What happens after the surgery?

Before you leave the hospital, your toes will be wrapped in bandages to hold them in place and you will receive instructions on maintaining those dressings and on wearing a special post-surgical shoe to protect your foot. You may need to use a cane or crutches for the first several days and to be careful about putting weight on your foot. You should try to keep your foot elevated and treated with ice as directed for several days. While your stitches may be removed in a couple of weeks, you will continue to need to utilize the bandages and shoe for as long as eight weeks. You should plan on wearing athletic shoes or soft leather shoes — and no high heels — for several months once your bandages have been removed. Your doctor may prescribe exercises to improve the range-of-motion of your toes, such as stretching them and picking up objects such as marbles and handkerchiefs with them.

Wear roomier shoes

• Seek out shoes that conform to the shape of your feet as much as possible and provide plenty of room in the toe box, ensuring that your toes are not pinched or squeezed.
• Make sure that, while standing, there is a half inch of space for your longest toe at the end of each shoe.
• Make sure the ball of your foot fits comfortably in the widest part of the shoe.
• Since feet normally swell during the course of the day, shop for shoes at the end of the day, when your feet are at their largest.
• Don’t be vain about your shoe size — sizes vary by brand, so concentrate on making certain your shoes are comfortable.
• Remember that your two feet are very likely to be different sizes and fit your shoe size to the larger foot.

Don’t wear high-heel shoes

• Avoid high heels, which shift all your body weight onto your toes, increasing the pressure on your toes and their joints tremendously.
• Wear shoes with low (less than two inches) or flat heels that fit your foot comfortably.