Before Surgery - Things You Need to Know & Do

 We are here for you! If you have any questions post surgery, please call our office at 719-632-7669

Billing and Surgery Authorization

Once you have scheduled surgery, my office will contact your insurance company to get prior authorization for you upcoming surgery.  We will confirm that the surgical location is in-network with your plan.  Please keep in mind that our office will receive limited benefit information so if you need additional details regarding out-of-pocket costs, you will need to contact your insurance carrier via the phone number on the back of your insurance card.

Medical Clearance Form

We will provide you with a medical clearance form to take to your primary care physician (and cardiologist, if you have one.)  The form will state the type of surgery we are doing and what I would like to have checked prior to surgery.  Your doctors will need to sign the form and then it needs to be returned to me.  Keep in mind that your physician may need to see you and may need additional tests done in order to clear you for surgery.   

FMLA/Disability Paperwork

If you need Family Medical Leave Act or Disability paperwork filled out for your employer, please drop it off to our medical records department in a timely manner.  Our office has up to 5 days to fill out these documents.  Once they are completed, they will be sent back to your employer.

Pre-Op Appointment

Prior to your surgery a pre-op appointment will be scheduled.  Questions about your upcoming surgery will be addressed at this appointment in our office.  Please WRITE DOWN any questions that you have and bring them to your appointment.  I will explain the surgery in more detail and give you more detailed information on what to expect before, during and after this surgery.  This cannot be done over the phone.

Front Wheeled Walker

You will need to use a walker after surgery so bring your walker to the hospital on the day of surgery.  Feel free to borrow a walker if you do not already have one. 

Some options for purchasing a walker include: Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Walmart, Target, Amazon and Walgreens.  

You can also contact one of our vendors who will go through your insurance company.  Contact Toshi at Carolina 2 Colorado Medical Solutions at 937-470-0374.

One Week Before Surgery - Stop these Medications

• ALL over the counter herbals and vitamins (fish oil, vitamin E)
• ALL topical creams (votaren gel)
• Aspirin or aspirin-containing products (Excedrin, Bayer arthritis pain)
• Coumadin/Warfarin - you will get specific instructions for this.
• Lovenox
• Heparin

Stop ALL Anti-Inflammatories 

• Advil/Ibuprofen/Motrin
• Aleve/Naproxen
• Diclofenac/Voltaren
• Celebrex
• Toradol
• Mobic/Meloxicam
• Nabumetone/Relfen

For women on estrogen or any other type of hormones, please discontinue for 1 week before surgery AND 6 weeks AFTER surgery.

These Medications are Okay

These medications are okay to take up to and including the morning of surgery with a few sips of water:

• Tylenol/Acetaminophen
• Tylenol with Codeine
• Tramadol/Ultram
• Vicodin/Hydrocodone
• Percocet/Oxycodone
• Darvocet