told NOTHING

[@ashleymartin8995]

I didn’t get much direction either

[@mikemadsen7926]

I'm in a hospital bed right now with no direction my leg is completely swollen and lifeless I'm looking for a solution

[@joewright219]

@@mikemadsen7926 it sounds like they’ve probably given you a nerve block. It can take several days for it to wear off. It will be very frustrating not being able to move your foot. it will almost be painful, but more aggravating. The first couple of weeks you’re probably gonna wanna stay off of it and elevate it completely. Only getting up to use the restroom. After that, follow your doctors instructions. Some doctors want you to walk on it as much as you can. Do not overdo it. If you start walking on it, use crutches and put no weight on it to begin with. Just kind of let your foot work through the motion. Do that for for about an entire week. Then add 25% weight the next week. 50% weight the following week And keep adding until you get full weight. If it any point, it starts hurting worse then back up, let it rest a few few days and then start again putting weight on it again. It will take a frustratingly long time for it to stop hurting. it took three months before I was not constantly hurting. It took about six months before I could walk without any kind of pain. Unfortunately, they don’t explain all of this to you before surgery. But you will get better. Take your time go through the process.

[@joewright219]

@@mikemadsen7926 over the next couple of weeks to get as much sleep as you can. Your body heals while you are sleeping. I can’t tell you how important it is to get sleep. Don’t apologize for it. Nothing is more important than getting sleep. Your life will wait. You’ll be able to get back to itprioritize healing right now

[@Bloodworthdeb4869]

Great informative video🤗 Thanks

[@dgamble511]

very helpful

[@firepatriot42]

Wow, all these comments saying they were given no post operative instructions boggles the mind. After surgery the post operative staff made sure I understood the instructions and went over them withe one which included how to properly elevate the ankle for preventing swelling and blood clots.

[@MsAfrica757]

Thank you so much I was doing it so wrong

[@PC4ever]

thank you

[@gepettataylor3424]

Thank you

[@joycevasquez8430]

Thank you so much for this information. I just got surgery today, and I wanted to know if I was doing the elevation correctly. Greetings from USA.

[@life.in.generalwithalissa1418]

Had surgery yesterday!

[@nabilaesat398]

Thank you for this video! I had my right atfl repair done a few days back - tonight is my first night back at home and finding it incredibly hard to find a good position to sleep in even though I was used to sleeping on my back with my foot elevated on two pillows!

[@marcosmolina8638]

Thanks nice to know I just got surgery today.

[@RAHUL-eg4uz]

How is your ankle now bcz i also had a week ago

[@SM-TheSven]

I know this is 2yrs old but I just got mine repaired amongst some other things and checking the outpatient notes and doesn’t specify nor do I recall exactly because I was on a bunch of fenty. Hopefully yours healed up!!

[@fourftr]

Been doing that, my question, I’m in my sixth week after ankle tendon and ligament surgery If I have no swelling do I have to maintain elevation

[@danielwendel9016]

Thank you! Just had surgery on my foot yesterday and was uncertain about this. Very much appreciated!

[@stephunknown1675]

same young man

[@danielwendel9016]

@@stephunknown1675 young man... lol in my mid 30s

[@stephunknown1675]

sorry if i offended you in anyway

[@ingodwetrust7648]

I'll be 40 next year and I would love to still be called a young man..huge compliment my way.lol 😁

[@KatWrangler]

How can a broken femur (comminuted distal demur fractures) be elevated from a sitting position at work?

[@robertdriggers379]

I just had hernia surgery 6 days ago and noticed today my ankles were swollen. I was never given any instructions like this. I watched another video and it was very similar to yours. The only thing the surgical team did was put these inflatable things around both ankles to avoid blood clots. Thank you for making this video. My son who is a website developer googled my surgeon's name and out of 4 review sites his highest rating was 2.5 stars out of 5! My surgeon was terrible so don't make the same mistake I did. Get a highly rated surgeon to work on you. I trusted my surgeon(without researching) because I was referred to him by my primary care physician.

[@FAANT]

I'm glad you found our video to be helpful! Good luck in your recovery!

