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Day Surgery Unit

Advice for patients after manipulation

Patient Information Leaflet

 

Introduction

This leaflet is for patients who have had manipulation. It gives advice on what you should do when you get home, and contact information for if you have any problems relating to your procedure.

 

What is manipulation used for?

The aim of manipulation is to increase the range of movements of your joint. It is carried out using general anaesthetic so you will be asleep for the procedure.

 

Advice

  1. You will need to arrange for a responsible, able-bodied adult to collect you from hospital. If they cannot drive you home, you will need to make your own taxi arrangements. It is not a good idea for you to travel on public transport.
  2. Try to have a friend or relative stay with you for the first 24 hours.
  3. We recommend that you have a restful evening after your procedure and maintain a gentle level of activity. You will probably feel quite drowsy.
  4. After a general anaesthetic, you should not:
  1. As soon as possible, it is important to begin moving the joint through its natural range of movements. You will be shown how to do this.
  2. While you were asleep, you will have been given a combined injection of local anaesthetic and an anti-inflammatory medication, into the affected joint. This will help to relieve any pain for several hours.

As the effects of this wear off, you may experience some pain.  You can take a painkiller such as paracetamol to relieve this (always read the label; do not exceed the recommended dose).

You may have some stiffness in the joint for a few days. However, it is still important to keep the joint moving through its natural range of movements.

 

Follow up

If you need an outpatient follow up appointment, or your consultant feels that you will benefit from some physiotherapy, we will send you an appointment through the post.

 

Helpline numbers

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand about this leaflet, please speak to a member of staff or contact:

Russells Hall Hospital Day Surgery Unit on 01384 456111 ext. 1886 (7.30am to 8pm, Monday to Friday) or

Pre-operative Assessment Unit on 01384 456111 ext. 1849 (7am to 7.30pm, Monday to Friday)

Out of these hours, urgent queries: contact Surgical Assessment Unit on 01384 456111 ext. 3359.

Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number: 01384 456111

 

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet, please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

 

Originator: T.Trevis/A.Larkin Date reviewed: January 2026 Next review due: January 2029  Version: 5 DGH ref: DGH/PIL/00623