Choosing whether to undergo surgery is never an easy decision. All surgeries have some risks, and then there is the inevitable pain, recovery and down time.
In some cases, surgery may be your only option, but before you decide, it’s important to know your options, find a doctor that you trust, and educate yourself on both the short and long-term consequences of undergoing surgery.
The following list of questions are designed to help you navigate your health care decisions.
- What are the alternatives to this surgery?
- Is there any harm in waiting or trying alternative therapies?
- What are the long-term consequences of either doing the surgery or waiting to do the surgery?
- Is there anything I can do to avoid this surgery?
- Am I too young or too old?
- What are the side effects/possible disadvantages of having this surgery?
- What are the range of possible outcomes you have seen with this surgery?
- What is the success rate? How long will this success last?
- How much will the surgery cost me?
- What is the likelihood that this surgery will result in a future surgery?
- Are there lifestyle changes that I could make that would make the surgery more successful?
- Which medications do I need to discontinue before surgery?
- Are there foods/drinks that I need to avoid before surgery?
- What are the possible complications of the surgery and of the surgical environment: i.e., anesthesia, medications, blood clotting?
- How long will I be in the hospital or surgical center?
- How much pain should I expect?
- How long should I expect to do physical therapy post surgery?
- When will post surgical physical therapy begin?
- Are there things that I can move/change in my home environment to make my recovery easier?
- What are the most likely causes of surgical complications?
- What are the most likely causes of surgical failure?
- What are the next steps if the surgery fails?
- How likely am I to re-injure myself after this surgery?
- How long does it take for any nerve damage to heal?
- What is the likelihood of permanent nerve damage?
- What are the possible sensations, based on nerves being cut into, that I might feel in the area being cut into following the surgery (i.e.. numbness, tingling, shooting pain, heaviness)?
- Is there a garment I will need to wear after this surgery? What type of garment will I need to wear and how long will I need to wear it? Will the type of garment I must wear change after so many months?
- Have you seen patients be traumatized by this surgery?
- Would you recommend someone in your family have this surgery?
- How many of these surgeries have you performed?
