My loved one is having outpatient surgery. What do I need to know?

While outpatient surgery is generally less serious than surgery that requires a hospital stay, it’s still no walk in the park. If a close friend or family member is having outpatient surgery, they are going to need some support, both emotional and physical.

Outpatient surgery means they will go home the same day that the surgery is performed. It doesn’t mean they will be back to full strength right away though.

The recovery process—and the support they will need—depends on the type of surgery they’re having, but in general, here are some ways you can help.

Go to the surgery center with them.

Having a companion along as they fill out paperwork and wait to be taken into surgery can help keep their spirits up. You can also help them remember recovery instructions that they may be too stressed or groggy after surgery to recall.

Offer to drive them home and stay with them.

If your friend or loved one has had sedation or general anesthesia, they will not be allowed to drive home. They will also need someone to stay with them at all times during the first 24 hours after their release from the surgery center.

Encourage them to take it easy.

Even after the first 24 hours, they will need help. Their recovery will go smoother and more quickly if they’re able to get plenty of rest in the first few days after surgery.

Help out to help them avoid reinjury.

Lots of everyday activities that your loved one takes for granted could cause problems after surgery. Cooking, cleaning, taking care of pets, grocery shopping, and more may be off-limits for a time depending on the surgery.

Your loved one may want to avoid bothering people to help with these chores. Assure them that you want to help and that their injury-free recovery is important. Remind them that they’ve helped people in time of need and will do so again when they’re well, so they need to let others have a chance to be helpers.

Keep them entertained.

If the recovery process is long, your loved one may become bored and frustrated, especially if they’re used to being active. Bring them good books to read, watch movies with them, or just hang out and talk. Encourage their friends to come visit when they’re ready to see people.

Help keep their spirits up.

If a loved one is going through a lengthy and painful recovery, they may get discouraged. Remind them of the reasons for the surgery and that their hard work during recovery will pay off. Brighten their day with a card or flowers.

And remember, if your loved one has any complications or questions after surgery, don’t hesitate to call their doctor. The staff is used to fielding questions and wants the recovery to go as smoothly as possible.

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey, and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in orthopedics, sports medicine, spinal care, podiatry, urology, pain management, ENT, hand surgery, lithotripsy, brachytherapy, GYN, and laser surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.

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Specialty Surgical Center is First Surgical Center to Receive World Class Patient Safety Training

At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, patient safety is one of the top priorities of the medical staff. With safety as an ever-evolving goal, the staff regularly participates in training to ensure that the safety culture at Specialty Surgical Center is the very best it can be for their patients. For more information and to read the official press release, click here.

Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey is committed to the very best experience possible. Combining quality healthcare with transparency of price, Specialty Surgical Center aims to educate patients of their power of choice in healthcare. Visit http://www.SpecialtySurgeryCenter.org or call or call 973-940-3166 for more information.

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Interventional Pain Management at Specialty Surgical Center

Chronic pain affects over 100 million Americans and can be extremely difficult to live with. At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, pain management specialists provide outpatient procedures for chronic pain sufferers to help them live more functional, higher quality lives.

Chronic pain is considered any pain condition where the pain symptoms have lasted three months or more. This may include arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia, back pain, neck pain, neuropathy conditions, and any other condition where pain has lasted beyond three months. Chronic pain can be difficult to manage, but the use of interventional pain management techniques can reduce symptoms.

Interventional pain management includes procedures that are minimally invasive and performed on an outpatient basis. Injections and nerve blocks are among the most common interventional pain management procedures performed at Specialty Surgical Center.

Injections consist of transforaminal injections and corticosteroid injections, both of which are administered at the site of pain. These injections are intended to both quickly relieve pain with a local anesthetic, and then continue with their pain relieving properties through the use of a long acting steroid.

Nerve blocks, including facet joint blocks, medial branch blocks, and sympathetic nerve blocks, effectively interrupt the flow of pain signals from the area of nerve damage to the brain. This interruption will cause the patient to feel significantly less if any pain. Both injections and nerve blocks are intended to last for several months and can be repeated if the patient suffers recurring pain.

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

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