[@kristinavargas8919]

Gw tcwby2fb egqx3vs r e y y e 3vw zd s 4cs t axexcecy s t ac5ve

[@wellsivania]

I had a fracture joint bone . My question is. If i have to elevate my foot with the boot on it? And if i have to sleep with the foot elevation? Thanks

[@user-xi1to4ph6s]

Is that applied for bunion surgery

[@SomaliAbdi18]

Sir i got an ankle sprain from football which one of my friend tackled me i don't if its grade 2 or not but i got a swoll and some pain the first 2 days i was able to walk but not the normal walk also feeling some little pain and the swoll is still there and the 3rd day i feel like i can walk little bit normal but there is still swoll or swell i got from first may which was monday night and the swoll from that night and its 2 days now the swoll a little keeping down it just only on the ankle so what do you recommend i don have experiamce its my first time to get ankle sprain and also its my first time to get injury in football after 15yrs. My country is in the low level stage where i can't equipments and medicines. I know my english is some how broke but i try my best wish yu understand my aim waiting yur response thank yu sir🤝

[@comodice905]

Why does it keep swelling months after surg. When does it stop

[@amandapanda4036]

Had my Achilles tearing operated on today and removal of heel spur. When does the numbness in my toes go away. It’s freaking me out!

[@dmgsoultogetherness6667]

can someone tell me why the blood rushes to my lower leg/ ankle when i stand the pain is intense and i fear for my soft tissue and blood vessels.....i had ankle fracture 10days ago...is it even normal.feels like its going to explode

[@kimthatsallyouneedtoknow5684]

I'm 40 something and 6 weeks post ankle break. (no surgery) Had cast for 4 weeks and although I was told to 'elevate' it by my orthopedic doctor I wasn't told what that really meant. I sat around a lot of time in my wheelchair with my foot in a seated position while in a cast and then just propped up on couch but never as high as it should have been. Now I'm 6 weeks post break (just learning how to properly elevate) and still have bad swelling and what I'm almost sure is tarsal nerve compression or issues because I wasn't informed properly by my doctor. I'm regaining a little flexibility but the intense pain/sensations in my toes and bottom of foot is so bad I can't put any pressure at all on it =( I wish all orthopedic doctors would slow down and take their time with patients to make sure the patient fully understands the importance of elevation and how to properly do it. I'm extremely worried now about my nerve damage and have no desire to go back to my orthopedic doctor because I don't feel like he had my best interests in mind, but rather rushing to get a waiting room full of people dealt with =(

[@dmgsoultogetherness6667]

im glad you mentioned this..when i stand up or try to put my foot down,the pain and pressure in the soft tissue is terrible..is that just part of the healing or is it damaging the blood vessels..i fear i will get compartment syndrome

[@kimthatsallyouneedtoknow5684]

@@dmgsoultogetherness6667 hopefully it heals properly for you, I don't know anything because my specific orthopedic doctors office was horrible at explaining anything or helping me when I had questions. I went to my family doctor yesterday who was concerned and is ordering an MRI.

[@thecook8964]

Elevation is not precise, higher than your hip is

[@DrunkTalkin]

Is lying on your belly with the leg in the air still elevating it? I have a walking boot on, and find it hard to rest it on pillows at that height. Advice appreciated thank you!

[@JimRudman]

I find it better to not wear my boot for much of the day, if I don't have to move around.

[@dmgsoultogetherness6667]

i do this tooo

[@sashasazama5279]

Thanks for the video. I know it's a little old, but it's still helping a lot of us out. Lol. Nervous for my 'not planned ankle surgery.' 🤦🏽‍♀

[@FAANT]

We are so glad this video was helpful! Hope you have a quick and healthy recovery from surgery!

[@stillsake]

how was surgery??

[@user-rm7yc2kr6y]

I had surgery yesterday thank you for telling me how to prop it up

[@cdub3019]

Yes and ice and compression really, really helps. I had foot surgery Monday and I've been elevating and icing and compressing religiously, my doctor told me ice for 2 hours, off for one. I go this Monday for a follow-up, I hope I've been encouraging my foot to heal as much as possible 😬

[@user-rm7yc2kr6y]

@@cdub3019 are muscle spasms normal?

[@cdub3019]

@@user-rm7yc2kr6y they could be for you if you are prone to them, additionally, depending on the type of surgery and where it was located it could be a reaction of the disturbed body tissues and nerves coming back to life. I would call and ask my doctor if I were you, just to be on the safe side

[@cdub3019]

@@user-rm7yc2kr6y sorry, I responded earlier but the reply didn't load, I guess. Muscle spasms may be normal for you, if you are already prone to them. Also, it could be that the muscles and nerves are reacting to being disturbed during the surgery, depending on the particular surgery and where on the leg/foot it was performed. It could also be the nerves and muscles waking back up after the nerve block wears off. However, it never hurts to detail what js happening and then communicating these concerns to your doctor. You can never be too safe when it comes to post-surgery issues.

