Orthopaedic surgeries are major surgeries and are extremely stressful. There will be a lot of doubts going through your head and can trigger an anxiety breakdown. However, this can be controlled by asking questions prior to your surgery. Being knowledgeable about what you are about to go through will allow you to appreciate the entire surgical process, prepare yourself for it and set in mind a proper recovery plan post surgery. So what are some questions that you should be asking your surgeon before surgery?
Why am I doing this surgery?
It is easy to Google online for information regarding the particular surgery you are about to undergo. However, there is no clear answer to why you are doing the surgery. You should be asking your surgeon why he recommended this particular surgery for you and are there any other alternative treatment methods that are available as well as a comparison between the possible alternatives. This will allow you to have a high confidence level prior to surgery.
What are the risks?
Risks are inevitable in any surgery and some carry a higher risk level than others. It would be good to clarify on this issue as well as question about some surgical procedures which have lesser risk level such as the use of a local anaesthesia as compared to a general anaesthesia as studies have shown that patients who received general anaesthesia have a higher risk of post surgery bleeding.
What are the available pain relief methods?
Pain and discomfort is also unavoidable post surgery and some people have a lower pain threshold than others. Therefore, it is crucial to understand about the available pain relief methods which will help you get through this tough period. You should also know what medications you are allergic to so that proper medication can be administered to you.
What are the success rates?
Bluntly speaking, you undergo surgery with the hope that it is a success. However, as you have already known, some surgeries carry a higher risk factor than others and therefore the success rates will fluctuate. Knowing what the success rates are will allow you to make better plans for your future.
No matter what orthopaedic surgery you are about to undergo, you should always ask questions prior to it to clarify your doubts and set your mind at ease. Here’s wishing you to a successful surgery and quick post-surgery recovery.
