Don't take aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®), unless your healthcare provider says you can. These medications make it harder for your blood to clot, which may increase bleeding.
It's normal for pain to accompany a wound. You can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) as directed on the package. Avoid aspirin products, since they can cause or prolong bleeding.
It's important not to scratch your stitches; even though they're strong, scratching may damage them. You should avoid contact sports, such as football or hockey, to give your wound the best possible chance to heal. You should not go swimming until your wound has healed and your stitches have been removed.
Prop up the sore area on a pillow anytime you sit or lie down during the next 3 days. Try to keep it above the level of your heart. This will help reduce swelling. Avoid any activity that could cause your cut to reopen.
Dr. Yaakovian stresses that you'll want to avoid soaking or submerging your stitches in water for about four weeks. That is, avoid taking a bath or getting in a pool or hot tub during this time.
After 48 hours, surgical wounds can get wet without increasing the risk of infection. After this time, you can get your stitches wet briefly with a light spray (such as in the shower), but they should not be soaked (for example, in the bath).
You should be able to wash normally after your stitches, dressings and clips have been removed. It's usually better to have a shower until the wound has healed to avoid soaking it completely.
Managing Pain After Your Procedure
Don't take aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil®) or naproxen (Aleve®), unless your healthcare provider says you can. These medications make it harder for your blood to clot, which may increase bleeding.
You may have pain or discomfort after your procedure. To help with this, take acetaminophen (Tylenol ) or extra-strength acetaminophen (Extra Strength Tylenol ). Don't take aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil ) or naproxen (Aleve ).
Wounds need to be covered so that they can heal properly. When a wound is left uncovered, the new surface cells that are being created can easily dry out. When these important cells dry out, it tends to slow down the healing process. A wound should be covered using a clean bandage.
Redness. The area may be swollen, sore, and red in color right after you've sustained your injury. This is normal as blood is being sent to the area to supply oxygen and other nutrients for healing. But if the wound is still red and swollen after five days, it's a sign that your body is not healing correctly.
After your surgery, do not take any anti-inflammatory medicines, such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Naprosyn (Aleve), and prescription anti-inflammatories, unless your surgeon prescribes them. Do not start taking these medicines until your doctor says it is okay.
The equivalent of a quarter tablet (50 mg, 10‐ × 10‐cm dressing) of ibuprofen can exert adequate anti‐inflammatory and pain‐reducing effects up to 7 days.
Do not take NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen, for the first three days after an injury. Rest for 24 to 48 hours but gently exercise the injured limb to prevent stiffness.
No, in most cases anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen or naproxen) don't help healing. In fact, in some cases it may even delay healing.
After the operation take simple painkillers such as paracetamol, anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen. Although these painkillers may not completely treat your pain, if you take them regularly they reduce the amount of other painkillers you might need.
The slow release of ibuprofen creates a continuous analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect on the wound.
They inhibit osteoblasts at the endosteal bone surface and also reduce both the immune response and the inflammatory response.
NSAIDs can slow healing
Multiple studies have shown that using NSAIDs can slow the healing of broken bones, damaged ligaments, and other tissues. If you are trying to heal the damage done to a knee, shoulder or other joint, using NSAIDs can significantly lengthen the healing time.
It's important to keep sutures clean and dry, especially for the first 24 hours. After 24 hours, you can wet the sutured area gently and quickly, for example in a sink or in the shower. Carefully pat the stitches dry immediately, as moisture can slow down the healing process.
Stitches and staples are used to keep wounds together during healing. They need to be removed within 4-14 days. The specific removal date depends on the location of the stitches or staples. Removal should not be delayed.
In general, the greater the tension across a wound, the longer the sutures should remain in place. As a guide, on the face, sutures should be removed in 5-7 days; on the neck, 7 days; on the scalp, 10 days; on the trunk and upper extremities, 10-14 days; and on the lower extremities, 14-21 days.
The first day: Keep your wound area dry for the first 24 hours after the doctor sewed in the stitches. You'll lower your risk of infection. Follow your doctor's instructions on when you can start cleaning the area and how to do it.