After surgery, most patients feel a bit groggy, light-headed, dizzy, sore
and slightly nauseated. How you feel depends on the complexity of your
procedure, how long you were in the operating room, your pain threshold
and what type of anesthesia you were given.
You will be able to go home once your vital signs are stable, you feel
comfortable and alert and your nurses determines that you meet discharge
criteria. Most patients spend one to two hours in recovery.
We do recommend that you go home before the effects of the anesthesia wear
off completely to help reduce pain for the trip home and to allow you
to rest more comfortably once you arrive home.
A responsible adult must drive you home and remain with you for the first
24 hours following your surgery.
Your surgeon will provide postoperative instructions regarding diet, rest
and medications.
Since it is normal to feel drowsy after receiving anesthesia, we recommend
refraining from the following activities for 24 hours after discharge:
Driving and operating equipment
Signing important papers
Making significant decisions
Drinking alcoholic beverages or taking any drug without your physician’s okay
One of our nurses will call you within a few days of your surgery to check
your progress and answer any questions you may have. If you have any unexpected
problems or questions, please call us at
405-801-4200 during our normal business hours of 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. After
hours, please call the Ortho Central answering service at
405-360-6764. For emergencies, please call 911 and/or go to the nearest emergency room.
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