How long will it take me to Recover?

Your surgeon can tell you how you might feel and what you will be able to do or not do for the first few days, weeks, or months after surgery. Ask how long you will be in the hospital. Find out what kind of supplies, equipment, and any other help you will need when you go home. Knowing what to expect can help you cope better with recovery.

Ask when you can start regular exercise again and go back to work. You do not want to do anything that will slow down the recovery process. Lifting a 10–pound bag of potatoes may not seem to be “too much” a weak after your operation, but it could be. You should follow your surgeon's advice to make sure you recover fully as soon as possible.

What are the ways to treat a Hernia?

For temporary relief, one could try limiting one’s activities, go on light duty, and avoid heavy work. Wearing a truss or binder, gives only temporary relief, and is only recommended for those unfit for surgery. The only treatment is surgery. There are many different surgical techniques, some of which are noted for minimal post–operative discomfort, faster recovery, and lasting relief. Briefly, there are 2 main ways of fixing a hernia – (1) the traditional method of a large open incision, (2) the laparoscopic method, with miniature incisions, tracers, a telescope and a camera. Discuss with your doctor. See other pages of this web–site, then come consult with us, especially if you have a complex or recurrent or bilateral inguinal hernia, or if you want to return to work quickly.

Can Surgery alleviate the pain associated with damage to ligaments and tendons in the wrist and hands as a result of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

The hand pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) may originate from a large variety of causes, chief among which are the inflammation of the synovial membranes. In rheumatoid arthritis this tissue becomes inflamed and instead contributes to the destruction of the joint and its adjacent ligaments (which are the stays that effectively constrain the joint and render it stable but mobile). As the joints and ligaments decay, the joints may become unstable and deviate or adopt abnormal attitudes or positions, putting increasing strain on the remaining ligaments. Such inflamed and swollen joints are painful in their own right, and some pain may arise from the joint surfaces or from the capsule that surrounds the joint including the ligaments that bear abnormal strains. Surgery in this condition has several aims. Some feel that when the joints begin to deviate, corrective surgery to the ligaments and soft tissues (as opposed to bone) may allow realignment of the joint surfaces and prevent the erosion of those surfaces that comes from chronic malignant. This surgery was particularly appropriate for the metacarpophalangeal joints (at the junction between fingers and palm) which commonly deviate away from the thumb side of the hand, sometimes well before the joints themselves require replacement.

It should however be borne in mind that other causes of pain occur in rheumatoid arthritis in the hand, and important amongst these are nerve compression pains from swelling of adjacent joints or tendons, and subsequent compression of the nearby nerves. A good example of this is rheumatoid arthritis associated carpal tunnel syndrome. Any one suffering from rheumatoid arthritis with any new type of hand pain should be evaluated by a hand specialist or rheumatologist where possible, and regular checks by a rheumatologist or hand surgeon are sensible; in this condition. The individual indications for surgery for pain may then be discussed in detail.

Replacement Finger Joints of MCP/PIP After surgery of these joints, when can full function be expected. How long will the new joints last and what are they made from?

The MCP (metacarpophalangeal)joints are the knuckle joints where the finger joins the palm. The PIP joints (proximal interphalangeal) are the middle joints of the fingers.

MCP replacement with prostheses is most commonly undertaken for advanced rheumatoid arthritic change with deviation and loss of function at these joints.

General anesthesia is commonly used to provide optimal operating conditions for the procedure and a pain–free state. Local anesthesia is added in the areas of the incisions to provide pain relief after the surgery. Any additional postoperative pain can be alleviated with small doses of intravenous, intramuscular or oral painkillers. Side effects from the anesthesia and surgery can include sleepiness, nausea or vomiting. Medication can be given to treat all of these conditions. As with the open method, urinating may be affected. You should be able to go home a few hours after your surgery is finished.

The main advantage of the laparoscopic technique is that it avoids painful incisions. Pain and discomfort are dramatically less than with the open technique. A secondary advantage is that both sides can be examined during a single surgery. Most patients are able to return to work within 72 hours and resume full or nearly full physical activity by one week.