Patient Education » Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What can I do for joint swelling?
A: Ice, elevate above heart level, and take over the counter anti-inflammatory.

Q: What do I need to do to get a refill?
A: Log onto www.rbjc.com, go to patient center and fill out refill form.

Q: What do I do if my cast gets wet?
A: Try drying it with a hair dryer, on a cold setting. After drying with a hair dryer, please
contact the office to schedule an appointment.

Q: What do I do if I've reinjured myself?
A: Contact the office for an appointment.

Q: Can I take more medication that is prescribed on my medication bottle?
A: No, not without consent from you doctor.

Q: What do I do if I’m having a reaction to my medications?
A: Stop taking it. If the reaction is that severe, go to the ER. If not, contact the office for a
  possible change in medication or instructions.

Q: How do I care for my surgical site until I follow up with my doctor?
A: Keep clean and dry. Do not scrub, rub, or scratch your incision. Do not apply any
  lotions, soaps, or topical ointments on your incision.

Q: When will I get my prescriptions for pain medicine or anti-biotics?
A: Post-op prescriptions are called in the day before surgery.

Q: When will I get time confirmation for time of arrival for surgery?
A: Nurse’s from RBJC surgery center call a couple of days prior to surgery to do pre-op
  assessment and let you know when you should arrive for your procedure.

Q: Why do I need to bring my previous x-rays to my first visit?
A: Previous films are needed so the physician can see your injury immediately after it
  happened, and so the doctor can compare the images to the new images if needed.

Q: What does MRI show?
A: It will show high quality images of the inside of the human body.