After Surgery

After your surgery, you will be cared for in the recovery room until you are released home. Your stay in the recovery room may vary from 10 minutes to a few hours depending on the type of surgery and anesthesia you received.

Activity
If you had a sedative during your surgery, DO NOT drive, drink alcohol, sign legal documents, or operate machinery for at least 24 hours after surgery. This does not apply for Wide Awake Hand Surgery.

Pain Medications
A prescription for pain medication will be provided upon leaving the recovery room. If the medication prescribed does not adequately relieve your discomfort, please call my office at (402) 354-0707 during regular office hours; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our policy at Methodist Physicians Clinic is to accept requests for new prescriptions and refills only during regular office hours. The on-call doctor will not refill your pain medication. If you feel that you need a prescription or a refill outside of these hours, you will need to be seen in an emergency room, or office, where you can be evaluated by a physician.

Follow-Up
A follow-up appointment to return to my office will be provided upon leaving the recovery room. In the interim, should you have any questions or concerns, please call my office at (402) 354-0707.

Returning to Work
You will receive written instruction indicating your activity limitations. Every consideration will be given in determining your ability to continue working throughout the recovery period. A “cannot work” status will be provided in specific situations only: no use of both hands, hospitalization, or conditions requiring daily medical treatment. I will determine your restrictions; your employer will determine if there is work for you to perform. It is the responsibility of you and your employer to determine if work is available that will accommodate the restrictions.