WatchWell: Pain App Reminder
Reminder to log medications 3x/day for 4 days after surgery
Pain Management Strategies
Before your surgery, you may have received a nerve block to reduce pain. Because of this nerve block, the leg MAY be weak and have trouble supporting your weight for the first two days after surgery.
This makes you a FALL RISK. Do not stand up by yourself for 48 hours. Use your crutches and have someone accompany you for safety and to prevent falls.
This makes you a FALL RISK. Do not stand up by yourself for 48 hours. Use your crutches and have someone accompany you for safety and to prevent falls.
Medications:
The following tips can help reduce your pain, but first and foremost be sure to take your medications as prescribed.
Nerve Block:
Your nerve block will greatly reduce your level of pain for 12-18 hours after surgery.
Elevate:
Place 2-3 pillows under your ankle to get the incisions above the level of the heart. DO NOT PUT PILLOWS UNDER THE KNEE. It is important to keep the leg as straight as possible after surgery.
Ice:
Ice your knee at least 4 times per day for 20 minutes at a time to avoid ice irritation, you should wait at least 20 minutes between icing sessions and you should always have a barrier between the ice and your dressing. It may be difficult at first to ice the surgery area due to the large dressing, but continue to be diligent with icing.
Ice:
Ice your knee at least 4 times per day for 20 minutes at a time to avoid ice irritation, you should wait at least 20 minutes between icing sessions and you should always have a barrier between the ice and your dressing. It may be difficult at first to ice the surgery area due to the large dressing, but continue to be diligent with icing.
Do Your Part - OpioId stewardship
To decrease your pain after surgery, you have been prescribed Oxycodone, a narcotic medication. While effective at managing pain, narcotic pain medications will make you constipated, can make you feel sick to your stomach and are known to be very addictive. Thus, this medicine should only be used if needed for pain that is not controlled by Extra Strength Tylenol.
Evaluate your pain on a scale of 1-10. Based on your score, you can take up to the following:
Opiod Quick facts
Storage:
Please keep these medications in a safe, locked place away from children and pets. REMEMBER Oxycodone is a toxic poison that can KILL! They were prescribed specifically for YOUR pain for after YOUR surgery. They should NOT be saved for future use nor to be shared with others.
Disposal:
Once your pain is well managed on non-opioid medications, please dispose of the leftover Oxycodone. The FDA recommends the extra Oxycodone be flushed down the sink or toilet.
Medication Information
You were likely prescribed the following medications after surgery. Below you will find specific information about each medication, how much to take, and how often.
Please update the Medication Log in the WatchWell app 3 times per day (morning, afternoon, night) with all of the medications you are taking for the first four days after your surgery.
If for any reason you were told not to take one of these medications, please follow all instructions given to you specifically by your healthcare provider.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol):
Acetaminophen is a non-narcotic pain medication.
- Take 2 tablets (500mg x 2 =1000mg) every 8 hours
- TAKE TYLENOL AROUND THE CLOCK FOR THE FIRST 4 DAYS
- Do not exceed 3000mg in a 24 hour period
Naprosyn:
Naprosyn is an anti-inflammatory drug to assist with pain, swelling, and as DVT prevention.
- Take 500mg twice daily for at least three weeks
- DO NOT TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES WHILE TAKING NAPROSYN – NO ADVIL, ALEVE, IBUPROFEN, etc.
Oxycodone:
Oxycodone is a narcotic pain medication.
- Take 1 tablet every 4-6 hours ONLY IF NEEDED FOR SEVERE PAIN NOT CONTROLLED BY TYLENOL
- Severe pain is pain greater than a 7 on a scale of 0 to 10
- Discontinue use of oxycodone as soon as possible. Pain will decrease after surgery.
- Some patients take no oxycodone at all
- Take with food to prevent nausea
- *DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL OR DRIVE WHILE ON OXYCODONE*
- See below for more info on opiod stewardship.
