Do you need surgery?
Different factors come into play whether you need surgery such as; age, injury severity, medical/health history, occupation to name a few.
Do you need surgery?
A common theme amongst any injury is the automatic presumption that surgery may be required, is this accurate? Not necessarily. Different factors come into play when it comes to answering this question such as; age, injury severity, medical/health history, occupation to name a few. For example, a grade 1 ankle sprain will not require surgery, but a grade 3 complete rupture might do.
Majority of cases a well-structured 8-12 week progressive rehabilitation and S&C program can be more effective than having surgery which is then followed by further rehabilitation. The program is 8-12 weeks as commitment is essential to gain the results we are looking for when looking to avoid going down the surgery route. Essentially the foundation has to be rebuilt from the ground up with progressions being added in at the appropriate times.
Is surgery always required?
No, surgery is not a necessity. Even an ACL tear, meniscus damage, shoulder bursitis, back pain, herniated discs which are all considered by some to be major injuries can all be restored to full strength and function with 8-12 week targeted rehabilitation programs. If even after committing to the 8-12 week program it is still not getting better and there is still no progression then the surgery option is still there.
What to consider before surgery?
Before agreeing to surgery look at the criteria below and ask yourself if each one links to you.
- Has the 8-12 week targeted rehabilitation program been completed and to the best of your abilities?
- Has there been a regression in mobility and function since completing the program?
- Have you made any sudden changes to your lifestyle since the injury that could be having an effect on your wellbeing?