Shopping List for Knee Arthroscopy

Transcription

1 inserts 8-08.qxp 9/16/2008 3:41 PM Page 1 Shopping List for Knee Arthroscopy The following is a list of supplies which you should have at home following your surgery: Adhesive bandages (Band-Aids ) Helpful Tip: Make Your Own Ice Pack You can make your own ice pack by combining 1/3 cup of rubbing alcohol with 2/3 cup of water. Place inside two sealed plastic freezer bags and place in the freezer. The bag is ready to use when the contents are slushy. Return to the freezer and re-use as needed. If you have any questions, please contact our office at or For Health. For Life.

2 inserts 8-08.qxp 9/16/2008 3:41 PM Page 2

3 inserts 8-08.qxp 9/16/2008 3:42 PM Page 3 Brand Names: Cogesic Vicodin Lorcet-HD Anexsia Lortab Panacet Norco Zydone Other Names: Hydrocodone/APAP References: Medline Plus. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from Mosby s Nursing Drug Reference (21 st Edition). (2008). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby Elsevier Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Why is this medication prescribed? You are being prescribed the medication Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone. This combination of medications is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. How should I take this medication? You should take this medication exactly as directed by your doctor. Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone combination is usually taken only if needed for pain management. If your doctor has instructed you to take on a regular schedule and you miss a dose, you should take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose. Remember - Do not take more than the prescribed dosage ordered by your physician. No diet restrictions are required when taking this medication. What are the side effects of this medication? Contact your doctor if any of the following side effects are severe or won t go away: Drowsiness or tiredness Stomach pain Confusion For Health. For Life.

4 inserts 8-08.qxp 9/16/2008 3:43 PM Page 5 Nausea or vomiting Headache Dizziness Heart palpitations Constipation Mood changes Lightheadedness Ringing in the ears Rash Blurred vision Difficulty urinating Some side effects may be serious. If you experience the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: Difficulty breathing or swallowing Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, gums, lips, eyes, head or neck Seizures Change in blood pressure Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone may cause other side effects. If any unusual symptoms occur while taking this medication, call your doctor or dial Are there any other precautions to follow? Before taking Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone: Tell your doctor if you are allergic to Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone or any other medication. Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, herbal or nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Tell your doctor if you are taking medications for a cough, cold or allergies, or cold, other pain medications, muscle relaxants, sedatives, sleeping pills, medications to treat depression or if you are taking Tylenol on a regular basis. Tell your doctor if your have ever had kidney or liver disease, thyroid or lung disease, enlarged prostate, difficulty urinating, or history of alcohol abuse. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, are breastfeeding, or if you plan on becoming pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone, call your doctor immediately. This medication may make you drowsy or sleepy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how Hydrocodone affects you. Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication as it may change the effectiveness of this combination medication. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed and out of reach of children. Store tablets or capsules at room temperature, away from excess heat or moisture. DO NOT LET ANYONE ELSE TAKE YOUR MEDICATION. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. Other important information: Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone can be habit-forming if taken for a long period of time. DO NOT take a larger dose or more often than prescribed by your doctor. DO NOT take for a longer period of time than prescribed. If your pain is not controlled or continues, contact your doctor. Too much Acetaminophen (Tylenol products) can cause damage to your liver. DO NOT take more than 4000 mg of Acetaminophen (Tylenol products) a day.

5 inserts 8-08.qxp 9/16/2008 3:43 PM Page 7 Patient Instructions BEFORE Knee Arthroscopy Nothing to eat or drink after 12 midnight the evening prior to surgery. You will receive a letter in the mail with any preoperative appointments and instructions. Discuss with your family physician at your history and physical appointment which medications should be taken the morning of surgery, and with what amount of fluid. The day before your surgery, the surgery facility will contact you to advise you of your arrival time. Your arrival time will be approximately one hour prior to surgery. If you do not hear from the surgery facility by 2:00 p.m. prior to your surgery, please call the facility for an arrival time. Bone & Joint Surgery Center / Wausau / Good Samaritan Surgery Center / Merrill Memorial Health Center / Medford Wausau Surgery Center For Health. For Life.

6 inserts 8-08.qxp 9/16/2008 3:43 PM Page 8 Prior to surgery, in the preoperative area, you will meet with the anesthesia staff. The anesthesia options, risks, and benefits will be discussed at that time. Please be sure to bring your crutches/walker and home therapy cold unit (if ordered by your surgeon) to the surgery facility the day of surgery. These should be obtained by you from the physical therapist before surgery. Anesthesia will be administered, and the surgical knee will be cleaned and prepared for surgery. An antibiotic may be administered through an IV before surgery if ordered by your surgeon. As a general rule, surgery will take approximately one hour, and you will be in the recovery room for approximately one hour after surgery. You will need to have a family member present to drive you home after surgery. Please have a family member stay during your surgery to speak with the surgeon after your procedure. It is recommended that you have an adult stay with you for the first 24 hours post-op. If you have insurance or medical leave paperwork that needs completion, this needs to be given to our business office prior to surgery. In order to ensure accurate completion, this will NOT be completed the day of surgery.

7 inserts 8-08.qxp 9/16/2008 3:44 PM Page 9 Patient Instructions AFTER Knee Arthroscopy Elevation of the knee above heart level (toes above your nose), and use of an ice pack or home cold therapy unit is the most important thing you can do to reduce swelling and pain. Ice the knee for 20 minutes on/20 minutes off for a minimum of 3-5 times per day. Pain medication may also be used as directed, but remember rest, ice and elevation is most effective for pain control. If medication, rest, ice and elevation do not control pain, then contact the Bone & Joint Triage Nurse at or Information on your pain medication has been included in this packet. Please review thoroughly and contact our office or your pharmacy with any questions. As a general rule, crutches or a walker should be used for 3 to 4 days following surgery, and then you can begin to wean off of them. You may use 1 crutch in the opposite hand from your surgical knee for stability if needed. Let pain and swelling be your guide for discontinuing crutch use, unless your doctor instructed otherwise. Some bruising and swelling of the knee is normal, and will decrease with rest, ice, elevation, crutches (as needed), and time. For Health. For Life.

8 inserts 8-08.qxp 9/16/2008 3:44 PM Page 10 The large dressing may be removed from the knee after 3 days, then cover the stitches with a small, dry adhesive bandage (Band-Aid ). No antibiotic or other ointment should be used. Rewrap the Ace bandage from mid calf to mid thigh until seen by your surgeon. If swelling, numbness or tingling occurs in the foot, loosen the Ace wrap. You may shower after 3 days. No bathtub, hot tub or swimming pool should be used until seen in the office by your surgeon. A small amount of reddish or clear yellow drainage may be noted on the bandage, and is normal. If you experience the following symptoms, immediately notify your doctor: Fever of or greater or chills Drainage from the incision that has a foul odor or is thick green or thick yellow in color Pain that is not relieved by rest, ice, elevation, no weight bearing with use of crutches, or pain medication Pain or tenderness in the thigh or calf that is different from your incision pain and does not go away. A hot, reddened area on either leg Increased swelling of either leg. You will be seen in the office 7 to 10 days after surgery for removal of stitches, and return to work will be addressed at that time. Please bring your surgery pictures to your follow-up appointment for your surgeon to review them with you.