Upper Limb Post-Surgery Care: When to Call the Clinic
Post-surgery (post-operative) care means all the steps you take after an operation to heal safely and get back to normal function. This includes following your surgeon’s instructions on medications, activity, and wound management. For example, Dr Oscar Brumby-Rendell emphasizes that following post-op recommendations helps speed recovery and reduce complications.
Typical advice after upper-limb surgery is to take prescribed pain medicines, keep incisions clean and dry, avoid smoking or high-impact activities, and begin gentle exercises when advised. Together, these measures help control pain and swelling, protect the surgical site, and restore motion in the shoulder, elbow, wrist or hand.
What Qualifies as Post Surgery Care?
Post-surgery care covers everything your care team prescribes or recommends after an operation. Key components include:
- Pain management: Take analgesic medications exactly as prescribed and do this early – don’t wait until pain is severe. Applying ice packs to the operated limb and keeping it elevated (e.g. “keep toes higher than your nose”) can also reduce swelling and discomfort.
- Wound care: Keep the surgical incision clean and dry. Usually, a sterile dressing is left in place for about a week after surgery, and you should not disturb or remove it until your doctor checks the wound. After showers, you can pat the waterproof covering dry but avoid soaking the area. Check the incision daily for infection signs – redness, warmth, increasing pain or any discharge – and report any concerns to your surgeon.
- Activity and rehabilitation: Follow your surgeon’s activity restrictions (for example, avoid heavy lifting, driving or sports until cleared). Start the gentle range-of-motion and strengthening exercises given by your therapist or surgeon. Use assistive tools (like a long-handled sponge or shoehorn) and remove tripping hazards at home so you can move safely during recovery.
- Follow-up care: Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments so the surgeon can monitor healing and remove sutures if needed. Keep taking any prescribed antibiotics or anticoagulants as directed. These visits let your surgeon adjust your care plan (for example, progressing exercises) based on how you are healing.
When to Call the Clinic for Support?
You should contact your surgeon or clinic whenever you’re unsure or notice concerning symptoms. In particular, call immediately (or visit an emergency department) if you experience severe, unusual symptoms; for example, chest pain or difficulty breathing. You should also call Dr. Brumby-Rendell’s clinic during business hours if any of the following occur after your arm surgery:
- Fever or infection signs: A temperature above ~38°C, or increasing redness, swelling, heat, or foul drainage around the incision.
- Excessive bleeding: If blood soaks through your dressing or there is continuous heavy bleeding (beyond normal bruising/oozing).
- Uncontrolled pain: If your pain suddenly worsens or cannot be managed with prescribed medications.
- Wound issues: If the dressing falls off prematurely, or if you develop new numbness or tingling beyond what was expected.
- Any concerns: If you have any doubt about what you’re feeling or doing (for example, questions about exercises, how to change a bandage, or when to safely resume an activity). Dr. Brumby-Rendell’s team encourages you to call their clinic with any questions.
In short, trust your instincts. It’s always better to call and ask if something doesn’t feel right. Dr. Brumby-Rendell’s office (Adelaide Shoulder & Upper Limb Clinic) can advise you on whether a problem can be handled at home or needs urgent attention.
How Dr. Oscar Brumby-Rendell Can Help
Dr. Oscar Brumby-Rendell is an Adelaide-based orthopaedic surgeon who specialises exclusively in upper limb surgery; treating shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands. As founding director of the Adelaide Shoulder & Upper Limb Clinic, he and his team provide personalized care from the first consultation through full recovery.
Dr. Brumby-Rendell’s advanced training (including minimally invasive and computer-guided techniques) means he can offer cutting-edge treatments for sports injuries, arthritis or trauma of the arm.
