The best care starts with getting your questions answered. When our patients show up to surgery knowing what to expect, the path to recovery has the best possible starting line.
Our team has compiled resources and answers to common questions about surgery, scheduling, insurance and coverage, post-operative care and nutrition, and more. If you have other questions, please call our office at 312-432-2517.
We recommend having someone with you on the night after surgery, at minimum. It's important to have someone available to support you, as needed, for the first few days to weeks. You may require assistance with various activities of daily living early on. Our team would like to ensure you have adequate social support to promote a safe and successful recovery.
Many of our patients live out-of-state and therefore fly to Chicago for surgery. For these patients, we request they remain in Chicago for 3 days or for 3 weeks after surgery. For elective travel, we ask that you wait 6 weeks before flying. We recommend use of compression socks and regularly getting up to move around during your flight or car ride.
Beginning at 3 weeks postoperatively you may begin driving, as long as you are no longer taking any narcotic pain medications.
Recovery differs for every patient. Typically, most patients are able to return to unrestricted activity after about 3 months. Recovery can continue and the joint will continue to improve incrementally over the course of the first year.
Immediately after surgery you will be instructed to ambulate with use of an assistive device and progress as tolerated. You are required to limit walking to less than 1,000 steps per day in the first 10 days postoperatively. Your therapist will work with you to determine an appropriate amount of physical activity at each stage in your recovery and how to best progress to return to all of the things that you love.
Compression garments over the surgical site must be worn for at least 3 weeks regularly after surgery. The knee high compression socks or compression garments on your nonoperative leg can be removed after 24 hours and do not have to be reapplied.
After surgery, we ask that you wait 3 months before proceeding with invasive procedures. Invasive procedures include dental appointments (even routine cleanings), colonoscopies, or any procedure that creates an open wound, (Ex. a biopsy). We will prescribe an antibiotic for you at your 3-month post-operative visit. This antibiotic should be taken before any invasive procedures for the first year after surgery.