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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
New Patients & Scheduling Questions
- How soon can I get an appointment if I am a new patient?
- How soon can I have surgery if it is indicated?
- Do you accept my insurance?
- Do I need to get a copy of my tests and X-rays?
- Do you take X-rays at your office?
- Do you have MRI on site?
- I have an artificial joint - how often should I come in for appointments?
- How many joints are there in a human body?
Surgery & Post Operative Questions
- How often should I ice the surgical site post-op?
- I was told to take aspirin post-op - how long do I continue taking it?
- How often do I change my bandage?
- When can I get the stitches/staples wet?
- When is my first post-op appointment?
- How can I get more pain medication after surgery?
- I am feeling nauseated - what is the likely cause?
- How long do fractures take to heal?
- How soon before I can return to sports activities?
- What is minimally invasive surgery and do you perform it there?
- I had a hip replacement and heard about a recall - does this affect me?
New Patients & Scheduling Questions
How soon can I get an appointment if I am a new patient?
All new patients are scheduled within two weeks and usually with in one week. Patients with an accident or injury within the last 48 hours who call the Acute Injury Clinic are contacted within 1 hr and are seen the same or next clinic day.
How soon can I have surgery if it is indicated?
Surgeries are typically scheduled 3-4 weeks out although this varies with the time of year and the particular type of surgery to be performed.
Do you accept my insurance?
We accept all major insurance companies and most all others as well. To be positive, you will want to verify with your insurance company by calling them and asking if you will be covered.
Do I need to get a copy of my tests and x-rays?
You will need to bring any MRI or CT scans and current X-rays to your appointment. We only need information regarding your current problem.
Do you take X-rays at your office?
Yes, we have our own fully digital X-ray department and prefer to take our own so that the proper views are obtained.
Do you have MRI on site?
Yes, we have our own open sided extremity MRI machine and we prefer to obtain our own MRI scans so that the correct type of scan can be arranged and so that your scans are available on our system for immediate review.
I have an artificial joint – how often should I come in for appointments?
An appointment should be made to evaluate your progress and obtain an X-ray of your joint replacement 1 year after surgery and then every 2 years thereafter.
How many joints are there in the human body?
640 muscles. 206 bones. 360 joints.
Surgery Questions
How often should I ice the surgical site post op?
You should ice as often as possible for 48 hours, but not longer than 20 minutes at a time. Do not place ice packs directly on the skin.
I was told to take aspirin post op – how long do I continue taking it?
For six weeks post op as a blood thinner to aid in reducing the chance of blood clots (DVT). You may then discontinue the aspirin unless you were taking it before surgery, in which case contact your Internal Medicine physician to see if you should continue.
How often do I change my bandage?
You should change your bandage on the 3rd post op day and then every other day until you do not have any drainage. Use sterile bandages.
When can I get the stitches/staples wet?
Keep your wound dry until the staples/stitches come out at two weeks post op.
When is my first post op appointment?
Your first post op appointment will be 2 weeks following surgery and may be with the nurse practitioner.
How can I get more pain medication after surgery?
Prescription pain medication may be needed for up to 6 weeks after surgery depending on the type of surgery performed. For refills, you should call the pharmacy and they will contact our office for authorization during regular office hours to have your prescription refilled. If you changed pharmacies or want a different medication, then you will need to contact our office during regular office hours. Prescriptions for pain medication are not refilled after office hours (nights and weekends).
I am feeling nauseated –what is the likely cause?
Some patients feel nauseated after surgery for up to a week. This is often from the medications given in surgery and the feeling will gradually subside. Narcotic pain medicine can also cause nausea in some people. Make sure you take your pain medication with food.
How long do fractures take to heal?
Bone fractures generally take 6 weeks for initial healing and about 3 months before you are able to return to many sports activities. This varies based on the type of fracture, its location, your age, etc.
How soon before I can return to sports activities?
This varies greatly depending on your injury or surgery performed as well as your age and the sport you are involved in. Most patients can return to their sport 3 months after surgery. People involved in contact sports may need to wait 9 – 12 months before returning after major reconstructive surgery.
What is minimally invasive surgery and do you perform it there?
Minimally invasive surgery means smaller incisions and less damage to muscle and tendons during the surgery. Dr. Becker routinely performs minimally invasive surgery for all procedures and utilizes the most advanced techniques available to expedite your recovery and return you to your life activities as soon as possible. This includes arthroscopic microsurgical shoulder, hip and knee repairs and the new Direct Anterior approach for Total Hip Replacement and a Subvastus (non-muscle cutting) approach for Total Knee Replacement which allows patients to walk and function with less pain and fewer limitations immediately after surgery.
I had a hip replacement and heard about a recall – does this affect me?
In recent years there have been recalls on 3 types of implants. These are the Zimmer Durom Cup (early loosening), Stryker Trident PSL Cup (squeaking), and most recently, the Depuy ASR XL Cup (early loosening). Dr. Becker has not used any of these devices. If you had your surgery elsewhere and are concerned, you should contact your surgeon and find out what type of prosthesis they implanted or call us and we will find out for you and provide information and any treatment that is necessary.
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