After Surgery

When Can I Expect to Get Back to My Former Life after Surgery?

When Can I Expect to Get Back to My Former Level of Activity after Surgery?

After SurgeryYou lead an active lifestyle that’s an integral part of your quality of life. Unfortunately, that often involves injury—it’s all just a part of the game. But when you’ve suffered the type of injury that requires surgery, one of your first concerns will typically be “when can I get back in the game?”

Not surprisingly, there’s no hard and fast answer to that question. Every surgical procedure is unique, so the criteria that help determine how long you’ll need to recover and what type of treatment or therapy will best work for you will vary as well. Here are some recommendations, though, to help you maximize your chances of full recovery while minimizing the length of time it takes to heal.

Let Your Surgeon Be Your Guide

There’s one person who understands your injury, the surgical process and your needs during convalescence better than anyone else—your surgeon. Resist the urge to look for remedies online or to get recommendations from a friend who just happens to be a physical therapist or rehab specialist. Unless they’ve seen your charts, they can’t have anywhere near the knowledge of your injury that your surgeon has. Your surgeon will know what your body can handle and the potential risks of different types of treatment. When you undergo other treatment options without consulting your surgeon, you risk complications that could set you back.

It’s a fundamental rule—the more invasive your surgery is, the longer it will typically take to heal and get back to normal activities. The recovery time from an arthroscopic procedure may be as short as a few weeks, whereas open surgery can take months of recovery time.

The Best Way to Heal Fast—Listen and Follow

One thing is pretty certain—you’ll have a better chance of a quicker recovery if you pay close attention to what your surgeon tells you and you follow his or her recommendations. Make certain you do the minimal amount prescribed, but be careful not to push it without consulting your surgeon. It may seem like more is better (and will help you heal sooner), but it may put unhealthy stress on your body, particularly the areas that were subject to surgery.

Contact 911 Injury Relief for Experienced Medical Professionals

Let 911 Injury Relief help you on your path to wellness. For more information about the range of services we offer, contact us today.

Surgical Options for Treating Back Pain

What Are My Surgical Options for Treating Back Pain?

Surgical Options for Treating Back PainA condition that is all too common is back pain. In fact, in the US alone there are 31 million people suffering from some degree of back pain at any given moment (source).

From slow developing back aches to severe cases of spinal trauma, many patients of all ages and walks of life experience are susceptible to episodes of back pain. These injuries can range in severity from minorly inconvenient to completely debilitating. In any case, back pain should be monitored closely and treated immediately if it begins to affect your quality of life.

Your back is an impressive and important musculoskeletal structure that controls a critical portion of your overall ability to function. In addition to its important role in your ability to move, reach, bend and twist, the muscles, tendons and bones that make up your back also have the extremely vital role of protecting your spine and spinal cord. Any degree of damage to your spinal cord could disrupt the channel through which your brain initiates nerve functions, potentially leading to pain, discomfort, degeneration and partial or complete paralysis.

In order to maintain your optimum level of health and wellbeing, there are several surgical options available to address conditions that can generate back pain.

Types of Back Injuries Treated Surgically

Numerous back pain conditions generate such significant symptoms that they will require surgical intervention to reduce their severity. Due to the potential for complications, surgery is typically only utilized in cases where it is deemed absolutely necessary. While most surgeries are highly successful, non-invasive measures will always be taken initially, if possible, to treat back pain or prepare the patient for surgery. Certain conditions will be too severe to approach with caution and will require immediate surgical intervention.

Severe back pain can spur from a number of circumstances and conditions. While those that are exposed to more risky situations, such as athletes, laborers and extreme sports enthusiasts, are at a greater probability for back injuries, other factors such as poor posture, stress, overuse, genetics and neurological diseases can render an individual with acute and/or chronic back pain. Back injuries that require back surgery include:

  • Fractures
  • Sciatica
  • Scoliosis
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Spondylolysis
  • Kyphosis
  • Pinched nerves – Can be caused by fluid build-up, loose fragments, swelling and any other source of pressure
  • Herniated disc

Back Pain Surgeries

When you are suffering with severe or sustained back pain, meaningful relief can be a godsend. Even the slightest discomfort in your back can turn simple tasks into nagging inconveniences. Addressing your back pain at its source through progressive medical intervention (chiropractic care, medical massage therapy, physical therapy and surgery) will improve your physical and mental state and assist in your return to normal activities such as functional tasks, work, social engagements and hobbies.

With access to quality surgical treatments for back pain, you can take your health into your own hands. Pain doesn’t have to be part of life with the surgical options below:

  • Total Disc Replacement Surgery
  • Microdiscectomy
  • Laminectomy
  • Spinal Fusions
  • Discectomy
  • Vertebroplasty
  • Corpectomy

Speak with your orthopedic surgery team at 911 Pain Relief to establish your best course of action for treating your back pain.

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