Six days after

Activity

• Continue frequent walks inside the home. Consider walking outside.
• If you have stairs in your home, have your child practice those. It is usually OK for your child to sleep in his/her own bed, even if it is upstairs.
• Your child may need help rolling over, washing up, and getting dressed.
• Your child may find that certain chairs or positions on the couch are more comfortable.
• Your child should not spend the day in bed. Limit nap/rest time in bed to less than 2 hours per day. Last nap should be done by 4pm.
• Your child should practice gently rolling of his/her shoulders and stretching arm & neck throughout the day. This can help with muscle stiffness.
• Do not shower until after your post-op visit. Dry shampoo, washing hair in sink, or going to a salon to get hair washed are all options.

Diet

• Your child should try to eat something nutritious and high in calories every 2 hours during the day. Aim for 6 mini-meals.
  • Pair foods with high protein options:
    • Crave fruit? Add cheese or a handful of nuts
    • Crave smoothies? Add protein powder or Greek yogurt
    • Crave crackers? Add peanut/almond butter or cheese
• Push fluids, especially water. Aim for more than 65 ounces of water or sport drink per day if your child weighs more than 100 pounds.
• Dizziness often means your child needs to drink and eat more!
• Continue constipation meds.
  • If having loose stools, cut back on Senna. If still loose, also cut back on docusate.
  • If no bowel movement in for more than 24 hours, contact Orthopedic Nurse Line at (414) 266-2411

Pain

• Pain complaints usually shift from back/incision to rib cage, shoulder blade and muscles of the back.
• Continue over the counter pain medicine as discussed in the hospital. Often, patients take both Tylenol and ibuprofen on a schedule until the post-op visit. 
• Muscle relaxers - typically Valium (diazepam) provide the best relief for pain along ribs, shoulder blades and muscles.
• Use prescription narcotic medicine (usually oxycodone) if pain is bad in spite of the other medicines.
• Never give Oxycodone & Valium at the same time.