From initial diagnostics through the end of your recovery, great orthopedic healing is about more than just the surgery itself. Going through the surgical process is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s important to work with a team you trust – and even better – one that is close to home. Each step of the orthopedic surgery process – diagnostics, pre-op education, surgery, recovery, follow-up care, therapy – is equally important and work together to help you heal your pain.
Diagnostics. Before surgery even crosses your mind, you will most likely be working with your primary care provider to determine the problem and decide on next steps. In this stage, your doctor might suggest physical therapy as a possible option to avoid surgery, identify potential risk factors, perform cardiac evaluations or take x-rays to determine a direction for the surgeon and team of providers.
Preoperative Education. Once your doctor determines surgery is your best option, they will work with you to choose an orthopedic surgeon that you trust and whose skills fit your needs. Your surgeon will help you understand what will happen before, during and after surgery to ensure you’re both mentally and physically prepared. In addition, pre-op education might include things like nutrition information, understanding your procedure, preparing for medications, pain management and therapy and what you can do to ensure successful healing.
Surgery. You’ve done all of the preparations, now it’s time to actually have your procedure and get back to healing. Having surgery close to home means that it’s easy to get to and even easier to go home. You should prepare to spend some time in in-patient recovery, depending on the type of surgery you have. By the time you leave, you will have all the instructions you need to continue healing at home and numbers to call if you have questions.
Recovery. The most important part of recovery is following your doctor’s instructions. “We know recovery can sometimes feel like a never-ending process,” says Lane Lindeman, PA-C, at the MCHS – Dickinson Orthopedic Practice. “When you follow the guidance of your team, you will be back to your day-to-day life in no time. Skipping steps and ignoring the advice of your team could potentially put you at risk and extend your recovery time even more.” Recovery includes getting plenty of rest at home, eating and drinking healthfully and attending your follow-up appointments. Most doctors recommend not driving after surgery, which makes finding a surgeon close to home even more important. Your follow-up appointments will be close by, and you won’t have to worry about getting to and from those.
Therapy. On the final step towards healing, therapy will help you get back to normal. Going through therapy with a team that understands your surgery and is able to communicate with both your surgeon and primary care provider is vital. When you receive all of these services from one health care system, your doctors better understand your needs and work together to get you back to health.
We know getting surgery can be a daunting process, but our team of providers is here to support you – from diagnosis to treatment to getting you back to normal. To make an appointment, please call (906) 776-5250.
Lane Lindeman, PA-C, is a member of the area’s largest orthopedic and physical therapy team at MCHS – Dickinson. A graduate of Northern Michigan University and the University of North Dakota, Lindeman has more than five years of experience providing excellent care to patients.
Lindeman is located at Orthopedic Practice at Dickinson – Marshfield Medical Center in Iron Mountain. He is currently accepting new patients and is available for appointments, preventative care, medical care, and ongoing patient care.