Orthopedic Sports and Hand Center

After Surgery FAQ's

F.A.Q.'s After Surgery

• Can my family be with me after surgery?
• How long will I stay after my surgery?
• What will happen if I am not well enough to go home?
• May I drive home?
• What if I am not feeling well at home?
• What can I eat when I get home?
• Should I continue my medication?
• How will my pain be managed?

After surgery, patients will go to the recovery room.  We plan to unite you with your family almost immediately after the surgery, if you so choose.  Some patients prefer to be alone for a while and that will be honored.  Special arrangements are made for children having surgery. Please do not bring siblings to the surgery center, if possible.

How long will I stay after my surgery?

There is no prescribed time to stay with us after surgery. You will be permitted to go home as soon as we feel it is safe to discharge you. (This is typically a minimum of 1hr.) Feel reassured that you will be permitted to stay as long as necessary.

What will happen if I am not well enough to go home?

Admissions to a hospital from a day surgery center are very rare. Most admissions are for very minor reasons such as nausea or pain control. If there is a medical reason to keep you overnight, you will be transported to Providence Everett Medical Center.

May I drive home?

Any patient receiving sedation and/or anesthesia will not be allowed to drive home and must not drive until the next day. The few patients who have procedures performed under "local only" could possibly drive home if permission is received from their surgeon in advance.

Gateway Surgery Center requires that all patients have a ride home and will be cared for by a responsible adult for at least 24 hrs postoperatively at home.  Patients will not be allowed to drive, walk or take public transportation after sedation or anesthesia.  Please make the appropriate arrangements well in advance.

What if I am not feeling well at home?

If this seems to be serious, please call 911 immediately or go to the nearest ER.  Otherwise, call your surgeon.

What can I eat when I get home?

We generally suggest that you eat light after surgery. We strongly encourage you to drink plenty of fluids.  Please note that narcotic pain medications often cause constipation, so a stool softener may be prescribed by your surgeon.  Also, a healthy diet with increased fiber will help maintain regularity.

Most patients should continue their usual medications upon arriving home. Patients who have diabetes and those patients on blood thinners may require some fine-tuning of their medications. This should be clarified with you before you leave the surgery center. If you have any doubts please first call your surgeon and then the surgery center.

How will my pain be managed?
The management of your pain is of great importance to us. We will be assessing your level of pain from the time of admission until you receive our postoperative call at home. We need to inform and prepare you for each step of the process. This education will begin with our first contact. You will be repeatedly asked to rate your pain from a numerical scale (#1 being just a little pain, #10 being the worse pain ever.) Using the results of our communication, we will alter the therapy as needed in order to ensure your comfort.

The management of your pain will be taken very seriously. We will often use a combination of different modalities to help make you comfortable, choosing from oral medications, intravenous medications, nerve blocks, injection of local anesthetic during the surgery, etc. and prior to the surgery, the management of your pain should be discussed with both your anesthesiologist and surgeon. Please feel free to bring up any concerns or fears you may have. Remember that information on pain management gives you the appropriate expectations and hence a smoother, more comfortable recovery.