After surgery, you should avoid certain activities including strenuous exercises, driving, and certain foods and drinks. You should also be careful about infections and take your medications as prescribed.
Strenuous activity
- Avoid lifting, straining, or high intensity activity for 24 hours
- Avoid strenuous activities like jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise until your doctor says it's okay
Driving
- Don't drive until you're no longer taking pain medication and you feel able to respond to emergencies
- Don't operate heavy machinery or do any work requiring mental alertness
Foods and drinks
- Avoid spicy, greasy, fried foods, and alcoholic beverages for the first 24 hours
- Limit processed foods, which can lead to constipation and decreased healing
- Drink plenty of liquids to help avoid constipation
Medications
- Take your pain medications as prescribed
- Don't take pain medication while driving or operating machinery
- Make sure other medications you take don't contain acetaminophen
Infections
- Contact us immediately if you have any signs of infection, such as pus, excessive bleeding, fever, or increasing swelling
