You will need someone to drive you home as it is against the law to drive within 24 hours of an operation.
- If you live in the immediate vicinity of the hospital at which your operation is done, you will have little problems with the trip home.
- You should sit in the vehicle in the normal way and use the seat belt. Sitting across the seat or in an unusual position is not recommended.
- If you are to travel a longer distance, you should plan to split the trip into smaller segments and it may be sensible to stay overnight in Canberra if you have had a procedure as a day only patient.
We are keen to see that your pain is managed as best we can:
Please note that most pain-relieving medication only lasts 4 to 6 hours. Therefore it makes great sense to take simple pain control tablets like panadol (paracetamol) every 4 hours in the daylight hours. This should be to a maximum of 8 per day and no more.
It is sensible to take this type of simple pain relief for the first 2 to 3 days after an operation, even if it does not seem absolutely necessary… try it, as it often makes a difference.
We will sometimes give you a stronger medication as well as the panadol mentioned above. Endone tablets have proven to be effective and can be taken IN ADDITION TO THE PANADOL as required. Anti-inflammatory tablets such as Nurofen or Indocid are usually taken as well. They have a different way of working compared to the other tablets mentioned above and, as long as you do not have a reason to avoid these medications, they should be quite safe for a 3 to 5 day period after surgery, starting on the day after the surgery.
Dr G Lloyd FANZCA
Anaesthetist
Paul Miniter FRACS FA OrthA ( Orth)
Orthopaedic Surgeon