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Going Home

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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