Dr. Kevin J. Murphy, M.D.
SOAR Clinic of Oregon
503-427-9066
You most likely have a follow up appointment scheduled. If you don’t or you don’t remember, call my office to arrange follow up (503-427-9066). We need to see you within 12-16 days after your surgery day.
Incision Care:
Leave current bulky dressing in place overnight. Then remove it tomorrow but leave the mepilex dressing (it looks like a giant band-aid) in place until your post op visit.
You may shower in 2 days with the mepilex dressing in place. Stand or sit in shower so water does not directly hit/spray your dressing.
DO NOT APPLY ANY CLEANERS, OINTMENTS, ETC TO THE WOUND!
Keep incision clean and dry (no soaking for 4 weeks);
Precautions:
While lying supine, the distal humerus / elbow should be supported by a pillow or towel roll to avoid shoulder extension. Remember to “always be able to visualize your elbow while lying down.”
No shoulder active range of motion.
No lifting of objects with operative extremity.
Do not use your operative arm to try and reach behind your back for activities such as tucking in a shirt, personal hygiene, etc. Typically we avoided this for up to 12 weeks.
Use your sling at all times except remove for exercises and shower. No driving for 3-4 weeks.
No supporting of body weight with involved extremity.
Pain Control:
Use your pain medication as needed for pain.
If your health allows, you can use an anti-inflammatory as directed on the bottle (such as ibuprofen or Aleve). DO NOT USE IF YOU ARE TAKING A PRESCRIPTION ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, SUCH AS CELEBREX
When you run low on pain medication, call our office and we will give you another prescription. We have a 48 business hour refill policy so plan your request accordingly. We will generally not be able to do a same-day refill. Some pharmacies require a written prescription that someone will have to pick up from the office.
Wear TED hose (compression stockings) for 1 week following surgery, if you have them.
Take a multivitamin with iron once a day to help replenish your blood count.
Take an 81 mg aspirin twice daily for 14 days to help prevent blood clots. Then resume your normal dose of aspirin if it was changed and you normally take it.
Resume taking your normal pre-operative medications unless this was changed during your hospitalization.
Be very careful to avoid constipation. You should have a stool softener – Colace that you should use while you are on narcotic pain medicine. If this does not work or if you would like another option, take Miralax and follow the directions on the bottle.
Start physical therapy within the next few days if possible. Show them the protocol you received at your preop visit or surgery. Once your nerve block has worn off, you may come out of the sling a couple of times a day to work on elbow, hand, and wrist range of motion.
Questions:
Dr. Kevin J. Murphy is in the office Tuesday, Thursday, and the morning on Friday. We are out of the office on Friday afternoons not available for routine phone calls after noon on Friday.
Call my office immediately at 503-427-9066 if:
- You have an unexplained, significant increase in your pain or discomfort
- You notice the wound looking red, swollen, inflamed, or draining anything but clear yellow or pink fluid
- Your wound continues to drain for more than 4-5 days.
- You are having recurrent temperature elevations higher than 101.5 degrees without any explanation.
- If you have any sustained or unusual shortness of breath.