Bone & Joint Surgeons, Inc.
Orthopedic Post-Operative Instructions
&
General Guidelines
Pain
Take your pain medication as described. Do not take more than the recommended dose.
Take your medication at the onset of pain or on a regular schedule for the first few days
after surgery. If you wait until your pain is a “10” to take your medication it will be very
difficult to bring your pain to a tolerable level.
Please allow 48 hours for refills to be processed. No prescriptions will be filled after
12:00 on Fridays or on weekends. Please keep in mind that certain narcotics can only be
filled by a written prescription.
Splints/Casts
If you have a splint or cast in place, do not remove it. Keep the splint or cast clean and dry.
You may shower if you place a watertight plastic bag or Glad Press and Seal over the cast
or splint. Do not place any foreign objects in your cast or splint. If your cast feels too tight
and you are having swelling under the cast, first try elevating your arm or leg above the
level of your heart. If this does not relieve the pressure, please call the office.
Elevation
Unless otherwise instructed, keep your extremity elevated above heart level to help reduce
swelling and pain. In the lower extremity, keep the foot higher than the knee and the knee
higher than the heart. In the upper extremity, keep the hand higher than the elbow and
elbow higher than the heart. Do not let your foot or hand hang down.
Dressings
Leave dressings in place unless otherwise instructed.
Warning signs
Please watch for the following signs: Fever and/or a sharp increase in pain, swelling,
bleeding, redness, r drainage from the incision. If you develop any of these symptoms,
please call the office during office hours or you may call the Medical Society for the
Orthopaedic doctor on call if after hours.
Dayton/Englewood Office: 937-836-3118
Beavercreek Office:
937-424-5825
Medical Society:
937-463-1753