Post Operative care

Joint Replacement Surgery

You have just undergone a major joint replacement, it is usual for you to experience some pain or discomfort. Take your prescribed pain killers regularly before the onset of pain. If the pain is severe and is not relieved by strong pain killers, then please phone myself or the emergency department.

After your operation you will experience swelling, the area will looked bruised and there may be a small amount of blood on the wound dressing. Do not take off the dressing and do not get the dressing wet. If you are concerned about extensive bleeding or a wet dressing please contact my rooms or emergency department.

Please elevate your leg and apply ice packs  onto the wound for 20 minutes every hour. You have been given crutches to aid balance and take the weight off the injured limb. Please use these for 2 weeks unless otherwise discussed with me. The physiotherapist will discuss all the do’s and don’ts with you as well as help you to modify your activities of daily living.

Ensure that you take your prescribed blood thinning medication (Xarelto/Pradaxa) for the entire prescribed time, to avoid the complication of deep vein thrombosis.

You have been given a follow up appointment between 7 and 10 days after the operation, at this time I will remove the dressing, check the wounds and if indicated send you for a follow up x-ray.

Foot and Ankle Surgery

You have just undergone major surgery, it is usual for you to experience some pain or discomfort. Take your prescribed pain killers regularly before the onset of pain. If the pain is severe and is not relieved by strong pain killers, then please phone myself or the emergency department.

After your operation you will experience swelling, the area will looked bruised and there may be a small amount of blood on the wound dressing. Do not take off the dressing and do not get the dressing wet. If you are concerned about extensive bleeding or a wet dressing please contact my rooms or emergency department to change the dressing for you.

Please elevate your leg and apply the ice packs on the wound for 20 minutes every hour. You have been given crutches to aid balance and take the weight off the injured limb. Please use these for 6 weeks unless otherwise discussed with me. The physiotherapist will discuss all the do’s and don’ts with you as well as help you modify your activities of daily living.

You have been supplied with either a boot or shoe, please always keep this on when walking, you need not wear it when resting with your leg up or sleeping. 

You have been given a follow up appointment between 7 and 14 days after the operation, at this time I will remove the dressing, check the wounds and if indicated send you for a follow up x-ray.

Knee Surgery

You have just undergone major joint surgery, it is usual for you to experience some pain or discomfort. Take your prescribed pain killers regularly before the onset of pain. If the pain is severe and is not relieved by strong pain killers, then please phone myself or the emergency department.

After your operation you will experience swelling, the area will looked bruised and there may be a small amount of blood on the wound dressing. Do not take off the dressing and do not get the dressing wet. If you are concerned about extensive bleeding or a wet dressing please contact my rooms or emergency department to change the dressing for you.

Please elevate your leg and apply ice packs  onto the wound for 20 minutes every hour. You have been given crutches to aid balance and take the weight off the injured limb. Please use these for 2 weeks unless otherwise discussed with me. The physiotherapist will discuss all the do’s and don’ts with you as well as help you modify your activities of daily living.

If you have received a knee brace it will be locked in the straight position for 2 weeks. At follow I will unlock the brace and allow you to bend the knee to 90 degrees.

You have been given a follow up appointment between 7 and 14 days after the operation, at this time I will remove the dressing, check the wounds and if indicated send you for a follow up x-ray.

Shoulder Surgery

You have just undergone major joint surgery, it is usual for you to experience some pain or discomfort. Take your prescribed pain killers regularly before the onset of pain. If the pain is severe and is not relieved by strong pain killers, then please phone myself or the emergency department.

After your operation you will experience swelling, the area will looked bruised and there may be a small amount of blood on the wound dressing. Do not take off the dressing and do not get the dressing wet. If you are concerned about extensive bleeding or a wet dressing please contact my rooms or emergency department to change the dressing for you.

Please apply ice packs onto the wound for 20 minutes every hour. The physiotherapist will discuss all the do’s and don’ts with you as well as help you modify your activities of daily living.

You have been given a sling, please wear this all the time except when bathing/showering. You can start slow pendulous movements of the shoulder but avoid elevation of the arm and external rotation.

You have been given a follow up appointment between 7 and 14 days after the operation, at this time I will remove the dressing, check the wounds and if indicated send you for a follow up x-ray.