ORTHOPEDICS/HIP & KNEE/SURGICAL TECHNIQUES
Generally, going through a knee joint surgical process, and how to spend the postoperative recovery, can be intimidating for a patient.
In addition, trying to hold the responsibility as a caregiver can also be complicated.
With this lecture, you will have an idea about some of the difficulties that, people undergoing a knee joint surgical procedure may face, and what a caregiver can offer to help make the recovery process a little easier.
Some of the frequent surgical measures that may impair a patient’s function after surgery include:
- Knee switching surgery
- ACL restoration surgery
- Arthroscopic knee surgery
Making the following, few steps prior to a knee joint surgery may create an important difference for the person, who has to undergo this surgery:
- The most helpful thing that a caregiver can do is:
- Help preparing home for the patient who may have some limitations in his daily activities.
- The probably use of ambulatory aids to avoid slips and falls.
- Clearing out the hallways and the living spaces to ease maneuverability.
- Rearranging furniture for living on a single level.
- Installing some fixtures that allow support.
Trying to anticipate all these needs before a hip joint surgery can definitely make the comeback home easier.
- Medicines recommended after knee surgery may include pain medicines, medicines to diminish inflammation, blood thinning medicines, and others. A caregiver good candidate will be the person who perform the best schedule for this complicated task.
- Meal preparation can be intimidating as well, especially for people who have had recent knee joint surgery and are using supports or a walker, so the caregiver who plans to be around at mealtime and helps preparing a meal can be very a good confident.
- The mobility limitations after knee joint surgery and that vary depending the operation type performed, may be of big ambiguity. Here also a nice caregiver assistance may be of great help.
Some of these complications are, the incapability of driving to get to therapy appointments, to get to doctor appointments, to get a prescription refill, to go shopping…
Going through anticipating these above difficulties obstacles and looking to finding the appropriate caregiver, will help lessening some of the anxiety.
As a caregiver, be aware that many patients are intimidate to asking for assistance.
The best caregiver candidate is the person who assist the patient prior to waiting for the patient request.
Usually, caregivers are not constraint to staying with the patient all the time.
A nice caregiver is the person who will:
- Be available if an emergency arises
- Help anticipating and assisting daily activities during recovery
- Be a supporting voice to serve with recovery