After Outpatient Surgery

After your time in the recovery room you will be discharged to home. The nurses will take you by wheelchair to your car. Because of the local anesthetic that I put around the surgical site during the surgery, there should be very minimal discomfort for about five hours. This will give you the opportunity to get home and settle in.

Pain
You should begin taking your pain medications before the local anesthetic has a chance to wear off. It is always easier to stay ahead of the pain medicine then to try to catch up to it. Expect that it will hurt even if it doesn’t when you arrive at home.

If I have told you not to take oral anti-inflammatory medications, please do not. Otherwise, you may take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) together with the narcotic pain medications.

If you have a problem with your pain medications, or you need a refill on your pain medications go here.

Swelling
Generally, you want to get in a position such that the operative site can be kept elevated. When you use crutches or a walker to get around your foot will be dangling down, and you will have throbbing and pain. You want to get the foot back into an elevated position once you have finished moving about.

For more about swelling, look here.

Your Usual Medications
You should continue to take your usual medications during this time.

Wires in Foot
I often use wires or pins during outpatient foot surgery to hold the foot or toes in a certain position. It may not be possible to use casts or other devices. The wires require special care.

For more about wires or pins, look here.

Office Visits
You should have an appointment for your first post-operative office visit. This is usually 7 – 10 days after your surgery. It is usually set that up prior to the surgery If there is any question about that, please call the office.

Splint or Dressings
Please leave your post-op dressings and splint in place. Do not remove them. Let me remove them. You can always come in to the office early for me to remove them if you think there may be a problem.

For more about splints, go here.

Concerns?
Should you have any questions or concerns while at home, please call the office. If you think there may be a complication with the surgery, look here.

There is a physician on-call 24 hours a day who can answer questions for you. It is always best if you can address your questions during working hours. However, if something comes up after hours that you are significantly concerned about, please call the office number and I or the on-call physician will reach you.