Thursday, December 28, 2017

Recovering From Posterior Lumbar Fusion Baltimore MD

There are many things that you should know and remember after having any type of surgery, but after back surgery, it is especially necessary to take extra care in order to get through the pain and the healing process. Your doctors and nurses will be more than happy to explain things thoroughly to you so that you understand them, even if you’re nervous. It’s OK to ask questions, it’s OK to be curious. The surgery itself will take anywhere between two and five hours, and after that… you’ll need to heal.

Posterior Lumbar Fusion Baltimore MD: Aftercare

After your surgery, you will need to stay in the hospital for between 2 and 5 days. Before the medical team will allow you to leave, you will need to demonstrate that you can do things like get into and out of bed, walk around by yourself, and understand your limitations. While healing, you won’t be able to bend at the waist, lift anything heavy or twisting at the waist. These things sound very restrictive, but they are meant to help you heal properly, avoiding setbacks. As time passes, you’ll be able to resume more normal activities, so be patient.

Even though you won’t always need to wear a back brace after having posterior lumbar fusion Baltimore MD, some patients will need to. This can provide additional support while healing. All patients will need to be sure that they can (and do!) keep the wound area clean and dry. It will need to be bandaged, and these need to be changed every few days, especially if they become dirty or come loose. Showering is OK beginning a few days after surgery, but while cleaning your body, be sure that the water does not directly hit the surgical site. Baths are not recommended for the first two weeks, until the wound has healed completely at the surface.

After posterior lumbar fusion, patients may begin to return to “normal” activities as they see fit - and as recommended by a doctor. Driving may resume after roughly two weeks, as long as patients are comfortable and can sit in the vehicle with no pain. Working is a little different, and patients should wait until their pain has decreased - usually between two and three weeks for light duties. More strenuous work may take a few months to work back up to, but this is normal.

Going through your required physical therapy sessions and following all of your doctor’s orders will help the healing process go smoothly, ensuring that your spinal surgery is successful. For more information, you can visit http://www.medstarunionortho.org.

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Preparing Mentally for Spinal Fusion Baltimore MD

Spinal Fusion Baltimore MD: How to Get Ready

Spinal surgery is not something that people should take lightly, but there are ways that patients can prepare themselves so that it is not a big, scary procedure that is feared. Surgeries like spinal fusion Baltimore MD are meant to help people feel better and get back to their normal lifestyles as quickly as possible, but they are far from simple. The concept is simple in and of itself, but the procedure will vary depending on the issue that needs to be corrected with the fusion surgery and the needs of specific patients. As with any other surgery, the more prepared you are, the better off you will be from the get go.

Starting to Prepare For Spinal Fusion Baltimore MD

1. Begin by finding a medical professional that you trust to perform the procedure and guide you through the experience in a healthy manner. The more comfortable you are with your doctors, the better the surgery is likely to be.

2. Your prep does not only entail following medical advice, but it also requires getting your home ready so that it is a good place for you to recover. You will need to have some help getting around, running errands, taking care of yourself and ensuring that things are progressing as they should be, so don’t be afraid to ask.

3. Thee more you know about your surgery, the better. While getting your home ready, get your mind ready for spinal fusion surgery. Many people believe that a patient’s state of mind can have a big impact on the outcome of the medical procedure, and this is no different. The more you know about what will happen and what to expect, the better off you’ll be, because you can calm your nerves, have questions ready to be answered and know what to expect through the different steps of your medical journey.

4. There are no stupid questions. Many patients have never undergone a procedure like this one before, so it’s OK to be nervous, it’s OK to have questions… your doctors and nurses will expect it. They are able to answer the questions that you may have, and will be more than happy to do so. It is important to go into a procedure like this with confidence, so ask away, even if your questions seem insignificant or trivial.

Information about the spinal fusion procedure and the facilities that offer these services can be found by visiting this site: www.medstarunionortho.org - why wait any longer?

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Getting A Total Hip Replacement Baltimore MD: What Comes After

The Aftermath of a Total Hip Replacement Baltimore MD

The surgery has been completed, the healing process has begun, and you can begin to truly think about what it means to have a new, totally replaced hip joint. The procedure can be done for a lot of different reasons, but for the majority of patients, the outcome is the same: a greatly decreased amount of pain, the ability to take more of an active role in day to day life and the freedom to do the things that you want to do.