Aspirin:
Aspirin is a blood thinner for preventing blood clots.
- Take 81 mg once daily for three weeks.
Promethazine (Phenergan)
Promethazine is an anti-nausea medication.
- Only take this if needed to prevent nausea and vomiting
Colace (Docusate)
Colace is a stool softener used to prevent and treat constipation.
- Take this as long as you’re taking Oxycodone.
- Stay hydrated and eat high-fiber foods.
Beginning Movement
DO NOT actively bend ACL reconstructions beyond 90° until cleared by your doctor!
After ACL Reconstruction, it is important to regain movement in a safe and effective manner. Be sure to follow all instructions provided by your doctor until your first evaluation after surgery. These instructions will specifically detail if you can walk on your own, must use crutches, or should only use a wheelchair. Also, be sure to wear your knee brace/immobilizer if instructed to do so.
Your physical therapy status will be discussed with you at your first post-op appointment, and a prescription will be given to you at that time.
Do not lose this prescription. It is required to schedule and see your physical therapist! Please make an appointment for physical therapy for 3-4 days after surgery.
While waiting for your first office visit after surgery, these are a few exercises that you can safely do at home to regain movement:
Ankle ABCs:
Using the big toe as an imaginary pencil, write the letters of the alphabet moving only the ankle and foot. Try to make the letters as large as possible. Repeat as often as possible throughout the day.
Quad Sets:
With leg as straight as possible, tighten thigh muscles, trying to pull kneecap toward hip. Hold for 10 seconds contracting the muscles as tight as possible. Relax and rest 2 seconds. Repeat as often as possible.
Supine Straight Leg Raises:
While lying on your back or sitting up, pull your toes towards your belly button to make a 90 degree angle at the ankle. Tighten the thigh muscles and raise leg upward, keeping knee straight. Lift left 12”-18” off of the floor and hold 1 second. Slowly lower leg to floor. Initially, complete 3 sets of 10 and add sets as tolerated.
Patella Mobilization:
With leg straight and muscles relaxed, place fingers on either side of the kneecap and gently move kneecap side-to-side for 1-2 minutes. Repeat, moving the kneecap up and down for 1-2 minutes. Repeat as often as possible.
Personal Hygiene
- SOME LIGHT PINK SPOTS OF DRAINAGE ARE NORMAL ON YOUR SURGICAL BANDAGE. It is normal to experience drainage for 24-36 hours post-operatively. If your dressing gets wet, dirty, bloody, or if you have visible, active drainage longer than 48 hours, call the clinical staff.
- We recommend bathing in 24 hours, but you must keep your dressing clean, dry, and intact. Do this by wrapping your dressing in a plastic bag or saran wrap and taping it off to prevent water from leaking in.
- If you had a nerve block and/or are non-weight bearing, you should NOT shower standing up on only one leg due to safety concerns. If you have a shower stool or bench you may use that. Otherwise you may sit on the side of the tub or use a washcloth to wash up.
- After bathing, you may change your dressing. Supplies will be given to you. Please make sure to wash your hands and wear gloves before changing the dressing. DO NOT touch, scrub, or apply any ointments to the incisions. Leave your NEW dressing on until your follow-up appointment.
- Do not soak or immerse your incisions for 1 week.
- Do NOT PICK OR SCRUB the glue over your incisions as it will fall off once the skin has a chance to heal.
- If your surgeon used sutures in your knee, they will dissolve on their own and will not need to be removed.
- IF DRESSING FEELS PAINFULLY TIGHT AFTER SURGERY, YOU MAY LOOSEN AND RE-WRAP
When to contact your doctor
Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Signs of a blood clot (DVT):
- Redness, swelling, and/or sharp pain in the calf of either leg.
- Signs of infection:
- Persistent drainage that doesn’t dry within 48 hours
- Redness or red streaking coming away from the incision
- Chills, night sweats, or generally feeling sick