0 to 3 weeks	You will have weekly dressing changes at the clinic. Continue to wear your wooden shoes whenever you are on your feet. Elevate your feet above your waist as much as possible. Keep your dressings clean and dry.
3 to 6 weeks	You will be given specific instructions on the use of an ace wrap around the surgical site and toe. This wrap should be worn at all times except in bed. A toe spacer will be dispensed if necessary to hold the toe in good alignment. The wooden shoes are discontinued at 3 to 4 weeks and a jogging shoe (Nike, Saucony, New Balance) will be worn. The shoe should be purchased to fit over the ace wrap and toe splint. The jogging shoe should have enough room for swelling and not press on the toes. NO strenuous activity is allowed from 3 to 6 weeks, except for swimming. Expect the area to be somewhat painful and swollen and somewhat numb to touch.
6 to 10 weeks	The ace wrap will be discontinued. Jogging shoes should be worn for an additional 2 weeks (8 wk. level) and, at that time, regular flat shoes with a small heel should be tried at least for short periods of time. Range of motion and toe up exercises will be prescribed at the rate of 10 to 20 per day to increase mobility and flexibility of the toes. Walk one mile per day in jogging shoes. Swelling, numbness, and pain will be present as activity is increased. This is to be expected and entirely normal. Use cool water soaks 30 minutes at night to control swelling.
10 to 12 weeks	Begin to return to full activity as tolerated (e.g. tennis, aerobics, racquetball). Return to regular shoe gear as tolerated. Swelling and pain will still be present at this time but will gradually decrease in the next 4 to 6 weeks.
6 months to 1 year	Mild pain and swelling (especially with weather change) will be present up to 1 year after surgery.