I had shoulder surgery, There is gauze or a small white piece of string, sticking out of my shoulder, What?

Question:

I have pulled lightly on it and can tell it is a piece of cloth of some type. I have swelling and my shoulder feels worse then it did 5 days ago. I think I have a staff infection. I got one after my last shoulder surgey so I know the symptoms. Should I contact my doctor or my lawyer?

Answers:
Packing is generally not used in shoulder surgery - it is probably the internal stitches with one end protruding. Go to your doctor and they will be able to trim it.

If you think you have a staph infection, go to your doctor first. Dependent upon how he handles the situation (infection is always a risk with surgery - this would have been explained to you before the surgery and a consent signed before going into the OR; if so, you would probably not have a case legally) I may want to go to another doctor.

Sometimes with shoulder surgery, around 3-5 days after the surgery (dependent upon the extent of the surgery) the effects of the anaesthesia start to wear off, together with the pain killers they originally gave you. The trauma of the surgery will start to have an effect, i.e. bruising, swelling, etc. so it is not uncommon for people to feel worse after the surgery. Check with your doctor that you are getting adequate pain control and other medications as he recommends.

Good luck!

Other Answers:
both and do it now if you wait to long you might lose you arm.

umm both.. the dr first that can be serious. not only staff but anything that touches it may be absorbed into your body. ANYTHING if it is cloth.. sorry you are making me not want to go get mine done It is probably packing. It needs to be changed at least twice a day while there is discharge. If you think it's a staph infection go to your doctor to get antibiotics for it. You want to kill the infection before it gets serious. Ask the doctor about phisohex., a detergent cleanser.

Definatley go and see the surgeon who performed the surgery.

It sounds like you have some wound packing in there. That is a definate problem. If the wound is red and swollen, tender to touch, hot, and you are running a temp over 38 degrees Celcius, then it's likley you have some sort of infection. You would need some antibiotics, probably a broad spectrum one, untill some tests are done and it can be specifically targeted.

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I had shoulder surgery, There is gauze or a small white piece of string, sticking out of my shoulder, What?

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