Office Address:

Orlin & Cohen Orthopaedics Associates

1728 Sunrise Highway

Merrick, NY  11566

Contact Numbers:

Tel:  516-992-4700

Fax:  516-992-4707

Email:  

dkatsaros@ocoanet.com 
               (see full contact info below)

-- or --

Info@LIshoulder.com

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Directions

• Appointment Scheduling

• Items Patients Need to Bring on the Day of Appointment

• For Patients Who Have Therapy Planned

• For Patients With Planned Surgery

DIRECTIONS

By Car:

• Meadowbrook Parkway to Exit M8 E
  RT 27, Sunrise Highway.

• Take Sunrise Highway East 0.4 miles.
  Our office will be on the right.

By Train:

• Merrick train station on the Long Island Railroad.

• Proceed approximately 1 mile west; our office will be on the east-bound side.

• If needed, call the office for taxi information.

APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING INFORMATION

If you have your insurance through an HMO, and you are required to have a referral from your PCP (Primary Care Physician), you must obtain this prior to your appointment.  In addition to providing us with your general patient information, please make sure to give us a telephone number where you can be reached in the event of an emergency that might affect your scheduled visit.

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Items Patients Need to Bring on the Day of Appointment:

Please bring all old records, x-rays, CT scans, and MRI’s.  Always bring the actual films, if available, along with radiologist reports.  the actual films are easier to use for discussion purposes than a CD or DVD.  Please bring all doctors' notes and any prior operative reports.  Female patients should bring a tank top or jogging bra.

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Appointment Scheduling Information:

We participate in many insurance plans and can accommodate most patients for their Physical Therapy.  Our highly experienced office staff is trained to take care of all your insurance details from verifying your coverage, to obtaining proper authorizations and referrals, and applying for reimbursement. 

Please call 516-992-4700 to schedule an appointment.

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FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE PLANNED SURGERY

Surgical Scheduling:

When scheduling surgery, you will be in contact with Denise Katsaros (516-992-4700 or dkatsaros@ocoanet.com). 

Pre-Surgical Preparation:

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight of the night before your surgery.  Do not apply deodorant in the morning of your surgery under the arm of the shoulder that will be operated.  If you are having outpatient surgery and going home after your surgery, make sure you have someone who can drive you home later in the day.

Post-Surgical Instructions:

It is normal to have swelling and discomfort in the shoulder for several days or a week after surgery.  Apply ice bags (i.e., frozen vegetables) or use the Cryocuff you obtained to control swelling.  Ice should be applied 20-30 minutes at a time, every hour or two; put a thin towel or T-shirt next to your skin if using ice in a plastic bag.  Icing is most important in the first few days after surgery, although many people find that continuing it lessens their postoperative pain, even weeks or months later.

If you had a nerve block, the local anesthetic may keep your shoulder numb for several hours.  You will be given a prescription for powerful pain medication when you are discharged from the hospital.  If you find you do not tolerate it well, call our office and we will try another one.  Your prescriptions will be provided to you upon discharge from the hospital, and they should be filled and picked up on the day of surgery to be used immediately.

Many patients find that lying down accentuates their discomfort.  You might sleep better in a recliner, or propped up in bed.  A pillow placed behind your elbow will often be helpful.  Pump your hand and move your wrist and elbow to keep the blood circulating and prevent stiffness.  Move your ankles up and down 20 times each hour during the first few days after surgery.

Keep the postoperative dressing clean and dry.  Unless it becomes wet or too tight because of swelling, leave the bandages in place for at least two days.  Two days after your surgery remove your outer bandages; however, do not remove the short strips over your incisions.  Cover the incisions as needed with Band-Aids.  If a catheter is in place, follow the instructions on the discharge sheet.  You may shower three days after surgery, but try to keep the incisions dry for the first 10-14 days.  Do not wet your incisions directly (such as submerging your shoulder with bathing or swimming) until at least 2 weeks after surgery.

The sutures will be removed at your first post-operative visit approximately 5-10 days after surgery.  If you don't have your first post-operative visit scheduled, call our office to make one.  Instructions for home exercises will be provided on the discharge instruction sheet.  If you have a home exercise kit, bring in the booklet for each of your post-operative visits for further instructions.

If you have an arthroscopic reconstructive procedure such as an instability repair, labral repair, or rotator cuff repair, your arm will be in a sling for approximately four weeks during the initial rehabilitation period.  Each patient will have an individualized post-operative program.  Unless instructed otherwise, you can remove the sling to go in the shower; however, keep your arm at the side and do not use it actively.  Do not move the arm out to the side.  You can type on a computer with your arm at the side and you can bend your elbow to feed yourself.  Otherwise, keep the sling on.  In certain cases, a specialized sling is used, and instructions will be provided for its use.  After approximately three to four weeks, we will advance your physical therapy program appropriate for your shoulder.  It often helps to call before surgery to make an appointment with your physical therapist.

Be in the care of a responsible adult.  Abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages and from smoking.  You may eat your usual diet, if not nauseated.  Drink plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids.  Do not make important decisions or sign legal documents.  Plan to take a few days off work, unless you have a discussion prior to surgery indicating otherwise.  Driving is prohibited for a period time following surgery.  Do not lift, push, pull, or carry anything with the operated arm/hand.

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