What Is The Hardest Orthopedic Surgery To Recover From?

In case you need to go through an orthopedic surgery, you will probably feel dizzy when you think about everything that awaits you during the preparation, the surgery itself, as well as the postoperative recovery. We agree that recovery after some orthopedic surgeries can be long and painful, so it is important to keep this in mind in order to adequately prepare yourself and ensure that unpleasant situations do not greet you unprepared. Of course, not all orthopedic surgeries are the same, but today we want to share with you some that really require a long and painful recovery. Here are some of the hardest orthopedic surgeries to recover from:

1. Spinal fusion surgery

Spinal fusion surgery is one of the orthopedic operations after which a really long and painful recovery is needed in order for the body to return to its old state. This surgery is performed in patients who have a deformity of the spine, a narrowed spinal canal or degenerative disc disease, which results in the movement of the vertebrae. These movements cause pain, so the only way to solve the problem is to join the two vertebrae together. To achieve this, hip bone grafts are often used to connect the vertebrae. After the operation, the patients stay in the hospital for a few days, after which they go home where the rest of the recovery takes place. It takes up to 6 months for full recovery after spinal fusion surgery, because that is the time during which the vertebrae merge with the transplanted bone.

As you can conclude, this procedure is not at all simple and requires several months of recovery, so this is something you should keep in mind if this is an operation that your doctor suggests. Of course, the benefits are significant, so there is no question of whether you should undergo this surgery if it is a solution to your serious health problems.

2. Total joint replacement

Another orthopedic surgery that is quite demanding in terms of recovery is the complete replacement of the joints that is performed in patients with damaged or diseased joints. This operation completely replaces the joints with a prosthesis made of a combination of different materials, and is characterized by great durability. The materials used in making these prostheses are plastic, metal and ceramic, and after a period of rehabilitation, patients pretty much cannot feel the difference between a natural joint and these prostheses. Their functionality is maximally optimized, so they allow patients to live and function completely normally, as in the period when their natural joints were still not damaged. After this orthopedic surgery, patients stay in the hospital a little longer than after spinal fusion surgery. Usually, hospital recovery lasts three days or longer, and rehabilitation begins on the first day after surgery, which means – right away.

After the end of the rehabilitation, the pain is relieved and the functionality of the joints is optimal, but the recovery period itself includes a constant feeling of pain and is not at all simple. Medications and physical therapy can be of great help in pain management, so it is important that the patient adheres to all the doctor’s recommendations in order to make the postoperative period as easy as possible. On average, a period of 6 weeks is one in which the patient will need some degree of assistance in order to function on a daily basis.

What you need to keep in mind is that the length and difficulty of recovery are not always the same, but depend on several different factors. Some of them are the age of the patient and the condition of the joints at the time the patient undergoes surgery. In some cases, it takes almost a year for patients to recover, and sometimes the patient is ready to return to work and activities that do not require too much exercise when they stop taking painkillers.

Some of the tips for quick recovery after orthopedic surgery

Make sure you follow all of the doctor’s recommendations

Although this sounds quite logical, it is necessary to note how important it is to follow all the recommendations of your doctor to ensure that recovery is as quick and easy as possible. Often patients are aware that some advice makes sense, but choose not to listen to it, resulting in a much more difficult recovery than would be the case. Listen to and apply all the advice as if your life depends on them, because that is the case in a way.

Of course, the key thing is also to find the best possible orthopedic clinic and a doctor who is professional, reliable and who will maximally help you get through this period. Click here if you’re interested in finding out more about the premier orthopedic clinic in Dubai.

Check up on your incision regularly and maintain it properly

When you get home, you need to take care of your incision in the best possible way. This means that it is crucial that you check it regularly, but also maintain it in the way the doctor has prescribed. The care of the incision does not have to be complicated and demanding if you educate yourself about it in time and perform it regularly. If you are confused and need extra help, do not hesitate to ask your doctor or nurse about it. Everything should be clear to you at all times and you should go through the recovery period in the easiest way possible.

In case your doctor has recommended an orthopedic operation to solve your health problem, you are probably thinking about what awaits you and what your recovery after the operation will look like. Recovery after some orthopedic surgeries such as spinal fusion surgery or total joint replacement is probably the longest and most difficult, but it is simply something that patients have to go through for their health. By following your doctor’s advice and taking care of your incision after surgery, you can ease and shorten your recovery period as much as possible. And then enjoy all the benefits that the surgery will bring you!