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1. DIET

  • Begin with clear liquids and light foods (Jell-O, soups, etc.)
  • Progress to your normal diet if you are not nauseated

2. WOUND CARE

  • Maintain your operative dressing, loosen bandage if swelling of the wrist or hand occurs
  • It is normal for the elbow to bleed and swell following surgery – if blood soaks onto the bandage, do not become alarmed – reinforce with additional dressing
  • Remove surgical dressing on the 2nd post-operative day – if minimal drainage is present, apply Band-Aids over incisions and change daily
  • To avoid infection, keep surgical incisions clean and dry – you may shower starting the day after surgery if you seal the surgical site with plastic around the ACE
  • Once surgical dressing has been removed (2nd day) you may place waterproof Band-Aids over incisions to shower, change bandages daily. Do not scrub the area and pat to dry. NO immersion of operative arm (i.e. bath)

3. MEDICATIONS

  • Pain medication is injected into the wound and elbow joint during surgery – this will wear off within 8-12 hours
  • Most patients will require some narcotic pain medication for a short period of time – this can be taken as per directions on the bottle
  • Common side effects of the pain medication are nausea, drowsiness, and constipation
  • To decrease the side effects, take medication with food – if constipation occurs, consider taking an over-the-counter laxative
  • If you are having problems with nausea and vomiting, contact the office to possibly have your medication changed ( – ask for Dr. Howard’s medical assistant)
  • Do not drive a car or operate machinery while taking the narcotic medication
  • Ibuprofen 400-600mg (i.e. Advil) may be taken in between the narcotic pain medication to help smooth out the post-operative ‘peaks and valleys’, reduce overall amount of pain medication required, and increase the time intervals between narcotic pain medication usage
  • Do NOT take additional Tylenol (Acetaminophen) if taking Norco

4. ACTIVITY

  • Elevate the operative arm to chest level whenever possible to decrease swelling
  • When sleeping or resting, inclined positions (i.e. reclining chair) and a pillow under the forearm for support may provide better comfort
  • Do not engage in activities which increase pain/swelling (lifting or any repetitive wrist/elbow/shoulder movements) over the first 7-10 days following surgery
  • Avoid long periods of sitting (without arm elevated) or long distance traveling for 2 weeks
  • NO driving until instructed otherwise by physician
  • May return to sedentary work ONLY or school 3-4 days after surgery, if pain is tolerable
  • Formal physical therapy typically begins 7-10 days postoperatively. Please call your physical therapy location of choice (within 2-3 days after surgery) to schedule appointments.

5. IMMOBILIZER

  • Your sling should be worn for comfort and removed for exercise and hygiene
  • You may remove for gentle range of motion of your shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand

6. ICE THERAPY

  • Begin immediately after surgery
  • Use icing machine continuously or ice packs (if machine not prescribed) every 2 hours for 20 minutes daily until your first post-operative visit – remember to keep arm elevated to level of chest while icing

7. EXERCISE

  • Gentle shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand range of motion exercises can be performed beginning on the first post-operative day
  • Formal physical therapy (PT) will begin about 7-10 days post-operatively. Please contact your physical therapy location of choice 2-3 days after surgery to schedule appointments.

8. EMERGENCIES

  • Contact Dr. Howard or his staff at if any of the following are present:
    • Painful swelling or numbness
    • Unrelenting pain
    • Fever (over 101° - it is normal to have a low grade fever for the first day or two following surgery) or chills
    • Redness around incisions
    • Color change in wrist or hand
    • Continuous drainage or bleeding from incision (a small amount of drainage is expected)
    • Difficulty breathing

Other Elbow Post-Op Instructions

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Monterey Spine & Joint Home

Ryan Ranch 12 Upper Ragsdale Drive Monterey, CA 93940

  • Practice Hours: 8am-5pm M-F
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