All we can say is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution as far as deciding on surgery is concerned. Your orthopaedic surgeon or other doctors involved are going to be the best people to determine when you can go ahead with the surgical procedure. The key factors to be taken into account are whether you happen to be in excruciating pain, if there is decreased mobility or if at all the injury or condition has started to adversely affect your body.
There are several factors that determine the time frame you may require to completely recover. It might take a few weeks, or for some, it may even take several months. Depending upon the condition for which you have been treated and the kind of surgery you have undergone, a call will be made to see if you can go home the same day or the next day, even in cases where you have had complete joint replacement surgery. A very small group of patients, however, will have to spend time at a skilled nursing facility to have better outcomes.
This is a type of orthopaedic surgery that makes use of medical instruments and cameras, thereby helping the doctors see the area that is being operated upon. There is no involvement of bigger incisions or cuts and this surgery accomplishes the same treatment outcomes as traditional open surgery. It however results in smaller incisions, lesser damage to the surrounding muscles, short hospital stays, less blood loss as well as quicker recovery times.
The advances that have been made in the prosthetic materials that are used in total or partial hip, elbow, shoulder, or knee joints have consistently extended the life of artificial joints. If we talk about a number, prosthetics used today can last up to 15-20 years. However, there are factors such as overall health of the individual, level of everyday activity, weight, etc., that may affect the durability of the prostheti.
The goal of every surgery is to restore the capabilities of the joints and get the patient moving without any pain. That said, there are certain limitations after a surgery and your orthopaedic surgeon is the best person to guide you on that.
It is always natural to experience some pain or maybe a little discomfort at the site where the surgery is performed. There may also be some bone/joint tenderness post-surgery. This is where the role of the caregivers becomes significant because they can work on determining the best pain management steps for you.