Recovery
Recovery after your operation
Your stay in hospital
Preparing to return home
A safe, well-prepared home helps you recover with confidence. Before your operation, take some time to plan ahead:
- Arrange transport for your discharge day. If you live alone, it is worthwhile having someone stay with you for a night or two.
- Walk through your home and check it will be a safe environment after your discharge.
- Position furniture to give clear walkways, and roll up any rugs that could cause a slip.
- Place commonly used items within easy reach in your kitchen and bathroom, so you can avoid kneeling or bending. This is particularly important after hip or knee replacement surgery.
You will not need to organise equipment yourself. The Orthopaedic Liaison Nurse can arrange walking aids and bathroom or toilet aids after your pre-admission appointment, and your need for Home Nursing or other community services will be assessed and arranged before you are discharged.
Follow-up with Mr Sadiq
Mr Sadiq uses sub-dermal sutures, which are dissolvable stitches placed below the skin, so in most cases there is nothing to remove. Occasionally, skin sutures or staples are needed during an operation. If you have received these, Mr Sadiq will organise their removal two weeks from the date of your operation.
Joint replacement patients are then reviewed at six weeks, and every twelve months thereafter.
When to contact us
Most recoveries progress smoothly, but it is important to know the warning signs. If you are concerned about your progress at any point, please contact us. Any of the following could indicate a complication. Contact us or present to the Emergency Department if you experience:
- Wound ooze or discharge
- A sudden increase in pain
- Feeling unwell
- Persistent fever
- Shortness of breath
If something does not feel right, do not wait for your next appointment. Call us on (03) 6279 5798 or email admin@tasortho.com.au.
