After Surgery

Diet

Start with clear liquids and light food ie) soup, congee, and jello. You may progress to your normal diet if not nauseated. Your diet should focus on consuming nutrients that fight inflammation and promote tissue repair.

Food Do’s:

• Creating tissues requires energy – aim to consume 300-500 calories more than your normal daily caloric intake. Consider a calorie tracker or fitness app to monitor your inputs and outputs.
• Anti-inflammatory foods: fruits, vegetables and healthy fats (flax and chia seeds)
• Adequate protein intake to repair tissues – your diet should be 1g of protein for every kg of your body weight per day.
• For bone repair eat and drink foods rich in Vitamin D and Calcium ie) fish, milk and eggs
• Stay hydrated. In a dehydrated state, your body will allocate energy away from healing towards other functions potentially delaying your recovery.
• Supplements that help your body repair:
  • Vitamin A 10,000 IU/day
  • Copper 2-4 mg/day
  • Vitamin C 1-2g/day
  • Zinc 15-30 mg/day
  • Arginine, Glutamine, Beta-hydroxymethyl butyrate (HMB), proteolytic enzymes

Food Dont’s:

• Keep your salt intake to a minimum to avoid excess swelling.
• Reduce your carbohydrate intake. Your body will need fewer carbs since your activity levels have decreased.
• Limiting your sugar, sweetener, and junk food intake is also advised.
• Avoid soft drinks. Carbonated water is acceptable.

Medications

• Anesthetic was injected in your surgery site and will wear off after 8-12 hours.
• Take a low dose of Aspirin (81 mg) daily until your first post-op visit. This will help reduce the risk of blood clots. Do not take if you have an Aspirin allergy or any other contraindications.
• Please take your pain medication as directed. Do not drive or operate machinery while on narcotic pain medication.

Common Side Effects:

• Nausea
• Drowsiness
• Constipation

To decrease side effects, take medication with food. If problems with nausea and vomiting occur, contact the office to have your medication changed.

• You may take Advil (400 mg) every 4 hours as needed to smooth out the “peaks and valleys” that may occur in between your pain regime. ​

If you have been prescribed Celebrex, you should not take Advil as well.

Wound Care

• You may loosen your bandage if swelling occurs but do not remove them until your 3rd day post-op.
• It is normal to experience swelling and bleeding. If you bleed through your bandages, reinforce with additional bandages.
• After the 3rd day, you may apply an adhesive bandage or a clean dressing over the incision and change daily.

To avoid infection NO immersion of operative site for 3 weeks i.e.) pools, bathubs and lakes.

• For arthroscopy incisions (1cm) showering is fine as long as the wound remains sealed within the bandages.
• For larger incisions you may shower 1day post-op with a waterproof bag covering the surgical limb.