You’ve prepared for your surgical procedure, and now you have come out of the operating room. It is important now to know what happens in the minutes and weeks following your surgery.

Immediately following your surgical procedure, you will be sent to the recovery room, also called the PACU (post anesthesia care unit). Your condition will be watched closely, and you’ll be given pain medications.

When you are awake, you will be moved to your room, where your family or a friend will be able to join you. You should expect to feel some pain. The intensity and duration of the pain differs from procedure to procedure and person to person. Your surgeon will help you know what to expect. To gain the best pain relief, answer honestly when you are asked how badly you hurt. Soon after surgery, a specially trained therapist will start working with you. For the quickest, safest recovery, follow all instructions given to you by your doctor and your therapist.

Soon after your surgery, your physical therapy will begin with gentle exercises to build strength in the area of your operation. Range of motion exercises will be built into your physical therapy sessions.

Post-op visits allow your surgeon to make sure you are healing well. Sutures or staples are usually taken out about two weeks after surgery.

• An increase in pain
• Abnormal swelling
• Unusual redness, heat, or drainage at the incision site
• Trouble breathing or chest pain.
• Fever over 101°F

Though no surgery can be thought of as “enjoyable,” we hope your experience with University Orthopedics Center will be pleasant and, most of all, successful. At some point after your surgery, we will ask you to candidly evaluate your experience with our doctors and our staff members. Your assistance will help us continue to improve services and provide the best possible care for our patients.