10 Points You Should Know Before Undergoing Foot or Ankle Surgery

If you have a foot or ankle condition, you may eventually need foot and ankle surgery. Before undergoing any surgery, it is important to understand some key facts:  

1. Minimally invasive surgery is available. Often, conditions can be treated with arthroscopic foot and ankle surgery, which allows the doctor to operate while creating only tiny incisions.
2. There are risks. Every surgery comes with risks, and foot and ankle surgery is no different. Some patients develop complications such as bleeding, infection, or blood clots. Your doctor will discuss the risks associated with your procedure in detail prior to the surgery.
3. There are benefits. Your doctor will only recommend surgery if he believes that the benefits of surgery outweigh the risks. Speak to your doctor about how the surgery will benefit you, and what could happen if you don’t get surgery.
4. The anticipated recovery period. Depending on the surgery, you may be out of commission for a matter of days or weeks.
5. How to minimize recovery time. There are techniques you can use to make sure your recovery period is as short as possible. For example, smoking cessation, adequate sleep, and good nutrition all help your body to heal.
6. The importance of physical therapy. Physical therapy will likely be prescribed as part of your post-surgery recovery. Physical therapy is vital to healing, and can help you regain full use of your foot and ankle.
7. How skilled your doctor is. It is important to go to a doctor who has the ability to provide high-quality care. Learn about your doctor’s experience and background, and find out about what past patients are saving about their experiences with the surgeon.
8. Your insurance coverage. Your insurance should cover the procedure. Check with your insurance provider for details about how much your deductible and copay will be, as that information will allow you to plan your finances more effectively.
9. Your financing options. You have a variety of financing options if you are not able to manage the entire cost of surgery up front. Patient financing companies, health care credit cards, and traditional credit cards are all commonly used resources. Choose what makes sense given your financial situation.
10. Your work situation. Often, patients want to arrange their surgery so that it has a minimal effect on work. For example, if possible, you can schedule your surgery near a three-day weekend or just after a big project ends.

If you have symptoms of a foot or ankle problem, it is important to contact an orthopedist early on in order to prevent the problem from getting worse over time. To schedule a consultation with Orange County’s top orthopedist, please click below and enter your information or contact Dr. Howard Marans at OC Orthopedics by calling (714) 979-8981.