Safety & Recovery
When to call after surgery
Most of what you feel in the weeks after spine or brain surgery is a normal part of healing. A few things are not. This page sorts recovery symptoms into three levels so you know — quickly — whether to call 911, call the clinic today, or simply bring it up at your next visit. When in doubt, we would always rather hear from you than have you guess.
If this is a medical emergency, do not use this page.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room now. The clinic number is for business-hour questions and is never a substitute for 911.
Call 911 or go to the ER now
These signs can point to a clot, a bleed, a spinal-cord or brain problem, a spinal-fluid leak, a severe allergic reaction, or a serious infection. Do not wait, and do not drive yourself. Call 911 or have someone take you to the emergency room.
- Chest pain, tightness, or sudden trouble breathing
- Stroke-like symptoms — face drooping, slurred speech, sudden confusion, or weakness on one side
- Sudden or severe new weakness or numbness in your arms or legs
- Loss of control of your bladder or bowels, or new numbness between the legs
- A seizure, or new uncontrollable twitching or jerking
- After brain surgery — worsening drowsiness or confusion, a severe or fast-worsening headache, or repeated vomiting
- A severe allergic reaction — swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face, trouble breathing, or a rash with faintness
- A clear, watery fluid leaking from the incision, or a severe headache with a stiff neck
- Signs of a serious infection — a spreading, hot, hard area with a high fever, shaking chills, or feeling faint
Call the clinic the same day
These are worth a same-day call so we can advise you before a small problem grows. If you are our patient, call (785) 368-0767 during clinic hours. Do not wait days. Outside clinic hours — or if you cannot reach us and the problem is clearly getting worse — go to an urgent care or emergency room rather than waiting for the clinic to reopen. For emergencies, call 911 — this number is not an emergency line.
- Fever above 101.5°F
- Redness, swelling, or warmth at the incision that is spreading or getting worse
- Drainage, pus, or a foul smell from the incision
- Calf pain, or swelling in one leg that the other leg does not have — a possible blood clot
- Pain that your prescribed medication is no longer controlling
- A problem with your medication — you ran out, or a dose is causing side effects like nausea or dizziness (for swelling, trouble breathing, or a rash with faintness, call 911)
- Severe nausea or vomiting that keeps you from drinking fluids
- Trouble urinating for more than 8 hours, or constipation that will not resolve with the plan you were given
Mention it at your next visit
These are the expected, uncomfortable-but-normal parts of healing. Keep a note of them for your follow-up rather than calling. The one rule: if any of them clearly worsens instead of easing, move it up a tier and call.
- General muscle soreness and stiffness that eases a little each week
- Mild bruising or slight swelling right around the incision
- Itching or a small patch of numbness along the incision as it heals
- Fatigue, and needing more rest than usual — expected in the first few weeks
- A temporary dip in mood, mental fog, or fragmented sleep while you are on pain medication
- Occasional questions about activity, therapy, or your return-to-work timeline
Whose number do you call?
If you are another surgeon's patient, call your surgeon's office; if you are our patient, (785) 368-0767.
The surgeon who did your operation knows your incision, your hardware, and your specific instructions. Reach them first for anything about your recovery. Our clinic number reaches us during business hours; for emergencies, always call 911 or go to the emergency room.
This guidance is being finalized in physician review
This triage list is a working draft being reviewed by Dr. Tuchek before it is finalized. The specific instructions you received at discharge, and anything your surgical team tells you, always take priority over this general guide.
For medical emergencies call 911. Content on this site is educational and is not medical advice. Reading it does not create a physician–patient relationship.
For non-urgent questions, call (785) 368-0767 during clinic hours; for emergencies call 911 or go to the ER.