Orthopedic Surgery 12-12-2018 12:00 AM Share

Fast Recovery

 If you’re planning on having orthopedic surgery in Dubai, you’re making an excellent decision. We’ve got some tips for you to help make your recovery time as fast and comfortable as possible.

Thank goodness for modern medicine. Today, orthopedic surgery – that uses both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, spine diseases, sports injuries, degenerative diseases, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders

 –  gives injured or sick people a chance to repair and heal their bodies. In Dubai – a city that boasts some of the world’s top medical facilities, cutting-edge technology and highly-qualified doctors – orthopedic treatments are highly advanced, with people from all over the world flocking to the city to have them done.

After your surgery…

While surgery – obviously – is one major aspect of your treatment, recovery time – which is likely to involve physical therapy – is too.

Physical therapy is a key aspect in terms of rehabilitation from any form of orthopedic surgery, Whether it’s a total joint procedure or something less invasive – like an arthroscopic procedure – physical therapy is really important in terms of speeding up recovery time and getting you back on your feet in no time. If you’re coming from out of town for surgery, this is something to keep in mind when booking tickets, hospitals and hotels.

Most surgeons refer patients to physical therapy following surgery, but depending on the surgery, you may just be given a list of exercises to do on your own. You don’t necessarily always need a physical therapist, but without one to help guide your progression, monitor your performance, provide tips to make them more effective, and keep an eye out for any post-surgical complications, you are missing an important step in your recovery process. Before coming to Dubai, talk to your doctor about his or her thoughts on physical therapy, and if he or she thinks you will be able to complete your therapy in your home country, or if it’s best to undertake therapy in Dubai as well.

So, what can you expect straight after surgery?

Your doctor will give you a complete physical therapy evaluation, keeping in mind things like range of motion, strength and the medical team’s recovery guidelines. If there are specific activities you need or want to get back to, or perhaps job-related duties you still need to perform, a physical therapist can craft a plan based on your goals.”

There are four stages of rehabilitation or healing,

These include:

Restoring motion
After you’ve had surgery, gentle or passive therapy will begin. This is when a physical therapist helps you with range of motion for a particular joint or part of the body.

Active range of motion
After your follow-up visit with your surgeon, or when the medical team’s guidelines indicate, you’ll start to progress through assisted and active-range-of-motion exercises. At this time, the physical therapist gives you guidance as you start to get back to your normal routine.

Strengthening
Once your active range of motion has been restored, you’ll move on to the strengthening phase. That involves a variety of exercises and equipment and basically gives the repaired part of your body its strength back.

Restoring optimal movement
The last phase of recovery puts the puzzle together and helps you move more efficiently and effectively through all of the things you need to do in your everyday life.

Flying home after surgery

If you’re travelling home from Dubai after surgery, there are a few things to take in to consideration.

Surgery will have an impact – though usually temporary – on your physical and psychological ability to transit the airport, tolerate turbulence, and sit comfortably in a chair for hours at a time. A broken bone will significantly impact your ability to tolerate turbulence. You can find out more about travelling after surgery from your doctor and on airlines’ websites. Also, remember to ask the airline if you need a clearance-for-flying letter before you leave.

Doctors offer a guideline as to how long after your surgery you can expect to fly.

• 1-2 days after arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery
• 1-2 days after a plaster cast has been applied. If both your legs are in plaster, it is unlikely that you will be able to fly for a while.
• 4-5 days after simple, open surgery like wrist or hand surgery
• 14 days for more complicated open surgery, like shoulder joint replacement surgery
• 14 days after surgery to stabilise a fracture or broken bone
• 3 months for total hip replacement. Hip precautions minimise the risk of hip dislocation in the first six weeks after surgery and can’t be met in standard aeroplane seats.
• Also keep in mind that surgery and/or a broken bone will affect where you can sit on a plane and your ability to tolerate turbulence. These should be considered before you book your flight and board the plane.

References:

https://www.dmu.edu/dose/2016/05/4-steps-recovering-orthopedic-surgery/