General Surgery Questions

How to reduce your risk of surgical complications?

• Reducing or eliminating the use of tobacco and alcohol before and after surgery.
• Being compliant with managing your diabetes, if applicable.
• Maintaining a healthy diet.
• Using good hand washing techniques.
• Perform your exercises as directed by your surgeon or physical therapist.
• Limiting high impact activities as directed by your surgeon.
• Losing weight if you are overweight.

Tips for preparing your home

You and your family may want to consider these tips to help ensure that your home is safe and comfortable when you return from your surgery.

• Purchase a non-slip bathmat for inside your tub/shower.
• Check every room for tripping hazards. Remove throw rugs and secure electrical cords out of your way.
• Determine which items from dressers, cabinets, and shelves you’ll need immediately after returning home. Any items you use often should be moved to counter height to avoid excessive bending or reaching.
• Plan on using a cordless phone or cell phone. They can be tucked away in a pocket, carried easily, or set within reach.
• Make sure stairs have handrails that are securely fastened to the wall.
• If you have pets, you may want to consider boarding them for a few days after you return home.
• A chair with a firm back and arm rest is recommended during your recovery. A chair that sits higher will help you stand more easily. Chairs with wheels should NOT be used under any circumstances.
• To minimize cooking, prepare meals in advance and freeze them. Alternatively, you can purchase prepared meals for convenience.
• Install night lights in bathrooms, bedrooms, and hallways.
• Avoid yard work for 10 days prior to surgery. Make arrangements for outdoor work such as snow shoveling, gardening or cutting the grass for at least 2 weeks after surgery.
• Do laundry ahead of time and put clean linens on your bed.
• Arrange for someone to collect your newspaper and mail.

How to walk with a walker or cane

Walker

Move your walker or crutches first, then your surgical leg, followed by your other leg, take equal step lengths.

Heel to Toe Gait: When walking with a walker, stand tall and look ahead (not at the floor), bend your hip to take a step, and, keeping your toes pointed straight ahead, set your heel on the floor first. Take equal step lengths.

For better balance, stay in the middle of your walker. Do not step beyond the front of your walker.

Use your walker until you can walk confidently without a limp. If you find yourself holding onto the wall or other objects while walking, you need to continue to use your walker.

Cane

You may transition to a cane when you are able to stand on your surgical leg without support. A cane is generally used to improve balance. It should not sustain a large portion of your body weight.

Cane height is usually about one half the user’s height. If the cane is a proper fit, your elbow will be flexed 15-20 degrees when you hold the cane while standing.

For walking, hold the cane in the hand opposite the surgical leg. If your surgery was on your Right hip, hold the cane in your Left hand and vice versa.

Start walking! Move the cane forward at the same time as your surgical leg and put your weight on them together, allowing the cane to absorb more strain than the leg. Do not use the cane to step with your non-surgical leg. It will get easier with practice!

Mobility Help – Stairs, Bed, Chair/Toilet, Tub/Shower and Car

• Stairs
  • “Up with the Good. Down with the Bad.”
  • Stairs are ok to do at any time after surgery, even the same day! Go slow, one step at a time.
  • To walk upstairs with a cane, put one hand on the railing and the cane in the other hand. Step up with your “good” or non-surgical leg and then bring your surgical leg to the same step.
  • To walk downstairs, put your hand on the railing and cane in the other hand. Take the first step with the surgical “bad” leg and cane at the same time, then bring down your strong leg.
• Getting out of bed
  • Scoot your bottom and hips to the edge of the bed.
  • Slide your legs off the edge of the bed while using your arms to help sit up
• Getting into bed
  • Slide your surgical leg forward for comfort and sit on the edge of the bed.
  • Scoot your bottom and hips back, bring your legs onto the bed. You may need to hook your non-surgical leg under the surgical leg to help bring it onto the bed.
  • Scoot up in bed using your arms and non-surgical leg.
• Standing from chair/toilet
  • Scoot to the edge of the seat, keeping your surgical leg forward for comfort.
  • Push from the armrests or toilet to stand.
• Sitting in chair/toilet
  • Back up (using a walker or crutches) until both legs touch the chair or toilet.
  • Slide your surgical leg forward for comfort, reach back for the armrest, handle or toilet and then sit slowly.
• Tub/Shower Transfers
  • A shower chair may be used for comfort but is not required.
  • Stand near the shower lip.
  • Step over the shower lip with your non-surgical leg first and then your surgical leg.
  • Back up to the shower bench or seat, if using.
  • Slide your surgical leg forward for comfort, reach back for the chair or bench and sit slowly. If available, use hand-held shower and/or long-handled sponge to avoid excessive bending.
• Car Transfers
  • Slide the seat of your car as far back as possible and if able, recline the seat. If needed, place a pillow on the seat to make it level. Two-door cars work best for access, but sedans are fine for car transfers. SUVs and trucks should be avoided for transfers due to the difficulty of getting in and out of the vehicle.
  • Back up to the car using your walker (or crutches). Reach back to the car seat or dashboard for support.
  • Slide your surgical leg forward as you sit down on the edge of the seat.
  • Scoot back on the seat as far as possible and lean back as you swing your legs into the car.
  • To get out of the car, reverse the above procedure.