Follow the doctor’s post-surgery directions. Your foot and ankle doctor also tells you to:
Lose weight before the surgery to reduce the pressure on your lower extremities
Arrange for a ride home once you’re released after the procedure
Ask someone to stay with you for the first 24 hours if you live alone
Create safe spaces in your home so you don’t trip or fall
Following your procedure, you likely have to wear a cast or a boot for at least a couple weeks. You slowly regain strength in your ankles through physical therapy sessions. Pushing yourself too fast can result in another injury, derailing your recovery. You can resume normal low-impact activities after a couple weeks, but depending on the severity of your treatment, it may take as long as a year until you’re completely recovered.