You should not travel long haul after major foot surgery for at least 3 months. This includes operations such as ankle fusions or tendon reconstructions. You should not fly if you have your foot/leg in a plaster. For operations such as bunions you should avoid flying for approximately 1 month after surgery.

Besides, Can you fly on a plane with a broken ankle?

It’s best to check with your travel operator or airline. Some airlines require you to wait 24 hours after a plaster cast has been fitted for flights less than 2 hours, and 48 hours for longer flights. This is because there’s a risk of swelling after a plaster cast is first fitted, which can affect your circulation.

Keeping this in mind, How long after major surgery can you fly? Here’s a general window of when it’s typically safe to fly after surgery: abdominal surgery (complicated): 10 days. abdominal surgery (simple): 4–5 days.

Can you fly with stitches?

“If a passenger is having a tooth extraction or having any stitches then they can travel three days after having this procedure. “The reason for this is due to the reduced air pressure within the cabin. Any enclosed air will expand by at least 30 per cent.

How long before I can drive after foot surgery?

In a broad sense, post-operative therapy can help us understand when recovery is complete for driving, but for most patients driving at two to six weeks is possible for nearly all left lower extremity surgeries. It is more reasonable to consider waiting between four to 12 weeks for most right lower extremity surgeries.

What injuries can you not fly with?


if you suffer from or have had:

  • angina or chest pain at rest.
  • an infectious disease (e.g. chickenpox, flu), including COVID-19.
  • decompression sickness after diving (sometimes called ‘the bends’)
  • increased pressure in the brain (due to bleeding, injury or infection)
  • infection of your ears or sinuses.
  • recent heart attack.

Is it OK to fly with swollen ankles?

In specific situations, a doctor may recommend that you not fly at all. For the vast majority of flyers, however, swollen ankles and feet is no big deal. Get up, move around, drink water, check in with your body, and contact a doctor if necessary.

Can you wear a walking boot through airport security?

YOU have to be scanned.

The TSA agents might let you keep your boot on but will ask you remove the shoe on your good foot. … They might make you remove your shoe and your boot and place them on the conveyor belt. Then you walk through like normal.

How long after an operation can you get a blood clot?

When you stop moving, blood flows more slowly in your deep veins, which can lead to a clot. You’re most likely to get a clot between 2 and 10 days after your surgery, but your odds are higher for about 3 months.

How do you prevent blood clots after surgery?


Your healthcare provider will usually prescribe one or more of the following to prevent blood clots:

  1. Anticoagulant. This is medicine that prevents blood clots. …
  2. Compression stockings. …
  3. Exercises. …
  4. Ambulation (getting out of bed and walking). …
  5. Sequential compression device (SCD) or intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC).

How soon can I fly after hip surgery?

A commonly asked question by those seeking a joint replacement is how soon can I fly after the surgery? I generally recommend as soon as you are comfortable with sitting down, you can fly. Usually, three to four weeks is the minimum time.

Can you fly with stitches in your face?

Thankfully, since the cabin is pressurized in flight and the oxygen in the air is maintained at normal levels, there really should be no adverse effects on healing just from being up in a plane!

Can you fly after Covid vaccine?

If you are fully vaccinated: Proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 3 days before travel.

Can I take walking boot off to drive?

If you’re still recovering from an injury or operation and have a cast or boot on your right foot, it’s best to avoid driving. If you have a cast or boot on your right foot, it’s best to avoid driving until your doctor gives you the okay. Driving with an injury can lead to serious consequences and even hospitalization.

Can I drive with a boot on my left foot?

Despite the obvious safety hazards, there are currently no laws prohibiting driving with a cast on either of your feet. It is not encouraged by doctors, who say that you might prevent your bones from healing correctly, or even end up in an accident due to impaired reaction time.

How long after foot surgery can I walk?

Since virtually all foot and ankle operations require rest and elevation of the operated foot for at least 2 weeks following surgery, it is rare that a patient will be allowed to return to work before 2 weeks following surgery.

What medical conditions can stop you from flying?

Other conditions that may prompt a doctor to suggest patients avoid flying are uncontrolled congestive heart failure or arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm). Patients with angina (chest pain) that are not being treated or chest pain that occurs when the patient is at rest also should be wary of air travel.

Does flying make inflammation worse?

As Vad explains, cabin pressure and lower oxygen levels can leave back pain patients wishing they had missed their flights. The changes in air pressure while flying can trigger an inflammatory response that causes pain in already damaged joints.

Can you fly with torn ligaments?

Flights will be fine, if you have a bandage then loosen it before you get on the flight. Airlines won’t be fussed about ligament damage, they are only bothered about broken ones. Just rest rest and rest before you go.

Does flying make swelling worse?

The most likely culprit is inactivity during a flight. Sitting with your feet on the floor for a long period causes blood to pool in your leg veins. The position of your legs when you are seated also increases pressure in your leg veins.

Does flying increase inflammation?

The changes in air pressure while flying can trigger an inflammatory response that causes pain in already damaged joints. Also, since the cabin pressure is lower than the air pressure at sea level, gases—sometimes trapped in degenerated discs—expand, causing more back pain.

How do you get rid of swollen ankles fast?


7 Helpful Ways to Reduce Swollen Feet and Ankles

  1. Walk it Out. …
  2. Drink Lots of Water. …
  3. Sleep on Your Side. …
  4. Enjoy Some Pool Time. …
  5. Limit Your Salt. …
  6. Wear Compression Socks. …
  7. Elevate Your Feet.

Can you wear a boot on the plane?

The Bottom Line

You can wear steel toe boots on a plane. In fact, wearing steel toe boots or other safety shoes really isn’t a problem for the TSA. There is no such thing as TSA approved shoes and non-approved shoes. The general rule is that all boots and shoes are allowed on planes.

Can you sit in exit row with walking boot?

You can’t sit in an exit row and you might struggle to fit into a normal row, depending on how big the boot is. Best to contact the airline and inform them about it, they’ll do their best to accommodate you.

How do you travel with a broken foot?

If you have fractured your leg or foot and require a wheelchair in order to get around the airport and board the plane, you’ll need to inform your airline as soon as possible. They will be able to offer you a wheelchair service for both ends of your journey and there usually is not an added charge for this service.