Elbow Surgery
activity
Plan to rest when you get home for the remainder of the day.
A semi-reclined position may aid in pain relief after surgery.
bathing
Keep the surgical site clean and dry until your follow-up appointment.
You may shower the day after surgery with waterproof Band-Aids (see wound care).
diet
Gradually resume regular diet, as tolerated.
driving (if applicable)
Do not drive while in sling
exercise
Keep sling in place for 3-5 days
Keep wrist brace in place for 4 weeks
Movement of elbow and hand encouraged
Begin physical therapy 4 weeks after surgery
educational
The medication which was used to put you to sleep will be acting in your body for the first 24 hours after surgery, so you will likely feel tired.
This feeling will slowly wear off. For the first 24 hours following surgery, you should NOT:
Drive a car, operate machinery, or power tools.
Drink any alcoholic beverages (including beer).
Make any important decision, sign any important or legal papers.
For your safety, we strongly suggest that a responsible adult stay with you for the rest of the day and during the night after surgery.
medication
Narcotic pain medications can cause constipation. You may take an over-the-counter stool softener or laxative, if needed.
A bowel movement every other day is reasonable.
Do not wait until you are in a significant amount of pain to take pain medication.
If you are on anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen or Aleve, you may continue it. If you are not and do not have any allergies or an ulcer condition, you may take one of these medications in addition to your prescribed medication to help with pain. Ibuprofen 800mg every 8 hours or Aleve 440mg every 12 hours, with food.
Medications can be refilled before 4pm on weekdays but not weekends or holidays. It is best to call the office on a weekday morning to have this addressed.
notifications
Call the office if any of the following occur
Increase in drainage of the operative area or drainage past 3 days
Swelling that is unrelieved by elevation
Fever greater than 101F
Pain unrelieved with pain medication.
Return to work/school
You may return to work/school at your physician’s direction
weight bearing
No heavy lifting for 12 weeks.
Wound care
You may remove your dressing in 24 hours and apply water-tight Band-Aids to the incision sites.
If you have small tape strips (steri strips) on your incision sites, please leave these alone.
You may tape some dry 4x4 gauze pads (available over the counter at any drug store) over the sites if you want to keep the site covered.
It is normal to have some fluid drainage the first day or so but this should subside within 3 days.
Ice should be applied to assist with pain and control swelling.
Frozen peas, reusable gel packs or crushed ice in a large plastic freezer bags are idea.
Ice should not be in direct contact of the skin and placed on the site for approximately 15-30 minutes, off for 30-60 minutes prior to repeating.