How Long You Will Have to Stay Off of Your Surgical Foot

The length of time you will need to stay off your foot or “non-weight bearing” depends on your procedure. The timeframe may also vary dependent on your health and individual case.

Below are estimates on how long you will have stay off your surgical foot by procedure:

Toes (Bunion, Hammer Toe, Claw Toe)

• No weight bearing for 24 hours for anesthesia to wear off
• Weight bear on a flat foot for 6 weeks in your post op shoe (not on toes or ball of foot)

Nerve (Neuroma)

• You may bear weight as you can tolerate after anesthesia wears off
• You will use post op shoe until your stitches are out
• Remember to move your foot and toes in all directions for exercise

Front of Your Arch (Metatarsal Osteotomy Bunion)

• No weight bearing for 4 weeks while wearing a splint for 1 week and then a cast for 3 weeks
• After 4 weeks you may gradually bear weight while wearing a boot
• You may wear a shoe at about 8 weeks after your surgery

Back of Your Arch & Under Your Ankle

• No weight bearing for 6 weeks while wearing a splint for 1 week and then a cast for 5 weeks
• After 6 weeks you may gradually bear weight while wearing a boot
• You may wear a shoe at about 12 weeks after surgery

Repairing Your Achilles Tendon

• No weight bearing for 3 weeks while wearing a splint or cast
• You may gradually bear weight with a boot and a heel lift at 3 weeks
• You may wear a shoe at about 8 weeks after surgery

Reattaching Your Achilles Tendon

• No weight bearing for 6 weeks
• You will transition from a cast to a boot at about 4 weeks

Total Ankle Replacement

• No weight bearing for 4 weeks while wearing a splint or cast
• After 4 weeks you can gradually bear weight while wearing a boot
• You can wear a shoe at about 8 weeks