Following your procedure, proper recovery is essential to achieving the best possible outcome. These post-operative instructions provide important guidance on pain management, activity restrictions, wound care, medications, and follow-up appointments to help support a safe and successful recovery. Always follow your surgeon’s recommendations and contact our office with any questions or concerns during the healing process.
- Remove your dressing 2 days after surgery. Please leave the Steri-Strips (small white band-aids) oRemove your dressing 2 days after surgery to keep the wound clean and support the healing process. Please leave the Steri-Strips (small white band-aids) on to protect the surgical site and maintain blood flow. Please do not put ointment or lotion on your incisions unless directed by your doctor with specific instructions. If the Steri-Strips fall off, place band-aids over incision sites to keep the wound clean and minimize swelling. For larger incisions, please cover with 4×4 gauze and tape/tegaderm or waterproof bandages to control bleeding and protect the surgical area from infection during the first week of healing.
- Use your ice machine/ice pack as often as possible to decrease pain and significant swelling. Do not place these directly onto the skin, it should be wrapped with a towel or ACE bandage. Use for 20 minutes at a time several times per day. It is common after arthroscopic procedures to have swelling, bruising, and low-grade fever due to the fluid required for the procedure. This usually resolves over a few days. Ice is very important postoperatively to control swelling, alleviate symptoms, and decrease pain. The office can provide you with an ice machine or a specialized ice pack if you desire.
- It is ok to shower beginning 2 days after surgery. Cover the incisions with a waterproof bandage to protect the wound dressing and prevent infection. Do not submerge your incision in a bath, pool, or hot tub until your incisions are completely healed (minimum 3 weeks) to avoid active bleeding and reduce the risk of complications such as infection or dry socket.
- Start range of motion exercises as instructed immediately. Please discuss with your physical therapist.
- If you develop a fever (>101), elevated blood pressure, or redness/swelling/drainage from your incision, worsening pain or severe pain in your leg/arm, or numbness/weakness in the arm, please notify the office immediately.
- A blood clot (DVT) is a risk of surgery. If you have painful swelling, redness in the extremity associated with this, or more pain and discomfort, please call the office or go to the emergency department immediately. Please see below for recommended DVT prevention medication after your surgery, and follow weight-bearing post-operative instructions and physical activity guidelines to help prevent complications.
- A nerve block or spinal anesthetic may have been performed before your procedure. Typically, numbness from this anesthesia wears off in 1-3 days. Please notify the office if you have persistent numbness, soreness, or other unusual symptoms.
- Dr. Watson utilizes non-narcotic pain management after surgery with a combination of Tylenol, ibuprofen, and gabapentin in addition to ice and other devices such as a TENS unit. If the pain is severe and not controlled with these medications and or with applying ice packs, please contact the office, and avoid drinking alcohol or alcoholic beverages while taking pain medication to prevent nausea and other complications.
- Hip arthroscopy patients– Indomethacin is an NSAID and should be taken to prevent extra bone formation around the hip. Please take all of the medication as directed, including any other medications prescribed.
- Rotator cuff repair patients- you will be prescribed Doxycycline. This medication aids in rotator cuff healing and also functions as an antibiotic to prevent infection after surgery.
- Your first follow-up visit should be 10-14 days after surgery. Please call the office to schedule if you have not done so already.
- Driving- unless otherwise noted, no driving will be allowed if you are taking narcotic medication or medication that causes drowsiness, or you have a brace/sling that renders you unable to drive.
- Physical Therapy protocol (www.jonwatsonmd.com)
- Weight-bearing status.
- DVT prophylaxis: Aspirin 81mg twice daily for lower extremity procedures unless otherwise noted.
- Additional pain medications prescribed.
- Physical therapy start date postoperatively: Hip and knee procedures- 2 days after surgery, rotator cuff- 6 weeks after surgery, otherwise discuss with Dr. Watson.
- Brace/sling/splint/crutches usage.
