Chris Lena MD, James Alvarez PAC
Arthroscopic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Shoulder and Knee Sports Medicine MEA’s Karen Smith, Jackie Zuidema, Annmarie Fiore
Tel: (860) 549-8249 - FAX: (860) 244-8813 www.oahct.com
LateralEpicondyleRelease/TennisElbowRelease
1.GENERAL:Youwillfeelalittleoffforadayortwoaftertheanesthetic.Duringthattimeyoushouldnotdrinkalcoholicbeverages,makeanyimportantdecisionsorengageinanypotentiallyhazardousactivities.Itisverycommontobeslightlynauseatedandyoushouldstartwithalight,lowfatdietuntilyourappetitecomesback.
2.ACTIVITIES: a. WEIGHTBEARING:Youshouldnotputanyweightonyourarm(i.e.pushingyourselfupoutofachair).Donotdoany
strenuousactivityuntilIclearyouforthis.b. DRIVING:Youmaynotdriveavehicleuntilafteryourfirstpostoperativevisit.Youmaythendriveavehicleaslongas
youareabletosafelyoperatethevehicle.Youcannotdriveifyouaretakingnarcoticpainmedication!!!c. WORK:Youmayreturntoworkassoonasyoufeelableandifperformingyourregularjobispossiblegivenyour
activityrestrictions(otherwisewewilldiscussreturntoworkatyourfirstpost-opvisit).
3.BANDAGES/SPLINT:Itisnotunusualforsomebloodtoshowthroughonthedressing.Somebloodydrainageisexpected,andmaylastupto24hours.Ifyourdressingsbecomesoaked,youmayreinforcethemwithgauzepadsavailableatanypharmacy.Thesplintanddressingshouldcoverthewoundsandsupportthearmbutshouldnotfeeloverlytightoruncomfortable.IfitseemstootightyoushouldundotheACEonly,andthenre-wrapthearmwiththeACEalittlelooser.IfitcontinuestobetotightcalltheofficeorgototheERifitisafterhours.Yourbandage/splintshouldotherwiseremainonuntilyourfollow-upappointment.
4.MEDICATIONS:Aprescriptionwillbeprovidedtohelprelievepain.Pleaseusethismedicationasdirected.Thismedicationisstrong,andshouldnotbetakenwithalcoholorotherpainmedications,andmaycausedrowsiness.Exercisegoodjudgmentinitsuse.YoumayalsotryoverthecounterpainmedicationssuchasAleve(Naprosyn)orAdvil(Ibuprofen).Takeasdirectedunlesstherearecontraindications.Take1Aspirin(325mg)dailyinadditiontothepainmedication(DVTprophylaxis).
5.SHOWER:Youmayshowerafter48hoursonlyifyouareabletokeepthedressingandsplintcompletelydryotherwiseyouwillneedtotakespongebathes.YoumustkeeptheincisionsDRY!Trytapingplasticwraporplasticbagaroundtheareawhileshowering(ortherearecommerciallyavailableproductsyoucanfindinapharmacy).Donottakeabathorsubmergethekneeunderwateruntiltoldtodoso.
6.STITCHES:Therearestitchesintheskin.After7-10dayswewillremovethesuturesintheoffice.
7.EXERCISES:Thearmandforearmmuscleswillshrinkinsizeandstrengthquiterapidlyunlesstheyareexercised.Simpleexercisesshouldbestartedassoonaspossible.Thebestexercisesareasfollows:a. Withoutmovingyourelbow,clenchthearmandforearmmusclestightly.Holdthemusclesclenchedtightfor5
seconds,andthenrelax.Repeatthisexercise10-20timesevery30-60minutes.Youshouldtrytodoatleast100perdaytokeepthetoneandstrengthinthemuscle.
b. Youcannotbendtheelbow.c. Youcanmoveyourshoulderandfingersassoonasyoufeelcomfortable.d. Theneedforphysicaltherapywillbediscussedatyourfollow-upvisit.
OrthopedicAssociatesofHartford•Tel:(860)549-8249•Fax:(860)244-8813•oahct.com
8.COMFORT:Painandswellingaftersurgeryistobeexpected.Whileswellingisanormalresponsetothesurgery,itcancontributetoyourpain.Usingiceregularlyandelevation(placeyourarmabovetheleveloftheheart)isthebestwaytodecreaseyourpainandswelling.Itiscriticalthatyouspendthefirstweekaftersurgerywithyourarmelevatedaboveyourheartasmuchaspossible.Ifthefollowingdevelopandpersistafter24hours,pleasecalltheoffice:a. Feverover101degrees.b. Swellinginthearm,forearmorhandwhichdoesnotrespondtolooseningoftheacewrap/biaswrapand
ice/elevation.c. Increasingpaininthearmandforearm.d. Dischargeordrainagetroughthedressingwhichcontinuesgreaterthan24hours.
9.FOLLOW-UP:Pleasecalltheoffice(549-8249)thedayafteryouroperationandmakeanappointmentfor7-10daysafteryourprocedure.Youwillbechecked,yourdressingandsplintwillberemoved(youmayrequireadditionalbracing);x-rayswillbetakenifnecessary,yourprocedurediscussedandyourrehabilitationwillbeplanned.
