After Your Surgery

General Instructions:

• You will be given instructions on your post-operative weight-bearing status before surgery
• Crutches (King Soopers or Walgreens)
• Knee Scooter
• Purchase:
• Local Goodwill or Craigslist - varies
• Amazon.com - $109-$399
• Walmart.com - $100-$299
• Rocky Mountain Medical Supply for Medicaid - $150 (requires a prescription)
• Rent:
• Kneescooterusa.com - $40-$60/month
• Call 208-408-1888
• Neighbor or Friend
• Total Orthopedics - $5/day or $150/month (requires a prescription)
• If you were placed in a splint after surgery, do NOT remove the dressing (it may loosen the ACE bandage if it is too tight)
• Use a shower bag to keep dressing dry (Walgreens)
• Elevate lower extremity on 2-3 pillows
• Ice packs at the surgical site or behind the knee (30 min on and 30 min off) 
• Handicap Paperwork 
• Driving: No one should operate a motor vehicle while taking narcotic medications and/or while in a splint or orthotic device such as a boot or post-operative shoe. Please limit car driving until you are off narcotics for a minimum of 24 hours. 
• Physical therapy: The decision to prescribe physical therapy and when to start these activities is made on a case-by-case basis. This will be discussed with you on your first postoperative visit. 

Medications

• NO anti-inflammatories, such as Ibuprofen, for 6 Weeks post-surgery (Tylenol is OK)
• Day of surgery home medications per the surgery center

Prescribed Medications

Pain medication

• Pain after surgery is to be expected!
• You will likely receive a nerve block at the surgery center prior to your procedure; this will be used to help control your initial pain in the first 12-24 hours in an attempt to make you more comfortable. Initiate pain medication the evening following surgery and should be taken as indicated below:
• Oxycodone 5 mg every four hours as needed for pain
• Tylenol 1,000 mg every eight hours as needed for pain
• Gabapentin 300mg once before bedtime to help with nerve-related pain and pain while sleeping
• Zofran 4mg every eight hours as needed for nausea
• Take pain medication with food to help prevent nausea/vomiting.
• Narcotic pain medications and anesthesia can cause constipation. We have provided you a prescription for the below medication which should be taken as indicated:
• Senna 8.6 mg twice per day for constipation when you are taking narcotic pain medication.
• If constipation does not improve, contact your primary care provider.

Anticoagulant Therapy

• Please take Aspirin 81 mg once daily for 3 weeks to help prevent the risk of a blood clot after surgery. You should start Aspirin the day after surgery.

Antibiotic

• If you were prescribed an antibiotic, please initiate 6 hours after surgery and take the medication as indicated on the prescription bottle. Take until finished, no refills needed. 

Vitamins

• If you are not already taking them, please begin taking the following vitamins to help with overall bone health:
• Calcium 1,000-1,200 mg per day
• Vitamin D 800-1,000 IU per day
• One-a-day multivitamin one per day

Follow-up Appointment: 

• You will follow up in approximately two weeks for your first post-operative visit at which time we will remove your sutures and discuss your post-operative plan

PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS AT (303) 544-3820