You will receive verbal and written post-surgical care instructions (please follow these instructions).
- Your escort must be available to discuss and sign these instructions before you will be allowed to go home.
- If you experience anything unusual after your surgery, please call your surgeon or go to the nearest emergency room.
A nurse from our center will call you within a few days of your surgery to check on your recovery.
General Discharge Guidelines –
*Unless otherwise indicated by your surgeon’s specific post-operative instructions*
Keep dressing/operative area clean and dry.
If you notice bright red bleeding, swelling, coldness, bluish coloring, numbness, persistent pain or sudden intense pain in or around the operative area, or if you have any questions, Call Your Doctor.
If swelling, redness, heat, and/or drainage occur at the incision site, Call Your Doctor.
To lessen swelling and pain in an extremity: elevate the affected arm or leg, and apply ice packs over the dressing. Put the ice in a plastic bag with a wash cloth around the bag.
Low grade fever is normal up to 48 hours after surgery. Call your doctor for any temperature over 101°.
Tell your doctor if you cannot urinate 8 to 12 hours after surgery.
Do Not Drive For 24 Hours Following Surgery.
You may feel sleepy and somewhat sluggish for several hours.
Rest today and slowly resume activities tomorrow.
Do NOT stay by yourself the day of the surgery. If this is not possible, have someone call or visit you frequently.
Do NOT make any important decisions or participate in activities which require judgment or quick reaction time.
Do NOT drink alcoholic beverages for 24 hours after surgery and/or when taking pain medications
*Do Not Drive Or Operate Machinery while Taking Pain Medicine*
Nausea can be a side effect of medicines you received during surgery. Take frequent sips of clear liquids. If unable to tolerate liquids, Call Your Doctor.