• YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A RESPONSIBLE ADULT AVAILABLE TO DRIVE YOU HOME AND TO REMAIN WITH YOU FOR 24 HOURS AFTER SURGERY, 48 – 72 HOURS FOR JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY. Your surgery will be cancelled if you do not have these arrangements in place. You cannot drive or be left alone. You cannot use public transportation or walk home. We ask that you instruct your ride to be available by phone and stay near the surgery center. On your procedure date, you will need to bring a picture form of identification (Driver’s License), Insurance Card and any expected co-pay. Copay is required when you register.  If you need to set up a payment plan please be sure to do so prior to your surgical date by calling 860-667-9542 Ext 308.

• Your doctor may order preoperative tests, such as blood work and/or an EKG. Depending on your medical history, you may need additional tests or consults.

• Call the surgery center if there is any change in your physical condition, such as a flu, fever, or injury to the operative area before your surgery.

• If you are having hand or foot surgery, remove all nail polish and acrylic/gel or artificial nails on the hand/foot upon which you will be operated to decrease risk of infection.

• The Cheshire Surgery Center will call you between 10 am and 2pm on the day before your scheduled surgery to provide you with your arrival time and instructions. If you do not hear from us by 2pm, please call the center at 860-378-8228 for your arrival time. If your surgery is on Monday, the center will call you on Friday. Arrival times are not available prior to that day. It is important to keep the entire day available as we may not be able to accommodate a specific time request.

• If your surgeon has given you a prescription prior to your surgery date, you may want to fill it the day before your surgery to minimize travel time on your surgery day. Please be sure to update your pharmacy information with your surgeon’s office prior to surgery. Many prescriptions are sent electronically to the pharmacy you have on file at our surgeon’s office. If prescription is not available upon arrival to the pharmacy, please call your surgeon’s office.  Only your surgeon can order prescriptions.

• Do not shave the operative area on the day of surgery.

• The average stay in recovery is 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the type of surgery and your own personal recovery. Total Joint Replacement and Spine surgery average recovery is 90 minutes to 3 hours.

• Patients having an ACL Reconstruction or Foot and Ankle surgery are usually more comfortable in the back seat of the car for the ride home. An immobilizer may be on the leg to prevent bending the knee.

• After you have returned home, be sure to re-read the discharge instructions and follow your doctor’s orders regarding rest, medication, shower, driving, and other activity.

• It is not unusual to feel a little sleepy, lightheaded, or dizzy for several hours after your surgery.

• Swelling of the hands is normal after shoulder, elbow, and hand surgery. Swelling of the feet and ankle is normal after knee, ankle, and foot surgery.

• Over the counter chewable Dramamine can be helpful in minimizing post-operative nausea and vomiting. (If diabetic, notify your physician of prolonged nausea and vomiting.)

• A slightly elevated temperature can occur for a few days after surgery. If greater than 101 degrees, call your surgeon’s office.

• Do not drive a car, smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, operate machinery, or cook for 24 hours after surgery.

• If you have any questions or problems after surgery, please contact your surgeon’s office. Please be sure to review the discharge instructions before calling your doctor’s office.

Pain Control

• Surgery, in general, and orthopedic or spine surgery, specifically, results in some post-operative pain. Pain management is an important component of your post-operative care.  For most surgeries, this management starts in the operating room when the anesthesiologist and/or your surgeon give long acting local anesthetics.

• In recovery and at home, pain medication is used to reduce pain to a tolerable level, usually to 5 and under on a scale of 0 to 10.

• Remember, pain medication takes 20 to 40 minutes before becoming effective. Do not take additional Tylenol/ Acetaminophen while taking pain medication.  Many pain medication already have Tylenol/Acetaminophen in it. The maximum dose for Tylenol in a 24 hour period is 3000 mg.

• Keep the operative limb elevated above the level of the heart when possible for the first few days after surgery.

• Ice is often an effective pain reliever. If advised by your surgeon on your discharge instructions, please follow the instructions and use it.  Although it seems that the coldness will not penetrate the big dressing, it does get through and can be very effective.  Always keep your dressing dry.