Many total hip replacement Baltimore MD patients are older and have already experienced many different things in their lives. This means that they are looking forward to the years that they can spend out of work, doing what they want to do, whether this means picking up a hobby like hiking or golfing, spending more time doing things around the home, or even traveling and enjoying the world. For patients that may need hip replacement at a younger age, these things are still true, but patients may also need to have the procedure done so that they can do things like continue to work, take care of their families and simply be out of pain… and have less irritation and frustration in their lives.

After the surgery has been done, there will be months of recovery that include allowing the surgical site to heal along with physical therapy that is meant to help the body heal and become stronger. Without this, the likelihood for muscles to weaken, and for the implant to settle in incorrectly exist, so whatever can be done to avoid this should be done. This time is also a good period for reflection, giving you a chance to work toward different and individual goals. Everyone’s body heals at a different pace, so be patient and understand that things will happen as they should.

Even though there will be a lot of recovery and healing, this is also a chance for you to relax and recharge. You won’t be able to work for the first weeks (usually months) after having this surgery, so this is a chance to spend time doing things that may deviate from your normal routine. Read a book, catch up on TV, or simply spend a lot more time with your family with a clear head and a clearer schedule than is usual. It’s all up to you, so make the most of your time!

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Making the Most of a Total Hip Replacement Baltimore MD

No one wants to have to have an extensive, expensive and painful surgery… but at the same time, living with the pain and limitations of an injury or medical condition like that of the people with severe hip pain is unbearable. If it comes down to it, and you find that you need to have hip replacement surgery, there are some things that you can look forward to - even as you’re stuck in your house and unable to jump in the car and drive wherever you’d like to.

The Bright Side of Total Hip Replacement Baltimore MD

First, this means that you get to miss some work. For some people, total recovery and the ability to stand or sit and do their job as necessary will take months to work up to. Some people may be able to work from home, but for a lot of people, the only “work” that will need to be done during the recovery process is ensuring that everything is healing properly.

This gives you time to pick up a new hobby or to plan for the future. Once the total hip replacement Baltimore MD surgical site has totally healed, you’ll be able to do a lot more than you could before. No more pain each time you take a step, no more worrying about finding a comfortable sleeping position - no more aching when the weather changes… you’ll feel like a new person! Maybe you’d like to take up a new sport, or start going to the gym more… whatever you choose, you’ll have lots of time to plan.

Many people that go through the total hip replacement surgery process report that, even though there are still some limitations when it comes to movement, they feel like entirely new people with a new lease on life. Feeling happier and healthier overall can be a huge improvement when it comes to quality of life, which is a change for the better.

Although there are many reasons that people need to have hip replacement surgery, some people need them due to poor life choices. Being overweight is a common factor in patients that need hip surgery, so for some, being able to do something about losing weight and getting healthier is a motivating factor throughout the healing and rehabilitation process.

Yes, you’ll be going through the pain and the recovery alone in the sense that no one else will be able to experience the same things that you are on a moment to moment basis… but you’re not really alone. You’ll need rehabilitation help and physical therapy to help you regain use and range of motion in your hip joint, and the professionals that you’ll work with understand your frustration, pain and determination. They’re more than just medical professionals, they are people that get it.

For more information on this procedure and where you can go to have it done by experienced medical professionals, visit http://www.medstarunionortho.org

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Total Knee Replacement Baltimore MD: The Steps of the Healing Process

What Will Happen to Me After Total Knee Replacement Baltimore MD?

Like with any other extensively complex surgery, you’ll need plenty of time to recover and let your body do what it needs to do in order to repair itself. With a total knee replacement, not only will your body have to heal on the outside, but it will also have to heal around an implanted new knee structure, which can take time. There are some important milestones and things to remember, and being aware of what you should expect can make the lengthy process much less stressful and surprising.

It is important to remember, though, that everyone’s body will respond to surgery like this differently, so you’ll need to work with your medical team in order to ensure that you’re following the correct process for your own needs.

Total Knee Replacement Baltimore MD: The Steps

First, you should know that after having a total knee replacement in Baltimore, you won’t be totally out of commission for a long period of time. Within the first 24 hours of the surgery being completed, your medical professionals will want you to be up and moving around with the use of a walker or other assisting device. In some cases, you’ll be able to go home after a few days have passed and you’re no longer considered a fall risk… but if you are unable to care for yourself, or have no one at home to help you, there may be a need to enter a rehabilitation facility until you become stronger and more capable.

Though the replacement site will need time to fully heal, it is important to follow instructions pertaining to physical therapy during the healing process. If you simply let the knee joint sit idle while it is healing, there is likely to be a buildup of scar tissue, which can cause pain in the future. In addition to this, if you’re not attending your physical therapy sessions or following the plan laid out for you after your total knee replacement Baltimore MD, you risk over or under-working the knee joint, which can limit the flexibility and mobility as well as potentially result in a rejection of the replacement implant.

