Top 5 Reasons to Start Physical Therapy if Your Surgery is Delayed

With elective surgeries delayed all over the country, many are wondering whether they should try physical therapy to help them maintain their strength and range of motion. This article will help you understand how physical therapy can help you while you wait for surgical treatment.

What is elective surgery?

In the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic, many elective surgeries have been delayed to help slow the spread of the virus. To limit the number of people going in and out of hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices, many procedures have been postponed, meaning more and more people are waiting for important surgeries.

Elective surgery is a broad term that includes most surgeries that people can schedule in advance, rather than emergency surgeries that need to be performed right away for life-threatening conditions. Elective surgeries can include joint replacements, gallbladder removals, or hernia surgery. Although these surgeries are all critical to a patient’s health, they are usually not considered emergency surgeries since they are for conditions that are not immediately life-threatening.

Often, patients will complain of pain and discomfort that can interfere with normal activity. Putting off these surgeries may lead to worsening symptoms or a decline in overall health. Patients should monitor their symptoms to avoid more serious complications of their original condition.

 What are possible complications if elective surgery is delayed?

It’s important to keep an eye out for worsening symptoms that may indicate a troubling decline in your condition. When elective surgery is delayed, a variety of potential complications can arise that may upgrade your elective surgery to an emergency one.

Here are some symptoms to watch out for:

• More intense pain
• More severe stiffness
• Considerably more difficulty moving around or taking care of normal activities
• Sudden changes in your normal condition

Some conditions can develop into harmful infections or other dangerous symptoms if left untreated for too long. If you’re experiencing any of these worsening symptoms, you should get in touch with your surgeon or healthcare provider to see if it is still appropriate to delay surgery. Emergency surgeries tend to be more dangerous than elective ones, so it’s important to catch these signs early.

5 reasons to see a physical therapist if your surgery is delayed

Many people suffering from orthopedic conditions, soft tissue problems, or a whole host of other conditions are currently waiting for pain-relieving surgeries. Their pain may make it difficult to move around or engage in their normal activities, preventing them from doing what they love. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

Physical therapy is a powerful tool that can help you stay healthy while you wait for your elective surgery. Here are five key reasons to start getting into physical therapy if your surgery has been postponed:

Physical therapy helps you improve your range of motion

While you’re waiting on your surgery, you may be less likely to move or exercise because you’re worried about pain. This lack of movement can lead to a limited range of motion, which can make you more susceptible to further injury. A physical therapist will help you navigate these exercises so that you can expand your range of motion.

Physical therapy strengthens and conditions your body

Another problem with not moving enough is that your body can get weaker over time, which will leave you in poorer health when the time comes for your surgery. Regular physical therapy helps to keep your body in better shape, targeting areas of your body that need to be strengthened and conditioning your body while you wait.

Physical therapy helps restore your functioning

If you’re waiting on elective surgery, it’s clear that your condition or injury likely requires more intervention to completely heal. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything while you wait. Physical therapy is designed to help you move better and to improve your functioning. Even though it may not completely cure your condition, it can give you the tools to live with less pain and more mobility while you wait.

Physical therapy helps prevent your condition from getting worse

As noted above, without prompt surgical treatment, some conditions may end up worsening over time. Physical therapy can help you ward off some of these negative consequences by keeping your body mobile, healthy, and strong. Not to mention that physical therapists will likely be able to detect any signs of decline that may mean you should look into emergency surgery—hopefully before the situation escalates.

Physical therapy can help you heal faster

Although you will likely need to continue a physical therapy routine while you recover, getting started on physical therapy while you wait for your surgery puts your body in better shape. That means that when it’s time for surgery, your body will be stronger and more primed to recover than if you had avoided activity and exercise. Then, you may be able to look forward to a shorter rehabilitation time.

 Physical therapy at FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Center at Lincoln Park

If you’re waiting on elective surgery, you know what it means to put up with pain, discomfort, and difficulty doing what you normally do. But that doesn’t mean you have to keep putting up with it. At FYZICAL- Lincoln Park, our experienced physical therapists understand your pain and are ready to help you while you wait.

We offer a wide range of physical therapy services to match your needs and don’t require a doctor’s prescription or referral. Anyone is welcome to come in for an evaluation. We can work together to figure out what the best course of physical therapy treatment will be for you. You can expect quality, compassionate care that will help you navigate pain and start living like yourself again.

Delayed surgeries can be frustrating, but the physical therapists at FYZICAL at Lincoln Park are prepared to help you make the most of your wait. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help you!