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What You Need To Know About Orthopedic Surgery For Treating Back Pain

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Back pain can occur due to many factors such as injury, bad posture, or your sleeping style. Additionally, if your work involves lifting heavy weight or standing for too long, it can put a strain on your spinal ligaments or back muscles. Likewise, diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis can weaken your bones and put pressure on your back leading to pain. If you have a prolonged pain in your back that won't go away through medication or therapy, your doctor may suggest orthopedic surgery to help relieve pain and discomfort. Before you have orthopedic surgery, here are a few things to keep in mind.

What to Expect Before Orthopedic Surgery

Before the actual surgery, your doctor conducts a comprehensive examination to determine your suitability for the operation. The review offers the surgeon an in-depth analysis of your musculoskeletal injury or condition. You'll begin by giving your doctor the correct information about how you're feeling. The doctor may want to know if there are past injuries that could be contributing to pain. It's essential to notify the doctor of any medication that you're taking before the actual surgery. Physical tests help in checking your range of motion, flexes, and flexibility. There are imaging tests, including X-rays and MRIs, that offer the doctor a precise analysis of the entire body. After the examination, the doctor discusses the treatment option available, which may also include orthopedic surgery. 

During the Surgery

Orthopedic surgery is a major operation that requires hospitalization for a few days. Your doctor may apply general anesthesia to induce you to sleep or an epidural that numbs the waist downwards. After surgery, the medical team will put you in a recovery room where your vital signs are observed before admission to your hospital room for nursing care. 

What Are the Complications?

You may experience pain in the surgical area and sometimes discomfort on the entire back. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication and recommend changes in sleeping position to relieve discomfort. The recovery process incorporates exercises under the supervision of a physical therapist. You'll be discharged out of the hospital once you can maneuver from a chair, bathe by yourself, walk with a walker or crutches, and be able to get from bed by yourself.

Orthopedic surgery can treat chronic pain due to injury or illness. If you experience pain in your back that interferes with your everyday life, contact your doctor, for a comprehensive evaluation and orthopedic surgery recommendation.

 


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