Originally posted by the Bear:
okay.. one for the cult leader..
how quickly do they heal? as in, after the fusion, how soon before they're able to walk around and do stuff?
and another.. how much rehab is involved?
This was an issue that made me totally, absolutely amazed! I'm not sure if the same level of care can be assured in Singapore, but judging by what I've seen so far, I'm just awed!
Most patients would still be in bed on the PCA (Patient-Controlled Analgesic Pump with Morphine or Pethidine) to stop the pain the first day post-op. Most breeze through their first night with the Morphine doing a good job of controlling the pain but if you're like one of those few individuals who are built like elephants and hippos and need like the entire arsenal of morphine before you get comfort, then the pain will bother you more.
Anyways, most of them start eating during the 5th or 6th hour post-op with very few throwing up from it. Depending on the procedure and the extent of the op, a few of them will be seen by the Physio the next day and sat in bed, then asked to stand up for a few mins. On the 2nd day post-op, the patients will be asked to take one step further by walking a few steps towards the door of the room, and depending on how well they tolerate it, they will be walked out of the room, with or without walking aids.
Most are discharged by Day Five, assuming nothing untoward happens. Of course, that's in general course there are those who are discharged in Day 3, and others who are discharged on Day 8 or so.
Why don't you find out more about the procedure that's involved in your case and then I can give you more info?
But generally, I'm just plain amazed at how speedy the recovery can be. But then again, this is a Private Hospital where only the good surgeons operate in. So make sure this time when you return to NUH that you INSIST on a good surgeon operating on you, ok?