Frequently Asked Questions
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General Questions
When do I need to stop eating prior to surgery?
What type of anesthesia will I receive for my surgery?
What medications do I need to stop prior to surgery?
Can I drive home after surgery?
What is the best way to manage my pain after surgery?
How long should I expect swelling after surgery?
Can I take other medications for pain after surgery?
How long should I be icing for after surgery?
After 2 weeks, you can ice as often as you want, but you don’t need to do it as often. Commonly, you will ice at the end of a long day or after physical therapy.
My medication is making me constipated. Is this normal?
My medication is making me sick/nauseous. Should I continue taking it?
When do I start physical therapy?
For most arthroscopic procedures, physical therapy will begin 1 week after surgery. You will be given a physical therapy prescription at your first post-operative appointment.
What should I look for if I am worried about having an infection?
• Fever (>100.5° F or >38.0° C) and/or chills
• Sudden increase in pain
• Redness around your incisions that is expanding (with increased • warmth to the touch)
• Thick, yellow/white/grey discharge from incisions
• Incisions appear open and/or sutures are not intact
I have a lot of bruising. Is this normal?
When is it okay for me to exercise?
When can I return to work?
When can I travel / fly on an airplane?
If you had a total joint replacement (hip or knee), we advise you to walk up and down the aisle for a couple of minutes at least once every hour you are on the airplane. This will help keep blood from pooling in your legs and prevent a clot from developing. These same patients will also need to take one tablet of full strength aspirin (Ecotrin/ASA 325 mg) twice a day on the day before, day of, and day after travel. This should be done for the first 6 weeks after surgery.
When can I drive?
Hip/Knee Arthroscopy: You may drive 3 to 5 days after your surgery. If your right leg is the operative side, then you must have good control of your leg prior to driving, so this may be at least 1-2 weeks after surgery and even longer with any knee reconstruction (ACL).
Knee Surgery
When can I remove my knee dressing/bandages?
If you had a reconstruction procedure (i.e. ACL reconstruction) or fracture fixation, keep dressing on until your first post-operative visit, however, you can shower after 2 days by keeping the dressing completely dry and covered
Please avoid submerging your knee in water (i.e. bathtub, pool, Jacuzzi, lake) until after your bandages are removed in the office at your first post-operative appointment.
If I was given a knee brace after surgery, how long do I wear this for?
When can I shower after my knee surgery?
Patients who had a reconstruction procedure (i.e. ACL reconstruction) or fracture fixation, you can shower after bandages are removed, or after 2 days, if bandages can be covered to ensure they don’t get wet. However, most patients will need assistance getting in and out of the shower.
If you had either of the above procedures, please avoid submerging your knee in water (i.e. bathtub, pool, Jacuzzi) until after your sutures/bandages are removed in the office at your first post-operative appointment.
When is it okay for me to exercise after my knee surgery?
Following a knee arthroscopy, you are not permitted to do any running, jumping, or any lower body impact exercises outside of the ones deemed appropriate by your physical therapist until 6-12 weeks after surgery. These restrictions will be modified by Dr. Marshall as he reevaluates you at each post operative appointment.
You will be able to walk with the use of crutches for stability after most arthroscopic procedures (partial meniscectomy, debridement, ACL reconstruction without meniscus repair) unless told otherwise by Dr. Marshall. You would be told to not put weight on your leg if you had a meniscus repair, cartilage reconstruction procedure (including microfracture), or fracture fixation.
Hip Surgery
Why do I have to take Naprosyn for a month after my hip arthroscopy?
When can I remove my hip dressing/bandages?
If you had a hip fracture, your dressing needs to remain on until you have your first post-operative appointment. It is water-resistant, so you can get it wet in the shower two days after surgery.
Please avoid submerging your hip in water (i.e. bathtub, pool, Jacuzzi, lake) until after your bandages are removed in the office at your first post-operative appointment.
When can I shower after my hip surgery?
Patients who had a hip fracture may shower 2 days after surgery; however, most people will require assistance getting in and out of the shower.
If you had either of the above procedures, please avoid submerging your hip in water (i.e. bathtub, pool, Jacuzzi, lake) until after your sutures/bandages are removed in the office at your first post-operative appointment.
I am still having popping/clicking in my hip after my hip arthroscopy, is this normal?
When is it okay for me to exercise after my hip procedure?
Following a hip arthroscopy, you are not permitted to do any running, jumping, or any lower body impact exercises outside of the ones deemed appropriate by your physical therapist until at least 3 months after surgery. This is to protect the repair of your labrum.
Following fracture fixation, you will be able to put full weight on your leg after surgery, but will require assistive devices (crutches, walker, cane) as the fracture heals and you regain full strength.
Ankle Surgery
How long will I wear this splint/cast for?
When can I drive again?
Elbow Surgery
When can I shower after my elbow surgery?
When can I remove my elbow dressing/bandages?
When is it okay for me to exercise after my elbow procedure?
Shoulder
When can I shower after my shoulder surgery?
If you had an open shoulder procedure (total shoulder, shoulder stabilization), you can shower 2 days after surgery as your bandage is waterproof.
When can I remove my shoulder dressing/bandages?
If you had shoulder replacement surgery, your dressing needs to remain on until you have your first post-operative appointment. It is water-resistant, so you can get it wet in the shower.
Can I take off my sling after my shoulder procedure?
For total shoulder replacements, you will typically use your sling for at least 4-6 weeks.
When is it okay for me to exercise after a shoulder arthroscopy procedure?
Should I have swelling in my hand or arm after my shoulder surgery?
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1135 W. University Drive, Suite 450
248-650-2400
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13350 24 Mile Road, Suite 700
586-254-2777