Frequent Questions for Foot & Ankle Surgery

The full recovery process from an Achilles tendon surgery can vary in length depending on a variety of factors, including the severity of the injury, the type of surgery selected, the skill of the surgeon, your overall physical health, your dedication to following instructions for post-operative care, and more. In other words, your mileage may vary.

In terms of being able to return to weight-bearing activity without needing a cast or walking boot, a typical timeline is roughly six weeks. However, this is not the same thing as a “full recovery.” You’ll still likely need some exercise and physical therapy to restore strength and range-of-motion to pre-injury levels, and you’ll still need time before you can make a return to “full activity,” including vigorous running or sports participation. Six months is a reasonable timeframe here, although that may be faster for healthy patients who are disciplined with rehab.

Despite the length of recovery time, surgery is often the best choice for the long-term health and happiness of patients who suffer an Achilles rupture. To see if surgery is right for you, please contact Dr. Keith McSpadden at North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute at 512-593-2949.

Whenever a surgical procedure is necessary to treat a condition, it is only natural to want to recover from the process as soon as possible. If you want to recover from surgery quickly, the best place to start is to follow our instructions. Too many patients disregard doctor orders, or only follow some of them, when simply following them would lead to a quicker recovery process.

Beyond taking our advice and recommendations, discussing the procedure with us beforehand and asking as many questions as you need will help you prepare for your post-surgical recovery time. This will also help as you make plans for your discharge, like ensuring you have a ride if one is needed.

If you or any of your loved ones require a surgical procedure to treat an existing condition or injury, North Austin Foot & Ankle Institute is here to help. We will always attempt to use nonsurgical treatment methods first, but sometimes surgery is the best course of action to restore mobility and eliminate pain. Contact our practice today through our online form or by calling our Cedar Park office at (512) 593-2949 or our Round Rock, TX office at (512) 960-4290.

A certain amount of scarring is normal after bunion surgery, particularly if more extensive procedures need to be employed. Our No. 1 goal is to get your feet working again without pain—if a larger surgery with more potential for scarring is warranted, that’s what we’ll recommend.

That said, scarring after bunion surgery is generally quite minimal, especially when Dr. McSpadden is your surgeon. There are a couple of reasons for that. First, he is highly trained in minimal incision surgical techniques—smaller incisions mean faster healing and less scarring. Second, he is also trained in plastic surgery techniques (such as intracuticular sutures, skin flaps, and skin grafts) and frequently incorporates them into his procedures to achieve an ideal cosmetic result.

We understand that, while your (and our) top concern is pain relief and return to activity, you also want to look your best! That’s why we work hard to minimize the amount of scarring associated with surgery. To learn more or set up an appointment, please give us a call at (512) 593-2949.