4 recovery options for elbow, hand or shoulder surgery

Pain medications

Pain immediately after surgery is often treated with medications that are reduced as soon as practical. If you have persistent pain in the weeks after surgery, your doctor may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help relieve it. Always talk to your health care provider before taking any pain medication and communicate openly about any discomfort you feel.

RICE

The combination of rest, ice, compression and elevation is a standard approach for many injuries, including recovery from surgery.

Getting enough rest is necessary for your body to heal. Your body will consume more energy than normal, as it repairs the tissues and copes with the trauma of surgery.

It has been shown that the use of ice or other cold therapy methods helps reduce the swelling and pain you will experience after surgery.

The ankle joint is the smaller joint as compared to the knee or hip joint but takes the same load of the whole body. Three bones form the ankle joint- the tibia-fibula and the talus. Like any other joint the bones that come in contact have a coating called as cartilage. These bones are held in place by various ligaments which envelope the ankle joint.

Compression is used to help eliminate edema or excess fluid, and also contributes to the reduction of swelling.

The elevation helps limit swelling by making it more difficult for excess fluids to travel to the affected area. Controlling swelling is important to speed up the healing process. Although some inflammation is normal (and indeed beneficial), too much inflammation prevents cell and tissue repair.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy after surgery is essential to restore the strength and flexibility of injured muscles and other tissues. Some activities that could be included in your therapy include:

Muscle strengthening exercises to help you return to normal function.

Stretching to increase flexibility and improve mobility.

Activities to help reduce scar tissue in the skin.

Always follow your physiotherapist's instructions to ensure optimal recovery. Although you may be advised to start using your hand or https://www.expertjointcare.com/treatments/ankle-joint/index.html">wrist shortly after surgery, too much activity may delay the healing process. Work closely with your therapist to achieve the right balance of activity.

Cold Compression Therapy

Cold compression therapy is recommended for recovery from surgery for the same reasons used to treat recurrent acute injuries. It is more effective than ice packs and static compression bandages, and there is no risk of tissue damage due to too cold temperatures.

This type of therapy is particularly beneficial for recovery from surgery because it helps speed up the healing process in the following ways:

Cold reduces cellular metabolism, which reduces cell death and secondary tissue damage.

Active compression eliminates edema, which can contribute to slower healing.

Active compression increases blood flow, which provides more oxygen for tissue repair.

The faster your muscles, https://www.expertjointcare.com/treatments/ankle-joint/index.html">ligaments and tendons can heal after surgery, the faster you can return to normal activity. Adding cold compression therapy to your recovery program is the best way to ensure faster rehabilitation.

This is the most common problem affecting many patients. The injury can be very minor to a chronic condition causing major problems in day-to-day movement. Usually the injury is sustained while playing, running, jogging, getting down stairs, at home in bathroom and other slippery places

1. What are the indicators of serious injury?

Severe pain and swelling, inability to put weight on the leg or walk, bruising and symptoms lasting for more than 5 days

2. What happens in ankle sprain?

There can be ligament, tendon or/ and bone injury. Ligament injury can range from minor sprain to major complete tears. Bone can be fractured and tendon can be strained.

3. What is the treatment?

The treatment depends on the extent of injury. Minor sprains need rest, ice applications and splinting for 2-3 weeks. Major sprains and some fractures may require plaster cast application. In some cases of fractures and complete ligament tears surgery may be needed.

4. What is the recovery period?

Again this is very individual. It depends on the extent of injury. It can vary from 2 weeks to 3 months or more depending on the severity of the injury.

5. What investigations are required?

An X ray is the basic investigation. A CT scan or MRI may be required depending on the injury.

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