Has your doctor recently brought up the possibility of orthopedic surgery? Whether you are fighting arthritis or have a joint injury, chronic pain can be debilitating and life-changing, but getting that joint replaced might not end your pain. Here’s what you need to know about orthopedic surgery recovery before you make that decision.
Pain can last indefinitely.
You might be talking about joint replacement because you are tired of being in chronic pain, but the recovery from surgery itself can be very painful. Depending on the joint you had replaced, you could experience significant pain for as long as a few weeks.
The truth is that your pain may not go away completely with a joint replacement. Studies have shown that many people have at least some mild chronic pain in the joint even after replacement surgery.
Physical therapy just adds to the pain.
Usually, you will be required to go through some physical therapy after a joint replacement. This physical therapy is important because it strengthens the muscles and tissues around the joint to strengthen it and hopefully decrease pain, but the process of physical therapy itself can be very painful.
Missing work
It might seem like a petty concern for some, but many people rely on their careers for expenses or truly enjoy their career. If you are worried about missing too much work due to your joint problems, you might want to rethink a surgery that will put you out of the office for weeks.
If you are interested in learning more about how we can help you avoid joint replacement surgery, contact us today for an appointment.