Pre-operatively you will need medical clearance from your internal medicine physician. This visit must be conducted no more than 10 days prior to surgery.
Please stop all anti-inflammatory medications, aspirin products, or blood thinners, and supplements 7 days prior to surgery. Be sure to contact your primary physician before stopping products such as Coumadin or Plavix. Any questions regarding medications, please donโt hesitate to ask.
You will not be able to drive yourself from the hospital or surgical center because of safety reasons and state regulations. Please arrange for a trusted person to drive you to and from the surgery center or hospital on the day of surgery. Taxis or other public transport are not allowed.
Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the day before your surgery. Any necessary morning medications you take can be swallowed with a small sip of water the morning of your surgery. Questions regarding this, please ask. Nothing means nothing!! No coffee!
Please arrive to the hospital or surgery center at the time discussed. This is necessary to get you admitted and ready for your procedure.
Be sure all post operative pain medications have been picked up from the pharmacy. Prescriptions for these medications are given during your pre-operative visit with us.
POST-OP
Please carefully follow all activity instructions/restrictions as they have been given to you.
Any home exercises that have been provided can be started as early as your first postoperative day (if applicable).
Dressing changes can be done as instructed.
Please keep the incision clean and dry for 1 week after surgery. Showering is permitted 48 hours after surgery. Please try to keep the area as dry as possible and do not let the water run directly over your incision.
Call immediately if you have a temperature greater than 101 or if you see persistent redness or draining from your incision.
Use the pain medications as instructed and work on weaning yourself off all narcotics as soon as you are able.
Please keep all post operative appointments and adhere to all instructions as they have been given.
As of October 6, 2014 all narcotic medications require a written triplicate prescription and can no longer be called into the pharmacy. Therefore, patients must be present in the office to receive any pain medication prescriptions, and no refills can be provided over the phone.Please do not call on weekends for refills- they will not be provided.
