Patient Resources
Medication Refill Policy
Medication refills are only handled during regular office hours. Please allow 24 hours for us to process your refill request, as your doctor and physician assistant may be in surgery all day. Prescription refills faxed or called in after 3:30pm may not be processed until the next business day. It is your responsibility to know when your prescription is about to run out. A good rule of thumb is to always have at least a three day supply on hand. MEDICATION REFILLS WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED AFTER HOURS OR ON WEEKENDS.
As of October 6, 2014, the DEA has moved Hydrocodone Combination Products to a more restrictive Schedule II class. As Schedule II drugs, patients must present a new script to the pharmacist each time the medication is filled. Therefore, Texas Neurosurgery is no longer able to call in new prescriptions or refills for Hydrocodone.
- Patients must pick up their RX in the office. We will only mail Hydrocodone prescriptions to patients that live 100 miles away or under extenuating circumstances. Please use the medication as it is prescribed by the doctor. Any early refill requests will be denied.
- We will continue to only refill Hydrocodone for a maximum of 90 days following surgery. If the patient feels that they still need pain medications after 90 days of the surgery, then we will refer the patient to pain management.
- For patients that have had a microdiskectomy, laminectomies, and one level ACDF’s, we will wean the patients to Tramadol which usually takes place at their first post-operative appointment. Your first post-operative appointment is 10-14 days after surgery. This will be determined on a case by case basis.
Pre-and Post-Operative Instructions
Please adhere to any other instructions given to you by the doctor or physician assistant.
Pre-Operative Instructions:
- Please discontinue ALL ASPIRIN and ANTI-INFLAMMATORY medications (see list of medications provided) 7 days prior to your surgery date.
- Baby Aspirin
- Aleve
- Advil
- Ibuprofen
- Motrin
- Celebrex/Generic: Celecoxib
- Naprosyn
- Naproxen
- Mobic/Generic: Meloxicam
- Relafen
- Toradol
- Lodine/Generic: Etodolac
- Indocin/Generic: Indomethacin
- Daypro
- Vivmovo/Generic: Naproxen/Esomeprazole
- Please discontinue FISH OIL, FLAXSEED OIL, OMEGA 3, and all high individual doses of VITAMIN D or E 7 days prior to your surgery date.
- Please discontinue all ANTI-COAGULANTS, such as Plavix (Clopidogrel), Coumadin (Warfarin), Aggrenox (ASA/Dipyridamole), Pradaxa (Dasigatran), Brilinta (Ticagrelor), and Zipsor (Diclofenac) prior to surgery. WE ASK THAT YOU OBTAIN INSTRUCTIONS FROM YOUR PRESCRIBING PHYSICIAN as to when you should stop taking your medication prior to surgery and when you should restart your medication following surgery.
- The anesthesiologist may call you the night before surgery, but if you do not receive a call, please do not be concerned. Patients and family members will meet with the anesthesiologist before the surgery to discuss concerns and questions.
- Please shower the morning of surgery to minimize the risk of infection.
- DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHINGÂ after midnight the night before surgery. However, if you routinely take blood pressure medication or any other cardiac-related medications in the morning, please take them the morning of surgery with a sip of water. If you are diabetic, please contact the physician who treats you for diabetes for instructions regarding taking diabetic medications the morning of surgery since you will not be able to eat or drink anything.
Post-Operative Instructions
Please adhere to any other instructions given to you by the doctor or physician assistant.
Caring for your incision: For the first 2 weeks, it is very important to take proper care of your incision as it heals.
- You may take a shower upon leaving the hospital. Keep the incision covered with a bandage and avoid letting water run directly on it. After showering, remove the wet bandage, gently pat dry the incision area and apply a clean bandage.
- If the incision was closed with skin glue, keep it as clean and dry as possible.
- If the incision was closed with steri-strips, keep the strips clean and dry. Try to leave these in place until your first office visit or until they fall off on their own.
- If the incision was closed with sutures or staples, keep these dry. They will be removed at the first office visit.
Day Surgery Patients: (sent home the same day as surgery)
- Family members should monitor you closely for the first 24 hours.
- Call the office immediately if you develop any weakness, numbness, incontinence, or any other unexpected symptoms.
- Do not drive for the first 5 days, or longer if you are still taking pain medications and muscle relaxers.
Activity Restrictions: It is very important to limit your activity and allow your body to recover and heal for the first 4-6 weeks after surgery.
- No lifting more than 5 lbs.
- No bending with your back.
- Avoid lifting and reaching over your head.
- No strenuous activity (running, golfing, tennis, swimming, etc.) until the doctor or physician assistant instructs you otherwise.
- No driving for the first 10-14 days or longer, depending on your surgery.
- You may resume passive sexual activity 1 week after surgery.
- You may begin walking short distances and gradually increase the distance over time.
Follow-up:
- Please call the office upon discharge to schedule your first follow-up visit, which will need to be 10-12 days from your surgery date.
- You will see the PA or RN on your first visit, which involves only an incision check.
- The doctor will see you for follow up 6 weeks after surgery, unless an earlier appointment is necessary.
- Returning to work is dependent on the type of job you have and the surgery you underwent. This is discussed when planning for surgery, and will be revisited at your first post-operative appointment.
