Post-Op Instructions

Upper and Lower Extremities

The surgeons at Advanced Orthopaedics have collaborated on the following guidelines for your post-operative care and offer them online as a resource for all patients. As every patient is unique, the timeline for recovery may vary from case to case. Please follow all instructions that your physician gave you during your pre- and/or post- operative visit, as he or she may have tailored the general instructions to fit your needs.

Pain Management

Pain after surgery, even arthroscopic surgery, is to be expected. To minimize your discomfort, you should take your pain medications regularly as prescribed by your doctor. You should also take the anti-inflammatory medication that was prescribed, or you may use Advil/ibuprofen 600 mg three times daily or Aleve 440 mg twice daily. Do not use Tylenol/acetaminophen for pain as your pain medications already contain acetaminophen.

Dressings/Drainage

Some drainage of blood and fluids is expected, and may last up to 24 hours. If your dressings become soaked, you may reinforce them with gauze pads available at any pharmacy. Your doctor will instruct you on how many days after surgery you are allowed to change your dressings. Remove the dressings and reapply either bandages or a light gauze dressing. You should continue to use an Ace wrap if one was provided at surgery.

Slings/Braces/CPM/Exercises

Your doctor may have prescribed a sling, brace or CPM machine. Be sure to use your equipment as instructed. If you were given a set of exercises, be sure to begin them according to your doctor's indications.

Swelling

Swelling will occur after your surgery. While it is a normal response to the surgery, it can contribute to your pain. Using ice or a cryocuff regularly (every two hours is typically sufficient) can help control swelling. If your surgery is of the elbow or wrist, keeping the arm elevated above your heart will help. If you had shoulder surgery, opening and closing your hand and/or bending and straightening the elbow repetitively is helpful. If your Ace wrap feels too tight, feel free to remove it and rewrap loosely. This will prevent the swelling from localizing near the surgical site.

Activities/Driving/Return to Work/Bathing

You may return to your regular activities as pain allows. You should continue to use any braces, splints, slings and immobilizers until specifically told otherwise by your surgeon. You may drive a vehicle after 48 hours as long as you are able to safely operate the vehicle without using the extremity that was operated on. You may return to work as soon as you feel able and performing your regular job is possible given your activity restrictions. You may shower as early as the day after surgery. If your doctor has instructed you to keep the area dry, try taping a plastic bag around the area while showering. Even after your doctor has said that you may get the area wet, do not scrub the area. Let the water run over the incisions and wash gently with soap and water, pat dry, and cover with a dry dressing until the stitches, staples or steri-strips have been removed.

Fever/Infection

A low-grade fever of less than 100 degrees is not uncommon. You may use ibuprofen 400mg every four hours to lower the fever. Alternatively, you may take 2 acetaminophen tablets every four hours if you are not taking pain medications. If you develop a fever greater than 101 degrees, or if you develop redness or drainage of pus from your incision(s), call our office immediately for further instructions.

Follow Up Appointments

If you have not already scheduled your follow up appointment, please call our appointment line at (281) 955-7577 or request an Appointment Online.