Bone Health: Keeping Everyone In Your Family Healthy

Orthopedic injuries and problems can have a devastating impact on a person's quality of life. However, there can be many reasons for people to have hesitations about undergoing the surgery that will be needed to correct these problems. While orthopedic surgery can be a major procedure to undergo, it is possible to take steps that will reduce the unnecessary risk of problems or disruptions arising from this surgery.

Appreciate The Importance Of The Pre-Surgery Evaluation

Any type of surgery is a major ordeal for the body, and patients will need to make sure that they are cleared. Otherwise, they could be at risk of suffering complications from the procedure itself, the anesthetic administered before the procedure or other factors.  Typically, these evaluations are short, but they can provide invaluable information for patients and their doctors.

Plan For Any Lifestyle Adjustments That Will Be Needed During Your Recovery

The process of recovering from orthopedic surgery can be longer than many people may appreciate. In addition to the need to recover from the surgery itself, patients will usually also need to undergo extensive rehabilitation, if they are to be able to fully recover. This is needed so that their muscles can recover their strength, as significant weakening can occur from the surgery as well as the lengthy period of limited activity.

Keep A Recovery Journal

It can be useful for a patient to document their recovery to the best of their ability. This can help with identifying potential problems or trends that their doctor may need to know about. Additionally, it can be useful for patients that may grow frustrated with their lengthy recovery to be able to easily review their progress. This can be especially informative, for patients that are planning on returning to sports or other physical activities, as documenting their rehabilitation can make it easier to know when they are able to return to their activity.

Report Any Changes In Your Recovery To Your Doctor

Over the course of your recovery, it is important to be mindful of any sudden or gradual changes that you may not be expecting. This can be stiffness, soreness or other issues that your doctor may not have told you to anticipate. Some patients will attempt to ignore these symptoms, due to assuming they were anticipated by the doctor. However, any of these changes should be discussed with your orthopedic surgeon, as it may indicate a change is needed in the treatment routine.