Can surgery help you? Have you asked your physician about the possibilities of correcting your joint defects through surgical procedures? Has your physician recommended surgery? Before advising surgery your surgeon will assess the potential for improvement in pain and restoration of movement that you can expect after the suggested surgical procedure. The outlook for improvement will depend largely on how severely your joints and tendons are damaged or pulled out of place, the general condition of your health, and how well you follow recommendations for exercise and physical therapy during the recovery period.

You and your physician will want to be realistic in your expectation of what surgery can do for you. If you have a severe deformity of a joint, you can usually expect some improvement in the range of motion and relief of pain. However, you should not expect your joints to have the same range of motion it had before your disease developed. Your physician, surgeon, and physical therapist will review these possibilities with you before you make your decision.

Your physician or surgeon may have reasons for advising against a surgical correction. Your overall health is a major consideration. If you have any chronic conditions, surgery may be postponed until the other conditions have cleared up. For example, if your have a bacterial infection, such as bronchitis or a bladder infection, the infection might spread to the area operated on after surgery.

All surgical procedures are a severe strain on the body. If you have any problems with breathing or your heart, joint surgery may not be advised for you because the procedures involved in the surgery may place an additional burden on your respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Another reason for advising against arthritis surgery or postponing it is obesity. If you are heavier than your ideal weight, the extra kilograms put extra stress on your heart, lungs, and weight-bearing joints. The outlook for your recovery after joint surgery is not as favorable. The excess weight puts added strain on the joint and may pose problems in doing the rehabilitation exercises for strengthening the new joint after surgery.

If you and your physician decide that a surgical procedure may provide some relief and improvement, the real outcome will depend on what you do for yourself. You will want to take an active part in following recommendations regarding medication, joint protection, rest and exercise. Ask about the kinds of routines that will be recommended for your post operative recovery and rehabilitation. Be sure that you will be able to carry out the prescribed programs before you undertake the expense and discomfort associated with surgery.