Dr. Mike Werner is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA and completed his residency at Albany Medical College, Albany, NY. He then performed a Foot and Ankle Fellowship at the Campbell Clinic in Memphis, TN. After his Fellowship, he returned to the Central Pennsylvania area to join the Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania in 2004.
He is a native of Wilkes-Barre, PA and currently resides in the Camp Hill area.
He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, and the Pennsylvania Medical Society.
He is an active staff member of Holy Spirit Hospital, Pinnacle Health Hospitals, and also performs surgery at the Grandview Surgery and Laser Center. Please take a moment to view the Frequently Asked Questions page regarding foot and ankle surgery. For information regarding possible complications following surgery, please read Dr. Werner's article.
Dr. Werner has also made numerous radio appearances with "Medical Matters" on WHP580 talk radio, Harrisburg, PA.
Frequently Asked Questions after Surgery
Introduction
Patients frequently have similar questions after surgery. Sometimes these questions cause frustration and unnecessary worry. Therefore, we have listed commonly asked questions with our answers to help relieve extra stress that may occur after surgery.
Questions and Answers
What should I do if my foot hurts after surgery?
You will be given pain medicine that is very strong. This medicine is a narcotic and is addictive in nature. However, you do not need to worry that you will become addicted while taking it for a very short time.
The medicines we frequently use are Percocet, Vicodin, Demerol, and Darvocet
N-100. The night after surgery, you may take two of these tablets every 2-3 hours as needed. Usually by the second or third day after surgery, your foot will begin to feel better, and you will require much less pain medicine. Sometimes if you wait until the pain is very severe before taking the medicine, the pill will not work immediately and may take up to one hour before you start to feel some relief. Therefore, we recommend that you start the medication even with mild pain when you first get home after surgery.
Limiting your walking for the first three days and elevating your foot above your heart will do a lot to improve your pain. In addition, you may put a towel over the bandage and apply a bag of ice to your foot for twenty minutes of every hour.
What should I do about nausea and vomiting?
Many patients have nausea after surgery when taking pain medicines. If you can, start with an over-the-counter Benadryl pill every four hours. If you can’t hold anything down, we may have to prescribe a medicine in suppository form. Please contact our office for help.
Should I walk on my foot or do I need crutches?
After most surgeries, you will be given crutches or a walker. Most patients find that using crutches or a walker for the first week after surgery makes walking more comfortable. You may be allowed to put weight on the heel of your foot. Often the foot hurts with weight on it without causing harm to the surgery. Some patients should not place any weight on their foot. If this is the case, we will instruct you not to walk at all on your foot. Please use crutches or walker until told otherwise.
How long do I have to wear the stiff-soled shoe or splint?
You should wear the stiff-soled shoe or splint when walking or hopping until we instruct you otherwise. The stiff-soled shoe adds much needed support for your foot and your surgery can be severely damaged if you walk without it.
When will the numbness wear off from my foot?
We usually numb your foot for surgery. Sometimes it takes twenty-four hours for the numbness to go away. You may continue to have some numbness in your toes after this time because the nerves can be slightly bruised during surgery. Occasionally the numbness in the toes will last for several months, but should not cause alarm.
What do I do about swelling around my toes and behind my bandage?
ALL patients have significant swelling around their bandage and foot after surgery. Many times the toes will turn black and blue. This swelling will last for several months. After surgery, you should elevate your foot higher than your heart to decrease swelling. This is particularly critical for the first three days after surgery. Increased swelling puts increased pressure on the edges of the incision and may cause it to split slightly. Once the wound is healed, the swelling will not harm your surgery. If you are concerned about significant swelling or redness, please call for an appointment.
How do I know if my foot is infected?
Many patients will have a slight drainage of yellowish fluid for several weeks after surgery. This does not mean that your foot is infected. Severe wound infections occur from five to ten days after surgery. If you notice extreme swelling, increased pain, or extreme redness, please contact us immediately. Usually if we treat an infection early with antibiotics, future surgery can be avoided.
When can I drive?
You may drive when you can comfortably put weight on your foot. You will be given guidance, but this is a decision only you can make. Please be sure that you are comfortable putting pressure on your foot and be certain that you are always wearing your stiff-soled shoe when driving. Since I do not operate a driving test center, I tell all patients the same thing. Please go to a high school parking lot or church after hours and practice with someone before driving on public roads.
When are the pins removed from my foot?
We often use pins to hold your toes in proper alignment. You will notice the tip of the pin with a small cap protruding from the end of your operated toes. Please feel free to touch this pin, and if you bump it on bed covers, or on a hard object, do not worry because this will not damage your surgery. If the pins start to come out, DO NOT push them back into your toes due to risk of infection. Pins are taken out in the office much like stitches in three to four weeks.
What do I do if I feel the bandage is too tight?
The bandage is placed in a very specific fashion and should be snug to decrease swelling in the foot. However, if your dressing feels entirely too tight, you may split it slightly along the inside and outside borders of the foot. If you have a splint with an ACE wrap, you may undo and loosen the ACE wrap only. Please do not remove your bandage totally since it is placed in a sterile fashion.
Complications
What are the possible complications with surgery?What could go wrong? What may not be right?
These are all good questions. No surgery is without risks. Surgery should not be a decision taken lightly. Intelligent people want to try all non-operative treatment options before resorting to surgery. Risks vary from minor to devastating. Fortunately, devastating complications are rare, but can still occur. Nothing is guaranteed. It is important to know that sometimes there are risks from not taking action. Sometimes the risks of not having surgery outweigh the risks of the surgery itself.
We call this the risk-to-benefit ratio. Ultimately, the decision to proceed with surgery is a decision only you can make in consultation with your physician. It is recommended that you talk to your doctor about the actual risks as they pertain to your specific surgery and medical conditions and their treatment.
Examples of possible complications include the following:
- Wound healing problems
- Pain despite having surgery
- Blood flow problems
- Joint stiffness
- Bone not healing or not healing in good alignment
- Blood clot
- Anesthetic complications
- Need for a blood transfusion
- Infection
- Nerve problems
- Recurrence of deformity
- Prolonged swelling
- Loss of limb
- Medical complications ie: heart attack or stroke
- Death