Medications:
- You can take all your medicines that you were taking before your procedure. Do NOT drink alcohol before, during, or after the surgery while taking pain medication.
- Also take the new medications you were given after your procedure. Be sure to follow the instructions for how to take your medicines. These instructions usually include what time of the day to take your medicines and whether to take them during a meal or on an empty stomach.
- For Pain: It is OK to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (Ibuprofen) for mild pain. No Aspirin or Aspirin products. Extra Strength Tylenol if needed. If this is not enough, you may take your prescribed pain medicine. DO NOT take Tylenol (acetaminophen) at the same time as taking your prescription pain medicine.
- For Constipation: Prescription pain medicines frequently cause constipation. This means it can be hard to use the restroom. You may take over-the-counter stool softeners to help prevent this problem.
- For Birth Control: Certain birth control products work by changing body chemicals called hormones. Some examples include Birth Control Pills, Skin Patches, Implants, and certain IUDs. The medicines you may have received while in the hospital can stop those birth control products from working. To avoid getting pregnant, use an additional birth control product that does not affect your hormones. Some examples include condoms and spermicides. Use these additional products for the next 31 days if you wish to avoid becoming pregnant.
Eating and Drinking:
- Resume usual diet as tolerated. Start with liquids first, if you aren’t nauseated, you may advance your diet. No alcoholic beverages today.
What to Expect During this Time:
- It is normal to have a slightly sore throat for a few days following your procedure. This should go away within 24-48 hours. You may use a throat lozenge or cough drop for temporary relief.
- Having surgery may cause temporary body aches, tiredness, nausea, and light-headedness. These should also go away within 24-48 hours after surgery.
- For your procedure, an IV was inserted into your arm or another part of your body. It is normal to see bruising where the IV was placed. If you have swelling or discomfort, a cold compress may be helpful. If you develop redness, warmth, or oozing where the IV was placed, please contact your physician.
- The medicines you received during your procedure may slow your ability to think and react. Do not drive anything, operate machinery, or sign important legal documents today.
What to Expect During this Time:
- Rest today.
- Elevate the involved area to the level of the heart to the extent possible.
- After your surgery, you will be placed in a post-operative splint and sling.
- DO NOT get your post-operative splint wet. If it is more than slightly damp, contact your surgeon immediately. Keep your affected extremity clean and dry.
- Open and close your hand several times per hour while awake to help minimize stiffness and swelling in your hand post-operatively.
- Leave the splint and operative dressings in place. You will be given a scheduled appointment with the occupational therapist for 5-7 days following your procedure. At this appointment, the splint will be removed and the first dressing change performed and be given a home exercise program. After this appointment, you may perform daily dressing changes as needed, keeping your incision dry and covered at all times. DO NOT get your incision wet until your sutures have been removed in the surgeon’s office approximately 12 days following your procedure.
- If your surgeon has performed an anterior transposition of your ulnar nerve (moving the nerve to the front of the elbow), a removable splint will be fabricated for you by the therapist at this appointment. The splint MUST be worn at all times, including sleep. The splint may be removed for hygiene and for performing your home exercise program.
- A nurse will call you in the next few days to discuss your recovery and answer any questions you may have. If you have questions before our nurse calls, please contact your physician or call MHP Surgical Care (317-398-1226) to speak with one of our nurses. After hours, you may call the MHP Medical Center (317-392-3211).