After Surgery

Weight Bearing

Please follow the specific weight bearing instructed by Dr Balalla or his team. If in doubt, please contact us via email on enquiries@drbalalla.com.au

Pain Relief

It is important to have adequate pain relief so that you can move around and regain your movement. You will have been provided with a prescription or a pack of medications on discharge. Please contact your GP if you run out prior to your next appointment with Dr Balalla.

Physiotherapy

Please make contact with a physiotherapist as instructed by Dr Balalla. Most common conditions will have a protocol which you can print out and take with you. You can find them here.

Follow up

Please call Dr Balalla’s rooms if you have not already booked a post op follow up appointment. He will usually need to see you 2-4 weeks post discharge. If x-rays are required prior to the review, we can send you a request form.

Wound care

All wounds will need to remain covered and dry until your first post op review. If the dressing becomes moist or very soiled, or allows water from bathing in under the dressing, please replace it. Waterproof dressings are inexpensive and can be obtained from a chemist. Dr Balalla will remove your sutures around 2 weeks after surgery, or will ask you to see your GP for this if you live outside Sydney.

Any signs of infection such as increasing redness, pus, fevers, chills, and sweating should be reported immediately to Dr Balalla’s office via phone or email. You can send photographs via your smartphone via email to enquiries@drbalalla.com.au

DVT prophylaxis

If you have had a joint replacement, or have been commence on a blood thinner due to previous DVT or PE, then you will be on an agent to thin the blood. For knee replacement this will need to be for 4 weeks following surgery unless advised otherwise.

Driving

Following surgery, if you are cleared to weight bear on the appropriate limb, can comfortably bend and move the limb, and are no longer on any sedating medications, you are cleared to drive.

Dental procedures and gastroscopy/colonoscopy

If you have had a joint replacement, you will need to have antibiotics at the time of any dental or endoscopic procedures. The appropriate antibiotics and their doses are here.