Preoperative Surgery

Please allow up to 7 business days to be contacted for scheduling IF you have not already been provided a date and location for your procedure.

IF your insurance requires prior authorization, this will be started once a surgery date has been determined. We will verify benefits and advise you of any out-of-pocket expenses as soon as possible prior to the surgery date.

TIME of the procedure is NOT provided until 1 business day prior to the surgery. We provide arrival times and approximate start times. Please plan to be available the full day on the date of your surgery, as schedules change without notice, and surgery start times may be adjusted frequently.

Our office will provide a location along with the date of surgery.

Location may be dependent on the surgeon’s operative schedule for that day as well as any assisting surgeons, particularly if anterior lumbar exposure is required.

The designated surgery center or hospital will call you within 1-2 weeks of your surgery to schedule your pre-admission testing appointment. This is a very important appointment. This appointment will likely include Labs, EKG, and Chest X-ray. Labs will be performed at this appointment, even if you have recently had Labs.

If you have not had your pre-admission testing appointment scheduled, and it is within 5 days of surgery please contact us at (972) 623-2629 x304, please leave a voicemail if we are unable to answer. You may also email [email protected]

Yes. The surgeon MAY request medical clearance from your family physician. He or your family doctor may also request cardiac clearance. We will fax a request to your provider as needed, although it is YOUR responsibility as the patient to make sure that our office receives all requested clearances within 72 hours of the date of surgery.

IF NEEDED, Medical clearance can be an office note or a letter, it just needs to state in some way that you are cleared for surgery and include any recent office notes and/or procedure results.

Clearances can be dropped off in the office at the Frisco Location or faxed to (817) 468-5963

IF NEEDED, Cardiac Clearance should include an office note or letter stating you are cleared AND all results from tests performed, including but not limited to stress test, echocardiogram, or EKG.

IF you have a CARDIAC HISTORY, please be proactive in contacting your cardiologist to provide cardiac clearance for surgery as soon as you know you are having surgery.

Typically, you can continue all your home medications except the ones discussed below
You may take blood pressure medications with a sip of water the day of surgery.

STOP 7 days before surgery:

Aspirin, Baby Aspirin

Anti-inflammatories/ Blood thinning medications

Ibuprofen, Aleve, Naproxen, Mobic, Meloxicam, Plavix, Xarelto, etc.

Please note, that if you visited your cardiologist prior to surgery, please follow the directions of your cardiologist.

Herbal/dietary supplements and multivitamins

Yes. Preoperative physical therapy exercises are highly encouraged.

We will recommend physical therapy before any surgical measures.

Staying active will help your post-operative recovery potential.

Walking and core engagement exercises are key.

Stop eating and drinking at midnight before surgery.

No water or coffee the morning of surgery (aside from a sip of water with blood pressure pills)

No Tobacco

No gum

Generally, we will use a medication for post-operative pain and a muscle relaxant for spasms.

Medications are typically e-prescribed on the day of surgery for outpatient procedures and the day of discharge for inpatient procedures.

Generally, when you see a pain management doctor, you sign a contract with them agreeing not to take pain medications from any other physicians. You should contact your pain management doctor and let them know that you are having surgery.

The rules regarding pain medication prescription are quite strict, and we need to make sure 2 different doctors are not entering medications concurrently.

We will typically prescribe post-operative medications for a couple of weeks after surgery.

Yes. You will need someone to drive you to and from the hospital. You may not drive yourself after an anesthetic or within 4 hours of taking a pain medication.

Generally, 3 hours prior to your scheduled time of surgery. The surgery center/hospital will provide an expected time of arrival. Please do not be late.

Please be patient. Every provider involved in each patient’s care is doing their best to be on time, but we must take every step to ensure a safe and positive outcome for each patient. Prep times, surgery, and post-op care may be delayed or prolonged for any number of reasons for any patient.

Wear comfortable clothes. You will change into a hospital gown in the preoperative area

Avoid makeup, artificial eyelashes, contact lenses, or colored nails.