Reasons Not to Delay Orthopedic Surgery
Has your hip been bothering you for years, or has your knee been acting out since that injury last Summer? Or maybe your wrist makes it impossible to perform daily tasks sometimes?
Your doctor recommends surgery, but you can’t seem to make this decision for one or more reasons – maybe you can’t find the time, the cost seems too high at this point of your life, or you are simply afraid. Our team at our outpatient surgery center in Raleigh understands the obstacles.
But… delaying surgery can have long-lasting consequences. Here are three reasons explaining why you shouldn’t avoid orthopedic surgery:
1. Waiting can make it worse
The initial diagnosis is not too bad, the problem is minor, and you think to yourself, “the surgery can wait.” Sometimes delaying your surgery or putting it off can make an initially simple problem much worse with time – and more challenging to fix.
Why? For one, it may cost you time in recovery, you might need to participate in physical therapy longer, therapy can be more difficult, or it may extend the time it takes to get you back to full mobility. In the case of fractures, it can also take longer for the bones to heal, or they may not heal together correctly.
Ultimately a delay can make surgery more complex and lead to long-term implications, including disability and increased pain.
If you want to know how delaying surgery will affect your condition, ask your surgeon in Orthopedic Surgery Center, NC, to see for yourself if your fear of surgery has any foundation.
2. Your quality of life is important
Nobody likes to live with pain or discomfort, but the truth is, we sometimes get used to feeling worse than usual, and we adjust. It’s easy to forget what life was like before the problem started. Try to remember that feeling when your quality of life was normal, and you enjoyed full mobility and range of motion – a happy, pain-free life.
Yes, surgery is scary, recovery time can sometimes be painful, but this surgery is much shorter than the pain and discomfort you probably experience every day.
Let go of the fear and consider the positive impact the surgery will have on your day-to-day life and improved lifestyle.
3. Technology advances have improved clinical outcomes
Many surgical procedures are now completed on an outpatient basis. Arthroscopic procedures are now the norm, offering minimally invasive options without prolonged healing.
Many of the procedures that used to require an overnight stay are now completed, outpatient. Even patients who have knee and back surgery can go home the same day, sometimes walking the procedure day.
Outpatient procedures have other advantages, including less risk of infection or blood clots after surgery because they can go home the same day.
Check out our article about 5 advantages of outpatient surgery center vs Hospital.
4. If it could get better, it would
Some patients think, why even have surgery if they have been living with the pain for so long? You may feel you have lived this long with the condition; what may be the point of undergoing surgery?
But you might be surprised just how much surgery can improve your pain, disability, or injury, so you have relief. Almost all surgeries are completed to enhance the patient’s quality of life.
It is a common misconception that surgeons only care about “cutting into patients.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The main goal of your surgeon is to make you better and give you a chance for a pain-free life.
So, if there is a chance that your orthopedic condition can get better with time, by itself, believe us, your surgeon will be the first to suggest alternative therapies or waiting.
Yes, some conditions may get better on their own or with the use of non-surgical therapies. If that’s the case, your doctor will surely inform you about this possibility. If you have any questions, ask your surgeons. Education is the best tool against fear.
The best thing you can do is educate yourself on your injury as well as the surgery by discussing it in detail at our outpatient orthopedic surgery center.
Surgery Center In The Triangle, NC – Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center
The Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center, NC, is committed to providing you with world-class services during your treatment. Your care will at all times be physician-directed and patient-focused.
You are not only a patient to us. You are an individual with exceptional circumstances, requirements, and needs. Our Board Certified doctors, fellowship-trained surgeons, and other staff are devoted to bringing this standpoint to patient care and working every day to fulfill our promise of bringing you back to the lifestyle and activities you love. We provide comprehensive and specialized care for a wide variety of orthopedic conditions.
Our patients receive outstanding patient satisfaction, superior clinical outcomes and reduced costs. With our care, we are with you the entire way and keep you enjoying life even during injury.
So, if you are looking not only for a great orthopedic surgeon but also an experienced anesthesiologist in a surgery center in NC, Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center is a safe and perfect choice! If you would like more information about our orthopedic surgery center, do not hesitate to contact us.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
