ESSENTIAL GUIDE
TO ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY RECOVERY

Appendix

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Recognizing Emergency Signs: When to Call Your Surgeon
• Post-Operative Medication Plan for Optimal Comfort
• Strategies for Pain Control
• How to Stop Post-Op Bleeding and Protect Your Incision
• Cold Therapy for Faster Pain Relief
• Wound Care Techniques for Lasting Results
• General Instructions Before Your Procedure

Undergoing orthopedic surgery is a pivotal step toward renewed mobility and pain relief. Yet, knowing exacty what to expect and how to care for yourself can transform a daunting recovery into a confident journey. In this comprehensive blog, we unpack every facet of your post-operative instructions, directly reflecting the detailed handouts from Gustavel Orthopedics. You'll find clear, actionable guidance in each section below, whether it’s bleeding control, cold therapy, medication management, or knowing when to call your physician.

Frequently Asked Questions

Patients often have similar questions when preparing for or recovering from surgery. Here are the top FAQs, answered clearly:

When do I pick up my prescriptions?

You’ll receive pain medication and antibiotic scripts at your pre-operative appointment.

• Antibiotics (if prescribed): start the night before surgery.
• Pain meds: Fill them out early to prepare when you get home.

How do I handle the cold-therapy unit?

• Bring your prescribed unit to the surgical center or arrange for delivery.
• Hospital staff will assist with pad placement and secure your unit post-op.

When can I eat?

• No food or drink for 8 hours before surgery.
• After discharge, eat when you feel comfortable and are free of nausea.

Do I need crutches?

• Most patients bear weight as tolerated; crutches improve balance and protect your gait.
• Your surgeon will advise any specific weight-bearing restrictions.

Where do I get crutches?

• Many pharmacies rent or loan crutches with a deposit.
• St. Alphonsus Day Surgery offers crutch loans on the day of your procedure.

What if I feel unwell on my post-op or therapy day?

• Your surgeon and therapist must monitor your recovery and reschedule only for significant illness.

When can I return to work?

• Sedentary jobs: many patients resume in 7–14 days.
• No light-duty options: anticipate 6–14 weeks off, depending on your procedure and job demands.

Post-Operative Medication Plan for Optimal Comfort

Effective medication management eases discomfort and safeguards against complications:

• Local anesthetic block
  Provides 12–24 hours of numbness intended to give you a pain-free head start.
• Narcotic pain relievers
  Norco/Hydrocodone or Percocet/Oxycodone: 1–2 tablets every 6 hours as needed.
• Anti-nausea medications
  Zofran or Phenergan (Promethazine): every 6 hours. A bedtime dose can improve sleep quality.
• Aspirin 81 mg regimen
• Arthroscopy patients: once daily for 1 month.
• Total knee replacements: twice daily for 1 month.
• Indomethacin for hip arthroscopy
  Indomethacin helps prevent excessive bone growth. While on it, avoid NSAIDs (Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Naproxen).
• Take with food
  To minimize stomach upset, swallow pain pills with applesauce or a light snack.
• Refill protocol
  Inform your pharmacy 48 hours before you run out; they will fax our office. On-call physicians cannot refill opioid medications after hours.
• Constipation management
  Increase fluids and fiber, and consider over-the-counter stool softeners (Senna, Dulcolax) or Smooth Move tea.

• Pump and stretch
  Flex and extend your ankle, wiggle your toes, or gently bend and straighten your fingers to prevent stiffness.
• Add OTC NSAIDs if allowed
  If not on Indomethacin, you may take 3–4 doses of Advil or two daily doses of Aleve alongside your prescription pain meds for prescription-strength relief.
• Boost with anti-nausea meds
  Phenergan (Promethazine) added to your pain regimen enhances analgesia and promotes restful sleep.
• Re-wrap your Ace bandage.
  Light compression helps control pain, ensures it is snug but not restrictive, and rewraps several times daily.

How to Stop Post-Op Bleeding and Protect Your Incision

Any bleeding after surgery can be alarming, but minor oozing is normal. To keep bleeding under control and promote healing:

• Bulky dressings for maximum absorption
  Use gauze pads, clean diapers, or even a folded dishcloth. Press firmly over the incision and add more layers as needed.
• Hold steady pressure and elevate
  Apply continuous pressure for several minutes at a time. Prop your leg or arm above heart level, and pillows under an ankle, knee, or elbow work wonders.
• Avoid bending the joint.
  Flexing can reopen tiny blood vessels. Keep your limb as straight as possible until the bleeding entirely stops.
• Cold therapy with a barrier
  Apply ice or a cold therapy pad wrapped in a thin towel. Cold constricts blood vessels and helps form clots.
• Rest and decreased activity
  Give your body permission to heal. Avoid unnecessary movement and strenuous tasks until your surgeon clears you.
• Shower restrictions
  Do not shower until the bleeding has completely ceased. Once cleared, let water run gently around, not directly on the incision.

Call our office at 208-957-7400 if bleeding persists despite these measures you may need a reinforcing stitch.

Cold Therapy for Faster Pain Relief

Cold therapy is a cornerstone of post-op comfort, reducing both pain and swelling. Here’s how to make the most of your cold-therapy unit or DIY ice packs:

• Continuous cold therapy units
  Run your unit as often as needed. Wrap the pad with a stockinet, thin dish towel, or pillowcase to protect your skin.
• Secure with compression
  Use the provided ace wrap snug but never too tight. Re-wrap several times daily, especially as swelling decreases.
• Frozen water bottles as a backup
  Freeze five standard water bottles. They last longer than crushed ice, fit most cold-therapy units, and can be swapped out easily.
• Traditional icing protocol
  If you don’t have a unit, apply ice packs for 20 minutes every hour while awake. Always interpose a thin barrier between ice and skin.
• Combine elevation
  While icing, elevate the operated limb on pillows to maximize swelling reduction.
• Mobilize gently
  Every hour, “pump” your ankle or wiggle your fingers and toes to encourage healthy circulation under the compression wrap.

General Instructions Before Your Procedure

Preparation is half the battle. Follow these general guidelines meticulously:

• Nothing by mouth after midnight
  No food, water, gum, or mints to reduce anesthesia risks.
• Blood thinner management
  Stop anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents (warfarin, clopidogrel, aspirin) 5 days before surgery unless your cardiologist or primary care provider directed otherwise.
• Bring immobilizers and braces
  If you’ve been issued a sling, knee immobilizer, or brace pre-op, bring it on a surgery day so staff can review proper usage.
• Pre-operative confirmation call
  The hospital will contact you 2–3 days before surgery to confirm arrival time and review any last-minute details.

Regain Your Strength and Mobility With Gustavel Orthopedics

You’re not alone on this journey. Gustavel Orthopedics is here to guide you through every stage of your recovery. Follow these comprehensive steps, keep this blog your go-to reference, and reach out whenever you need support.