Recovering from your surgery
Your waiting family members will be informed of significant updates related to your surgery and when they can see you after surgery. After your surgery is completed, you will be taken to the post-anesthesia care unit for observation. Once you have recovered from anesthesia and are stable, you will be returned to the post-op area.
A member of our post-operative team will talk with you about your home instructions and teach you and your family how to get in and out of a vehicle. Our team will be as thorough as possible, but please ask questions if you are unsure about any instructions. We strongly recommend having a responsible adult with you to help you remember this information.
Please consult with your surgical education materials if you need guidance after your surgery. If you have a specific question for your surgeon, please call your surgeon's team for assistance (for Steindler Orthopedic Clinic: 319-338-3606).
When to call 911
- You are experiencing confusion or loss of consciousness
- Chest pain, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath accompanied by rapid heartbeat (signs of pulmonary embolism)
- Increased swelling, typically in an arm or leg, and redness (signs of deep vein thrombosis)
When to call your surgeon
- Nausea and vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing
- A fever over 100 degrees F
- Pus at the site of the wound or red streaks on your skin
- Loose stiches or an open wound
- Rash
- Difficulty with urination or bowel movement
- If your pain medication is not reducing your pain at all
