After Surgery

Someone will need to take you home after surgery. You cannot get in a cab or drive yourself.

General Post-Operative Instructions

• Resume prior medications unless instructed not to take them.
• If you had a major surgery like a joint replacement, start Aspirin once a day unless you are on blood thinners for another medical condition or prescribed these by another provider or Dr. Goldberg.
• Ice the surgical site one hour on and one hour off. A simple trick is a bag of frozen corn.
• You will most likely have a water proof dressing. Thus, unless instructed otherwise, you may shower while trying to mainly wash your hair and body. Any water that inadvertently makes contact with the water proof dressing is ok. Do not submerge the surgical site in a bath.
• If you had a "block" by anesthesia, your arm may be numb and feel paralyzed. This is similar to when a dentist numbs your mouth and your lip is numb. Do not be alarmed. If you do not have control of your arm during this period, you should wear a sling.
• If there is some oozing or bleeding that comes out of the waterproof dressing, you can usually put some 4'x4" gauze from Walgreens or CVS and tape on.
• Take pain medication as prescribed.
• You may discontinue the sling with the elbow at the side when awake if in a safe and controlled location