A successful surgery requires the surgeon and the patient to work together. Even the best surgeon in the world can’t fix a problem if the patient doesn’t follow instructions and take care of themselves during recovery. Here are the top 5 ways to diminish problems with surgery from a Minneapolis Orthopedic Surgeon.
- Follow the doctor’s directions. Complications happen. Many are avoidable when you follow recommendations. Doctors don’t make up these rules for no reason. Non-compliance often leads to trouble.
- Keep the recovering part of your body at heart level. This decreases swelling, improves wound healing, and controls pain.
- Don’t put things down into the cast. Do not use hangers, pens, pencils, or other long sharp objects to scratch an itch. Use a hair dryer or ask your doctor to have a cast change and skin cleaning.
- Keep the wound clean (if you have access and permission from your surgeon). Unscented Soap and water is safe on most wounds. Wounds feel better and heal better when they are clean.
- Move it but, don’t use it. In 1895 a French Orthopaedic Surgeon, Lucas Championniere wrote: Le mouvement c’est la vie: Motion is life. After surgery, tissue planes are disrupted, bleeding, and trying to heal. Motion is good for them so that scar doesn’t form in between the layers. However, the goal is to heal the tissue layers themselves. Most sutures cannot take physiologic stress (normal stress of typical use). For example, following lower extremity surgery, weight bearing is restricted or protected but motion is encouraged. In upper extremity surgery motion is essential to avoid stiffness and get the best results. Abdominal surgeons have long been aware that walking around and taking deep breaths after surgery decreases complications and improves survival.
Surgery is a complicated thing. In order to assure a quick and full recovery, the patient must work in collaboration with the surgeon/doctor. Remember these 5 tips after your surgery to diminish the potential for any problems that may arise from surgery.
