Post Op Information

Keep bandages or splint clean and dry.  May loosen if necessary for comfort.

If instructed to remove bandages after 48 hours you may cleanse incision carefully with soap and water and keep covered with sterile bandage. Do not soak in bathtub, hot tub or pool.

Apply ice and elevate area immediately post op and reapply ice intermittently for 20 minute intervals.  Allow area to warm up before reapplying ice but continue to repeat especially over the first 48 hours.  Use cryotherapy device as instructed. 

Begin with clear liquids and light foods such as soups or jello and progress as tolerated.

Narcotic medication is common post op. Please take as directed on bottle.  Common side effects of narcotic medicine are nausea, drowsiness, and constipation. To minimize these side  effects, take the smallest dose needed to control the pain and take medications with food.  A stool softener such as colace may help with constipation.  For severe nausea or other problems notify office.  DO NOT operate a car or heavy machinery while using narcotics.

Celebrex may be prescribed post op. Use as directed.  Unless directed otherwise, advil, aleve, ibuprofen etc. may be taken instead or narcotics or in between doses or narcotic medication.

An aspirin, either full dose 325mg or 81mg may be recommended post op for DVT (blood clot) prophylaxis.

Weight bearing instruction will be given post up.  For common knee procedures weight bearing, in general, is allowed as tolerated with brace, crutches/cane until pain resolves and balance restored.

For shoulder procedures no weight should be applied until cleared by surgeon.  A post op sling should be worn as directed but adjustments/loosening for comfort is allowed. Use of the hand on the same side as shoulder surgery is allowed for handling o small objects of negligible weight (cell phones) 

Driving is not recommended, in general, in the first 2 weeks post op until cleared by MD. This is a general recommendation and specific procedures and clinical progress will necessitate altered recommendations.  Driving while still requiring narcotic pain medication is not allowed.

Initial post op follow up is within one week of surgery for a wound check and suture removal. Physical therapy is initiated following the first post operative visit.

Light spotting through bandages may occur and if minimal no additional treatment required. If able, reinforce with additional bandages and notify MD if progress.

Nerve blocks performed for shoulder surgeries and some lower extremity surgeries will make the extremity full heavy, warm and numb for outwards of 24 hours post op

Numbness around the incision, especially in the knee, is common in the early days to even weeks post op. Notify MD on follow up.

Bruising typically below the area of incision is very commonly seen early post op upward of 10-14 days.

A rush of pain when changing position, such as when first standing up, is common early postop and improves.

Constantly increasing pain, swelling, redness or excessive bleeding.

Temperature at or above 101.5 F

Pain not responding to medication or worsening.

Progressive numbness in an extremity (beyond 24 hours for blocks)

Heaviness in chest or difficulty breathing

Progressive pain/swelling in back of leg