Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Call emergency services for chest pain, severe trouble breathing, coughing up blood, collapse, or fainting.
These may indicate a serious blood clot or another emergency.
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
Contact your surgical team promptly for increasing redness, warmth, wound drainage, fever, worsening pain that is not controlled as expected, or a cast that feels increasingly tight.
Seek urgent assessment for new calf pain or swelling; toes that become cold, pale, blue, or increasingly numb; or sudden loss of movement not explained by a nerve block.
And for anyone, someone who:
is getting rapidly more short of breath, or has gained several pounds in a few days with swelling
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Routine swelling, medication questions, dressing concerns, and plans for work or physiotherapy can usually be discussed during office hours or follow-up.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Ankle replacement. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.