POST SURGERY
Post-Operative Appointment.
While you are staying in hospital, Mr Karpik will see you each day. You will also have a post-operative appointment scheduled for you. The date, time and location of this appointment will be stated on your hospital admission letter. This appointment is to check your surgery wounds, and to ensure that Mr Karpik is satisfied with your recovery progress in the early stages after surgery. The timing of your post operative appointment varies for each procedure. A general guideline can be found below:
| Shoulder Surgeries | 2 weeks |
| Knee Replacement | 2 weeks |
| ACL Reconstruction | 7-10 days |
| Knee Arthroscopy | 2-3 weeks |
| Hip Replacement | 2-3 weeks |
Surgical Wound.
Surgical wounds will be covered with waterproof dressings. These dressings should be left on until your post-operative appointment. Keep the bandage clean and dry for the first 48 hours. You may shower after the first 48 hours providing the dressing is intact and ensure you dry them carefully afterwards. If the dressings start to peel off before your post-operative appointment with Mr Karpik, or you notice a lot of blood or yellow fluid, please call Mr Karpik's offices.
Mr Karpik will have arranged an appointment to have your wounds checked within 1-3 weeks post-surgery. The date, time and location of this appointment will be stated on your hospital admission letter. Any stitches that need removing will be taken out at this appointment.
If at any stage you become worried about your wound, please contact Mr Karpik's offices for advice.
Post Operative Exercise & Rehabilitation.
Please speak to Mr Karpik during your consultation either prior to surgery or at your post-operative appointment. Mr Karpik will advise whether or not physiotherapy is the right form of rehabilitation for your condition or whether there are any exercises that would benefit your recovery.
Every person, injury and procedure is different, therefore, is best to discuss this with Mr Karpik.
Side-Effects.
It takes time for your body to heal after surgery and your body reacts in certain ways throughout this process. It can be difficult to know what is normal and what requires medical attention. Below is a general guideline to what side-effects are normal and which are of concern.
If at any stage you become worried about your wound, please contact Mr Karpik's offices for advice.
Some common side-effects post-surgery may include:
- Some swelling of your leg or foot after knee or hip surgery (as long as it improves with elevation of your leg).
- Swelling of your arm or hand after shoulder surgery.
- Some pain, however, this should be largely controlled by the pain relief you were prescribed.
- A one-off high temperature within the first few days.
- Localised bruising, warmth and tenderness around your surgical wound.
- Clicking sounds from your joint.
- Numbness localised around the surgical wound.
- Small amounts of blood or yellow fluid on your dressing.
Please seek urgent medical attention if you experience any of the following:
- Increasing redness not localised to the wound.
- Continued high temperatures or fevers.
- Significant amount of bleeding or discharge from the wound.
- Major swelling of your leg that does not improve with elevation.
- Shortness of breath or chest pain.
- High heart rate or feeling dizzy or unwell.
- Severe pain that is unable to be controlled by your prescribed pain relief medication.
Return to Work.
This varies depending on the type of work involved and Mr Karpik will discuss this with you. General guidelines are:
Sedentary / Office Based work / Light Duties
| Shoulder Surgeries | 2-3 weeks (arm in sling) |
| Knee Arthroscopy | 1-3 days |
| ACL Reconstruction | 1-2 weeks |
| Knee Replacement | 2-4 weeks |
| Hip Replacement | 2-4 weeks |
Heavy / Physical Work
| Rotator Cuff Repair | 3-4 months |
| Shoulder Stabilization | 3-4 months |
| Shoulder Replacement | 8-12 weeks |
| Knee Arthroscopy | 3-4 weeks |
| ACL Reconstruction | 4-6 weeks |
| Knee Replacement | 6-8 weeks |
| Hip Replacement | 6-8 weeks |
Return to Driving.
You cannot drive on the day of your surgical procedure and you should arrange for someone to drive you home. You should not drive while you are in a sling or on crutches. With knee surgery, you can return to driving quicker if the surgery is on your left leg and you have an automatic car. General guidelines are:
| Shoulder Surgeries | 6 weeks |
| Knee Arthroscopy | 4 days (Left), 1-2 weeks (Right) |
| ACL Reconstruction | 2-3 weeks |
| Knee Replacement | 3 weeks (Left), 6 weeks (Right) |
| Hip Replacement | 3 weeks (Left), 6 weeks (Right) |
Travel.
| Pacific / Australia | 2 weeks |
| Worldwide | 6 weeks |
Long distance travel is associated with an increased risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) where blood clots form in the leg and can dislodge to the lung. Long distance plane or car travel is not recommended for the first six weeks after surgery. Short domestic travel is relatively low risk for DVT and can be undertaken earlier. If you are considering travel during your recovery please discuss with Kevin. Additional information about DVT can be found here.
Airport Metal Detectors.
The security settings on metal detectors varies between airports and countries and your joint replacement may set off the alarms. You should inform security staff prior to passing through the metal detector.
Swimming.
Following joint replacement, no swimming/spa pool for at least 5 weeks, until the incision is completely healed.