Before and after your visit

Preparing for your first visit

• Bring a photo ID and your insurance card.
• Bring a current list of your medications and doses, including blood thinners, supplements, and anything taken as needed.
• Bring any recent X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans on a disc, and any outside records or reports related to the problem.
• Arrive about 15 minutes early to complete paperwork, or fill it out ahead of time if the office sends it to you.
• Wear or bring clothing that lets us examine the affected area — for example, shorts for a knee problem, or a loose short-sleeved shirt for a shoulder.
• If someone helps manage your care, it is fine to bring them with you.

Before surgery

• Medical clearance. Depending on your health and the procedure, you may need a visit with your primary care physician, lab work, an EKG, or other testing before surgery. The office will arrange this and tell you what is needed.
• Medications. You will be told which medications to stop and when. Blood thinners (for example warfarin, clopidogrel, apixaban, rivaroxaban) and some anti-inflammatories and supplements often need to be held for several days. Do not stop a prescribed blood thinner without instructions.
• Eating and drinking. Follow the fasting instructions from the surgery center or hospital — typically nothing to eat after midnight, with small sips of water allowed for essential medications unless told otherwise.
• Smoking and alcohol. Stopping or cutting back before surgery lowers the risk of wound and healing problems.
• At home. Arrange a ride home and someone to stay with you for the first 24–48 hours. Set up a comfortable spot to rest, fill prescriptions ahead of time if asked, and clear walkways if you will be using crutches or a walker.
• The day of surgery. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Leave jewelry and valuables at home. Bring a list of your medications and your ID and insurance card.

After surgery

• Wound and dressing. Keep the dressing clean and dry. Do not remove it early unless instructed. You will be told when you can shower and when the dressing can come off. Keep the incision out of baths, pools, and hot tubs until it is fully healed and you are cleared.
• Pain. Expect the most discomfort in the first few days, then gradual improvement. Use the pain plan you are given, stay ahead of severe pain rather than chasing it, and take opioid medication only as long as you need it. Ice and elevation help. Use a stool softener if you are taking opioids.
• Activity. Follow the weight-bearing, motion, and lifting limits for your procedure. Move around the house and change position often to lower the risk of blood clots and stiffness, but do not push past your restrictions.
• Physical therapy. If therapy is part of your recovery, the office will tell you when it starts and provide a referral or a home program.
• Follow-up. A follow-up visit is usually scheduled within about two weeks to check the incision and review your progress.
• Call the office for fever above 101 °F, spreading redness or warmth around the incision, drainage that increases or becomes cloudy or foul, pain that is worsening rather than improving, a cast or splint that feels too tight, or new numbness. Call 911 or go to the emergency department for chest pain, shortness of breath, or a swollen, painful calf.

Frequently asked questions

How soon will I have surgery?

It depends on the procedure, your insurance approval, and any clearance you need. Elective procedures are typically scheduled a few weeks out; fractures and urgent problems are handled sooner. The scheduler will go over timing with you.

Will I need physical therapy?

Many procedures — joint replacement in particular — recover better with structured therapy. Smaller in-office hand procedures often need little or none. You will be told what to expect for your specific surgery.

When can I drive?

Generally, once you are off opioid pain medication and can control the vehicle safely — which means normal use of the operated arm or leg. For many upper-limb procedures this is a week or two; after lower-limb or right-sided surgery it can be longer. Confirm with the office before you start driving.

When can I go back to work?

Desk work is often possible within days to a couple of weeks. Jobs that involve lifting, climbing, or being on your feet take longer and depend on the procedure. Ask for a note with your restrictions if you need one for your employer.

How long will the results last?

This varies by procedure. Modern hip and knee replacements last many years for most patients. Dr. Stachler will discuss what to expect for your situation.

Downloadable instructions

Optional: link procedure-specific PDF instruction sheets here as you create them. Put the files in the assets/ folder and link them, e.g. <a href="assets/post-op-total-knee.pdf">Total knee replacement – home instructions</a>.

These materials are general and educational. They do not replace the specific instructions you receive from the office or the operating surgeon. When in doubt, call the office. In an emergency call 911.