<p> Rocky Mountain Orthopaedic Associates Discharge Instructions: Fracture Care 627 25 ½ Road Grand Junction, Colorado (970) 242 - 3535 (The checked items pertain to you.)</p><p>Procedure / Diagnosis: ______</p><p>Pain / Swelling / Medications:  Expect some discomfort, even with pain medications. Take the pain medication prescribed to you as directed______.  Do not take extra acetaminophen (Tylenol) while taking the prescribed narcotic pain medication (the pain medication already has acetaminophen in it); you may substitute 500mg of acetaminophen for one narcotic pill as you transition off narcotics, however.  Resume taking your regular medications as usual. Exceptions:______ Take a multivitamin and Calcium with vitamin D supplement everyday for 2 months.  Take Colace 100mg (over the counter) twice a day while on narcotic pain medication.  Please call your pharmacy between 9:00am and 3:00pm Monday - Friday for prescription refill requests (refill requests on weekends and after hours will be denied).  Elevate your extremity above your heart as much as possible. Also, applying an ice bag to the outside of your cast or splint is often helpful.  Please call 242-3535 if you are having pain that is not controlled by ice, elevation, and pain medication.</p><p>Cast / Splint Care: _ You may re-wrap the Ace bandages while holding the splint in place if it seems too tight. _ It is important to keep your cast/splint clean and dry. There are a number of ways to bathe while keeping your cast dry: sponge bathe, take a bath with your broken extremity hanging outside of the tub, or cover the extremity with a plastic bag (this is the least optimal as the bag often leaks). _ Your fracture has been reduced. The splint/cast is holding it in position. Do not remove it. _ You may remove the splint to bathe. _ Do not put anything down your cast or splint. This can lead to significant skin complications. _ Please call 242-3535 if you develop problems with your cast or splint.</p><p>Dressings: _ Keep bulky dressing on for 2-3 days, then remove it and inspect the incisions. _ If the incisions are dry (not draining anything), it is okay to shower with them uncovered. If the area gets wet in the shower, simply pat the incisions dry and cover with a light dressing (gauze or Band-Aids). _ The sutures will come out at your first or second post-op visit (8-14days). Hold off on getting into a bathtub or hot tub for 3-5 days after sutures are removed. _ Please call, 242-3535, if you develop any signs of infection (spreading redness, tender/warm to touch, pus).</p><p>Activity: _ Remain non-weight bearing (no weight on your fractured extremity). _ Your may touch down weight bear on your fractured extremity (rest the weight of the leg on the ground but do not shift your body weight onto the injured leg). _ You may bear weight as tolerated. _ Wiggle your toes (for fractured leg) or pump your fingers into a fist (for fractured arm) often.</p><p>Follow-up Appointment / Questions:  We will want to see you in the clinic (627 25 ½ Rd.) in ______.  Please call, 242-3535, to make an appointment.  Please call if you develop any complications (Severe pain, Shortness of breath / difficulty breathing, Temperature greater than 101.9oF).  No smoking or using tobacco products as nicotine slows the healing process. </p>