[@user-rm7yc2kr6y]

@@cdub3019 okay thank you

[@francescakray233]

Monday Nineteenth of December Two Thousand And Twenty-Two. 19.36pm. Dear Sir. Good-evening. How are you? I hope you are well. Thank you, for your wonderful video. Very useful. 🙂

[@wowitzkate]

Teehee thanks for the date

[@rushellwilson4121]

I got surgery on my heel and ankle and it hurts when I put it like that. Even on a pillow

[@noorshadid1527]

Why does my foot hurt more when I elevate? It also starts throbbing with pain whenever I lay down and elevate, especially at night.

[@rushellwilson4121]

Same here. Any tips?

[@carla5ish]

My surgeons nurse says it’s because of swelling from all the activity done throughout the day. I have really bad nerve pain and I had asked why it’s so bad at night

[@user-rm7yc2kr6y]

I get muscle spasms mainly at night with my ankle but I just had surgery yesterday so I’m hoping no more muscle spasms

[@BruceLeeroy7]

Little concerned urgant care splinted me until my Ortho appointment,but said nothing of elevating until then.

[@Beth9228]

I broken my left ankle over 10 and a 1/2 years ago in a bad car accident. I had reconstructive surgery on that ankle. I still have a plate and a few screws in that ankle. I’m always careful in not hurting that ankle. Just a little bit over 5 years ago that I fallen just outside of my apartment and had a bad sprained ankle in that fall. I thought that I broke my ankle when I was trying to get up a couple times. I torn a ligament in my right ankle. It did swelled up and was black and blue with bruises. It was the wrist sprained ankle that I even had.

[@TheRojasjoshua48]

Is it true that vitamin C helps with bone and ligament tissue repair??

[@ijakeme]

No it's not true, vitamin C will just keep your skin smooth. Homemade chicken broth or chicken stock helps with bone and ligament tissue repair

[@fourftr]

IJakeMe your wrong Vtamin C is the only supplement to heal tendons and ligaments

[@bluetigerbunnybarnett8613]

I just broke the end of my Fibula near my ankle three days ago, and I need surgery on it because its a spiral fracture. My foot and ankle are pretty swollen still, and when I elevate it for to long it hurts ALOT. the only thing that helps is to swing my leg over the edge of my bed. although it helps I feel like thats the wrong thing to do. Any advice? its really hard to find information for this specific of an injury :/

[@FAANT]

Hopefully your leg has been immobilized by a boot/cast/ or most commonly a splint, this will help alleviate some of the pain. Pain should actually reduce with elevation, as long as it is not higher than your heart, and the device that has been applied to immobilize is not rubbing against your area of pain. A pillow behind the calf can help avoid pressure to your injury site. Icing behind the knee for 30 minutes of every hour can help too, but no longer than 30 minutes as this can cause skin irritation. Calling your physician would be recommended, especially since you have surgery in the near future, and they have more information about your condition. Good luck to you on your surgery and we hope you have a quick recovery!

[@im18yay]

@@FAANTWhat should do if it’s late and the orthopedic office is closed? My boyfriend dislocated his ankle and some days he feels no pain when his leg is elevated and other days he’s in so much pain even with medication. Is this normal?

[@RandomTamilgirl]

After 8 weeks of surgery I broke my tibia fibula I'm unable to walk , not able to lift the leg Pls help !!!! Your reply will greatly help me

[@MrJkennedy12345]

Hi Ramya, I had a compound fracture of my tibia and fibula that occurred late July, 2018. I’m not able to bare any weight right now as I’m just 2 months post op fixed with an intramedullary rod and nail. How are you doing? I still have a lot of swelling near my ankle and pain when the blood rushes when I stand up.

[@dmgsoultogetherness6667]

@@MrJkennedy12345 can i ask what the blood rushing pain is....i hate it..after my ankle fracture it scares me that i may be damaging the nerves and tissue thanks

[@MrJkennedy12345]

@@dmgsoultogetherness6667 Hi! Blood rush is when your foot is elevated, like on a pillow or something, and when you put your leg down to walk away/crutch etc., your blood rushes to the injury site and the excited, damaged nerves become super sensitive. It feels similar to a thousands fire ants biting the damaged area ☹️. I still feel it slightly 4 years after the injury when I take hot showers or stand still for too long!

[@HarjinderSingh-gf7yq]

Pls talk in Hindi,

[@wowitzkate]

No.

[@Soulcalibur24]

Bruh who the fk is sleeping in chair

[@pottymouthmexican]

I heard it has to be elevated above your heart level.

[@thecook8964]

.