The process of healing from a surgery of this nature is anywhere from 4-6 weeks for typical day to day activities and driving, and up to a year for people to get back to “full strength” with their new knees. This seems like a long time, yes, but it’s important to think carefully about why this is the case before disregarding medical advice. The time you spend rehabbing your knee replacement can be used for a lot of things, like reading that book you’ve been putting off, binge watching your favorite shows, or even learning a new hobby that is not physically demanding. It’s all up to you!

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Why a Total Knee Replacement Baltimore MD is Necessary

Total Knee Replacement Baltimore MD: Do you Need One?

Walking is an essential part of everyday life, and there are a lot of different parts of the body that make it possible to move around freely. The spine, the feet, the ankles, hips and knees all work together each time your legs move, so an injury or pain in any of these areas can make things difficult - and even really uncomfortable. Since people walk thousands of miles each year,many people will experience injuries to multiple parts of the body, but the knees are often impacted a great deal. A total knee replacement Baltimore MD may seem like a last ditch effort to return comfort to the act of moving around on your own two feet, but the reality is that this is a common solution to many different issues.Though there are many reasons that people opt to get this procedure done, there are many specific groups of people that will choose this route.

Different Kinds of People that May Benefit from a Total Knee Replacement Baltimore MD

Athletes: Even though getting a total knee replacement may seem like a career ending surgical procedure, this isn’t always the case. People often severely injure themselves while playing a sport that they love, making it necessary to undergo this procedure. Even though it means a lengthy recovery period and a lot of time spent making sure that the knee joint is functional, it is entirely possible for athletes that undergo knee replacement to get back out and keep on competing.

Overweight individuals: In the case of those that are either overweight, or were overweight and have lost many pounds, total knee replacement in Baltimore is an option to repair the knee joints that were injured and impaired by the excess weight that was (or is) being carried around. This surgery can make it easier for people to move around and continue to lose weight - even motivating more weight loss in the future, too. The knees are under a lot of stress each day, and this is exacerbated by additional weight being added to the body.

The elderly: Even though people of all ages may need this type of surgery, it is common in people who have lived for many years and have done a lot of walking, running or activities that have strained the knees and the entire body. Knee replacement is an extensive surgery, but it can help people to improve their quality of life, ensuring that many more years of being able to enjoy things like exercise, walking, running or even working are possible.

For more information, check out https://www.medstarunionortho.org.

Friday, December 15, 2017

Recovering from a Lumbar Laminectomy and Discectomy Baltimore Surgery

These two surgeries - a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy Baltimore - are different in nature, but they can be done at the same time in order to alleviate multiple patient health concerns and issues. Even though they are able to be done using minimally invasive procedures, patients will still need to spend some time recovering in order to ensue that their bodies heal properly and completely. These two surgeries can be used to fix many different issues from fractured vertebrae and compression of the spine to herniated or bulging discs and even disc degeneration, so chances are, if you have some sort of back issue, one (or both) of these procedures may be options for you. If you need to have the surgery done, there are a few things that you should remember while recovering.

Staying Positive While Recovering from Lumbar Laminectomy and Discectomy Baltimore Surgery

- Be patient. It may seem like a long time, but you’d be surprised to know that many back surgery patients will get back to normal relatively quickly. This is due to the small incision that is made for the surgeries, and the precision that is required to perform them. Yes, you’ll need to take it easy for a few weeks, but almost as soon as the incision site is healed, patients can get back to driving and even doing simple, non-strenuous work.

- Follow instructions. Your doctors and nurses know better than you do what you need to do in order to heal and ensure proper recovery, so pay attention to the things that they say and what they suggest. Resting, keeping the incision clean and dry, and using the proper bandages and medications are not optional; these things will help you to get better on schedule.

- Be willing to ask for and accept help. You’ll need to have some assistance around the house for a few weeks, and may even need help with your day to day routine, too. There’s no shame in asking for help. After all, you’re not lazy, you’re in recovery. The need for assistance will pass quickly, and you will feel stronger and more capable as each day passes.

- Listen to your body. Even though your medical team will explain the “typical” recovery process to you, there’s no reason to think that every single person’s experience after a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy Baltimore will be the same. If you feel pain or fatigued, take a rest, if you don’t think you can do something, don’t. You don’t want to do anything that can or will compromise your health.