Wound Care

• Remove Bulky dressing day 2 after surgery. Leave Mepilex and plastic covering in place
• We recommend you sponge bath until your wound is checked at your first post-operative visit.

Ice

• Apply ice packs to your limb as tolerated every 2 hours for no more than 20 min for swelling and pain relief

Brace

• No brace is required after this procedure. There is no tendon repair to protect, so you may advance your activity as your comfort allows. Any activity questions will be addressed at your post-operative appointment with Dr. Pettit.

Crutches & Weight bearing status

• You will be weight bearing as tolerated on the leg you had surgery on, using crutches starting the day of surgery, unless otherwise instructed. Weight bearing as tolerated means you may place as much weight on the leg as your comfort allows. You will be provided crutches after surgery and will work with nursing on proper crutch walking prior to discharge from the surgery center. You may wean off the crutches once your gait returns to normal, typically within 2-4 weeks. Weightbearing status will be discussed with Dr. Pettit at your first post-op visit.

Physical Therapy

• This is variable and depends on the patient. In general, you should expect to be in PT for about 3-4 months (roughly 12-16 weeks). The specific PT program and goals will be per Dr. Pettit’s protocol. You will be provided with a prescription for PT at your follow up appointment and you can choose a facility that is a convenient location for you or she may recommend one for you

Pain Control and Medications

1. Pain Medication: Tylenol 1000mg every 8 hours and, unless discussed otherwise, you have been prescribed a narcotic pain medication (Oxycodone 5mg) to take every 4-6 hours as needed.
• DO NOT drive/use any heavy machinery, drink alcohol, make any life-changing or legal decisions (i.e. sign a will), or participate in activities that require a lot of physical skill, as narcotics may change your mental acuity. On rare occasions they may cause confusion or disorientation, we advise you to discontinue this medication should that occur.
• Narcotics can be addictive. Dispose of any excess medication at a police/fire station.
• Take a stool softener (e.g. Colace) while taking narcotic medication, as narcotics may cause constipation.  If this does not help alleviate your constipation, you can try adding miralax or milk of magnesia. Please call our office if this regimen does not alleviate your constipation.
• If you have any questions or concerns about narcotic strength medications, please contact us.
• Journavx (suzetrigine): If Journavx has been prescribed, take it in place of the Oxycodone. Start with a loading dose of 100 mg (two 50 mg tablets), then take one 50 mg tablet twice a day (every 12 hours) for two weeks. If you are not getting adequate pain control with Journavx, you may take Oxycodone instead. Do not take Journavx and Oxycodone at the same time, and avoid grapefruit while taking Journavx.
2. Anti-nausea: Zofran (Ondansetron): Take as prescribed if needed for nausea
3. Anti-Inflammatory: Unless contraindicated due to other health reasons, you have been prescribed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (Ibuprofen 800mg) for use postoperatively. If you have no personal history of adverse response to anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), take as prescribed every 8 hours with food to help reduce swelling and pain. Do not take other NSAIDs (Advil, Aleve, etc) with Ibuprofen.
4. Muscle relaxer: Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine) for muscle spasms. Take this as needed, it will make you drowsy.

Tylenol and Ibuprofen are the foundation for your pain control regimen

Example dosing: 1000mg Tylenol then 4 hours later 800mg Ibuprofen then 4 hours later repeat- every 4 hours alternate between Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Oxycodone as needed for breakthrough pain.

*You should not exceed 3,000mg of Tylenol or 3,200mg of Ibuprofen in 24 hours.

Driving

• You may resume driving once you are off crutches and no longer taking narcotic pain medication, and you feel you can safely operate a vehicle, per Dr. Pettit. We recommend practicing in a parking lot at first.

Return to Work

• You may return to work as soon as you are comfortable and able to safely weight bear using crutches. This typically occurs 1–4 weeks post-op. Return to work notes can be obtained at your first post-op appointment.

Follow-up Appointment

Your first post-operative appointment will be scheduled 3-7 days following your surgical procedure. If you do not have a post-operative appointment scheduled when you leave following surgery, please call 513-354-3700 to make the appointment or 513-441-5639 (Direct Line to Sandy Evans)

****Signs & Symptoms to Immediately Report****

Call 911 and go to the nearest hospital if you are having chest pain or trouble breathing.