Aspirins

Does no aspirin before surgery mean no icy hot balm?

I know that when someone has surgery your not supposed to take any aspirin products 2 weeks prior to surgery. But the Icy Hot balm that I applied 5 days before surgery to someone I just realized had an alarming notice. It said if you have an allergy to aspirin products consult a physician. Now I don't know if this balm is something that shouldn't be used before surgery and if it has aspirin in it? I'm really worried about this. We didn't want to cancel this surgery as it's very important and shouldn't be delayed. Does anyone know if no aspirin before surgery means no Icy Hot Balm (for arthritic back pain) and should this be avoided as well???

Public Comments

1. The aspirin / other meds is about minimizing bleeding since they are blood thinners . If you only used it once and the surgery is still days away , Should not be a problem . When they ask during prep say " does icy hot balm count ?" . As long as it's nearly a week , they will probably let it pass . But you did stop it tho ? right ? You do NOT want to start hemorrhaging uncontrollably on the table . . . ?
2. The reason why you don't want to take aspirin before surgery is because it thins your blood. The doctors would have a harder time getting your blood to clot if you were to take some before surgery. Don't worry about the icy hot balm it does not thin your blood.
3. dont worry its not the same, so you are ok. and i am a nurse.betty.
4. That really is something you need to ask the Dr to make sure. I know when i was having surgeries i was always told no aspirin or products that contained it---just call your Dr and ask to be sure.
5. Icy Hot is fine to use before surgery. The reason you have to stop the aspirin is that aspirin can interfere with your blood clotting and they don't want you to bleed too much during the surgery!