DID YOU KNOW...
  • Most of the discomfort occurs in the first 12 hours after surgery.
  • Remove any obstacles in your home that may cause a fall.
  • It is important to get back in to daily activity as soon as possible as well as making sure you stick to the post-surgery exercise programme recommended by your surgeon to ensure a rapid recovery.

Patient & Carer

Body Changes

  • Your appetite may be poor. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to keep from getting dehydrated. Your desire for solid food will return.
  • You may have difficulty sleeping. This is normal.
  • Do not sleep or nap too much during the day as it may interfere with nighttime sleep.
  • Your energy level will be decreased for the first month.
  • Pain medication that contains narcotics promotes constipation. Talk to your physician about appropriate stool softeners or laxatives.

Blood Thinners

Blood thinners are usually prescribed after surgery. Blood thinners help thin the blood in an attempt to keep dangerous blood clots from forming or growing. It is extremely important that patients follow the exact instructions given to them by their physicians.
Patients on blood thinners will need to be monitored to make sure they are receiving the proper amount of medication. The monitoring, often referred to as a pro-time, is typically performed at the family physician‘s office weekly until patients stop taking blood-thinner medication.

Stockings

You will be asked to wear special stockings. These stockings are used to help compress the veins in your legs. This helps to keep swelling down and reduces the chance for blood clots.

  • If swelling in the operative leg is bothersome, elevate the leg for short periods throughout the day. It is best to lie down and raise the leg above heart level.
  • Wear the stockings continuously, removing for only one to two hours twice a day.
  • Notify your physician if you notice increased pain or swelling in either leg.
  • Ask your surgeon when you can discontinue stockings. Usually, this will be done three weeks after surgery.

Incision Care

It is important to keep your incision, sutures, or staples clean and dry at all times. When bathing, cover your incision to avoid getting your sutures wet. If your sutures should get wet, simply pat them dry with a clean, soft cloth. It is easier to keep the incision dry by taking sponge baths for the first few weeks after surgery; however, once your sutures have been removed, showering can usually be resumed.
As time goes by, your incision will have different appearances including a pink color and slight swelling. The incision should also remain clean and dry. The appearance of your wound should gradually get better throughout your recovery and should never worsen. Contact your physician if you notice an increase in drainage or pain.
Patients will need to follow special instructions after surgery regarding their surgical wound. Patients will need to:

  • Keep incision dry.
  • Keep incision covered with a light dry dressing until staples are removed, usually 10 -14 days.
  • Notify surgeon if there is increased drainage, redness, pain, odor, or heat around the incision.
  • Notify surgeon if your body temperature exceeds 100.5° F.

Controlling Discomfort

After surgery, patients will typically experience some discomfort. Most surgeons will recommend the following to help alleviate as much discomfort as possible. Patients may:

  • Take pain medicine at least 30 minutes before physical therapy.
  • Gradually wean from prescription medication to over-the-counter medication.
  • Change position every 45 minutes throughout the day.
  • Use ice for pain control. Applying ice to the affected joint helps decrease discomfort.
  • Use ice before and after exercise program. A bag of frozen peas wrapped in a kitchen towel makes an ideal ice pack.









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