Before the surgery:
•Understand why you have the surgery done. If you have questions, ask these questions between now and the day of surgery. You can either contact the office or write the questions down and ask them on the day of surgery.
•Assemble you medical information and make a list of your medications, medical conditions and allergies
•Discontinue the use of Aspirin, ibuprofen, or other anti-inflammatory medicines 2 weeks prior to surgery. If you are taking Celebrex you can take it up to one week before. Tylenol is no problem and can be taken up to the day of surgery.
•if you live alone make arrangements to stay with somebody and have somebody bring you home from surgery
•if you do the cooking, make double batches in advance or stock up on ready-made foods that you enjoy. SMOKING stops or delays tissues like bones/tendon/ligaments from healing – STOP SMOKING at least 3-4 weeks before surgery to achieve the best results
•consider putting a chair into the shower or a seat into your bathtub
•if you anticipate the use of crutches for several weeks, make arrangements for a parking permit before the surgery. Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to get the form
The day before surgery:
•You will be called by the surgery center the day before your surgery to tell you where to go on the day of surgery and when to be there.
•Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before surgery
The day of surgery:
•No breakfast or drinks in the morning
•Take your normal prescription medicine in the morning with a sip of water unless otherwise instructed
•Bring your list with the medications and your list with the questions
•Have your driver accompany you at the time of check-in