Improving Your Likelihood Of Surgery Success

Believe it or not, you actually play a significant role in the success of your surgical operation. Your surgeon may provide the technical skill to complete the operation, but your commitment to your pre- and post-op care will go a long way in determining your functional recovery. Here’s a look at some of the things you can do to improve your odds of a successful foot and ankle surgery.

Prehab – You don’t have to wait until surgery is complete to start rehabbing your foot or ankle. While you’re waiting for surgery, do some gentle strength training exercises or a physical therapy routine. The stronger your foot is prior to surgery, the stronger it will be after your operation. Doing some exercises beforehand also helps you get used to performing strength training exercises regularly, which you’ll likely be doing after your operation.

Work On Your Weight – We understand that it may not be easy to try and lose some weight ahead of surgery, especially if your foot or ankle surgery makes movement difficult, but it’s really important that you work towards a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases your likelihood of a problem during surgery, and even though your doctor will do everything in their power to control these risks, surgery doesn’t go perfectly every single time. Strive to improve your odds of a successful surgery by working towards a healthy weight.

Follow Your Doctor’s Advice – This is a rather simple tip that many people oftentimes overlook. Your surgeon will give you some pre-op and post-op advice, and it’s imperative that you follow their instructions. They may tell you how to adjust your diet or your medication schedule prior to or after your procedure, or they may explain how to get the most out of your physical therapy program after surgery. Pay attention to what they are saying and heed their advice to keep your surgery and recovery on track.

Mind Your Restrictions – Similarly, keep your restrictions in mind during your recovery period. One of the most common reasons for a failed surgery or a setback during recovery is because the patient steps outside their restrictions. Don’t head back to work or start driving on your surgically-repaired foot until you have been given clearance by your physician. Your restrictions have been put in place for a reason, so respect them. If you have questions or believe your restrictions are outdated, have a conversation with your surgeon.

Take PT Seriously – Physical therapy will likely be the single most important aspect of your post-op recovery plan in terms of helping you restore as much physical function as possible. Don’t skip your exercises or simply go through the motions. Really push yourself to become stronger and more flexible so that your foot can handle the stress you’ll throw at it once you’re fully recovered. If you don’t take PT seriously, you may never make a full recovery.

Improve Your Diet – Finally, if you work to improve your diet before and after surgery, you’ll be helping your body get nutrients it needs that aid in the recovery process. Eat a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, fatty fish and whole grains, and your body will have access to nutrients that can help with tissue repair and inflammation control. A healthy diet can also help you manage your weight before and after surgery.

Circle back to our blog to keep tabs on our surgery series, and check out our first installment on what you should know before your surgical procedure.

The post Surgery Series #2 – Improving Your Odds Of Successful Foot Surgery appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.

What To Know Before Foot Surgery

Before your airplane takes off, the flight crew takes 5-10 minutes to go through a number of different procedures. They cover very important topics, like what to do in the event of an emergency, and they cover relevant information, like whether or not a full menu is offered on the flight. This process ensures that all passengers are prepared before takeoff.

Unfortunately, not all patients get this same type of procedural information ahead of surgery. Their surgeon may explain what will happen during the operation, but even so, that’s really just the bare bones of what should be covered prior to surgery. Dr. Silverman has a similar pre-flight checklist that he goes through with all of his patients. Here’s a summary of what he covers:

Confirm Optimal Treatment – Surgery isn’t going to be recommended unless Dr. Silverman has performed an individual assessment and decided in conjunction with the patient that surgery is the optimal route. Oftentimes this decision comes after weeks or months of failed conservative efforts, as most physicians opt to avoid surgery if it is at all possible. We’re not going to recommend surgery unless we’re convinced it’s the right option for you.

What Procedure Is Being Performed – As we alluded to above, one of the essential talking points before a surgical procedure is explaining what operation will be performed. We’ll explain the ins and outs of the procedure well before surgery day.

Why The Procedure Is Being Performed – We also think it’s helpful to explain why we’re recommending this procedure. We’re not just going to say “This is the procedure that is recommended for your injury.” We’re going to explain why we believe the surgery is the best option for you and your specific needs.

What To Do Before Surgery – We’ll also explain what we want you to do in the weeks, days and hours leading up to surgery. We may have you perform some physical therapy exercises, we may have you work to control your blood glucose levels or we may have you adjust your medication routine as needed. We want you to feel prepared for surgery, and that only happens if we explain what you can do to get ready in the lead up to your operation.

Possible Risks And Complications – The flight crew touches on what you need to prepare for in the event something doesn’t go as planned, and we’ll do the same. We don’t expect any complications to arise, but you need to be aware of the possibility, and we’ll also explain how we’d deal with these issues should they develop.

Post-Surgery Recovery – We’ll go into greater detail about your rehab after surgery is complete, but we do want to explain what your recovery will entail and what we expect to see during your rehabilitation period. If you want to know when you’ll be able to walk, run, drive, play sports or return to work after surgery, we’ll cover that when we talk about your post-surgery recovery.

Your Goals – Finally, we always want to talk with the patient prior about their goals to any treatment. If you want to return to athletic competition or simply have less pain, your goals may end up dictating the best treatment plan. We want you to be confident in the care you’re receiving, and that only happens if we discuss your goals with you to ensure treatment matches your needs and wishes.

The post Surgery Series #1 – What You Should Know Before Foot Surgery appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.