Would you have elective surgery next week? UPDATE! Page 4

[Mickeynutty]

My husband and I are in a quandary. He has outpatient shoulder surgery scheduled for next week that we could postpone. We are concerned about Covid exposure during surgery and for the weeks of rehab after surgery.

Would you feel the risk is acceptable to have the surgery and therapy? His shoulder is painful but tolerable.

Thank you!

 

[ronandannette]

My husband and I are in a quandary. He has outpatient shoulder surgery scheduled for next week that we could postpone. We are concerned about Covid exposure During surgery and for the weeks of rehab after surgery.

Would you feel the risk is acceptable to have the surgery and therapy? His shoulder is painful but tolerable.

Thank you!

Yep - I sure would. It might be different where you are but here wait-lists for orthopedic surgery can literally be years long. If my number came up I'd be there with bells on and assume the hospital is as safe as anywhere else.

 

[monsterkitty]

Yes I would do the surgery. The longer you wait the worse the injury and recovery will be.

 

[Donald13]

Yes I would have the surgery. I’m sure it would just get worse if you waited.

 

[TwoMisfits]

My husband and I are in a quandary. He has outpatient shoulder surgery scheduled for next week that we could postpone. We are concerned about Covid exposure during surgery and for the weeks of rehab after surgery.

Would you feel the risk is acceptable to have the surgery and therapy? His shoulder is painful but tolerable.

Thank you!

Yes - for now, those places are on very high safety protocols, so it will actually probably go better now for avoiding infections post-surgery that it would later...

 

[KatMac]

I’m facing a similar issue. I’m high risk, so I’m going to wait. I need carpal tunnel surgery pretty badly, but the way I see it, the vaccine is just around the corner. It’s not worth dying over. If the vaccine were years away, I’d do the surgery. But it’ll be safe soon, so IMO, it’s just not worth the risk.

 

[cvjw]

Yep - I sure would. It might be different where you are but here wait-lists for orthopedic surgery can literally be years long. If my number came up I'd be there with bells on and assume the hospital is as safe as anywhere else.

I literally can not wrap my head around years long waitlists for surgery. My sister just had surgery on her thumb 2 days ago. It was booked 10 days ago.

Yes, I would have the surgery and not worry. Hospitals and outpatient surgery clinics are taking all the necessary precautions around here.

 

[lucas]

Yes, I would have it now.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Yes. I deal with elective surgeries all day at work. We are packed. Very few people are cancelling. It’s very safe IMO.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm not sure. Hospitals are taking every precaution but sometimes things just get through... a friend of mine had a baby the week before Christmas who is now in the NICU and she fell ill with covid symptoms yesterday. She and her husband have been fully, 100% isolating since a few days before the birth (at which point they both tested negative), not even seeing their parents or her oldest child (who she has shared custody of) when they do porch drop-offs of groceries/supplies to ensure they don't pick up the virus and carry it to their little one. She's awaiting test results but if she caught it, the hospital is the only place where it could have happened... either during her stay to deliver him or when visiting in the NICU. I wouldn't have thought twice about scheduling a non-emergency procedure before her experiences because I'd have assumed all the extra precautions being taken right now would be effective, but now I'm not so sure. I think if it were something I could put off without making the issue worse, I'd be inclined to wait a few months until vaccination is more available and the virus is (hopefully) less prevalent.

 

[abdmom]

I would definitely have the shoulder surgery. I broke my should 3 1/2 years ago. I was shocked when the P.A. told me that it would take 18 months before it stopped hurting, but they were right. The lack of motion in the wrist and hand caused those to get sore, stiff, difficult and painful to move, weak etc.

Even that was a cake walk compared to my leg. I had a broken leg which went undiagnosed for years and over 10 years later, still causes problems in the foot, ankle and leg. I still can't stand for more than a few minutes at a time. I would get that shoulder treated asap. Just resting an injured limb or joint causes a lot of problems down the road. It's best to get it repaired.

 

[MamaLema]

Yes

 

[DVCjj]

Yes. I personally think things in a hospital are probably even more sanitized now than waiting for a 'normal' time. (if that ever comes)

 

[TLSnell1981]

Yes. I would have the surgery.

 

[low-key]

do it

 

[mom2rb]

I had ankle and foot surgery on my right foot two days before Thanksgiving. I had ankle surgery on my left two days before New Year. My right foot got really bad really fast and I could barely walk. For the left, I had already hit my deductible and didn’t want it to get as bad as my right. I was impressed with the safety protocols at the hospital and felt very comfortable.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It depends on what elective surgery it is but from the sounds of what this one is you probably shouldn't delay it if you don't really have to. Mother-in-law delayed surgery on her shoulder for too long and now it's too far gone for a quick repair. Def. if you have concerns speak with the doctor who is doing it, they may be able to give your advice on any repercussions for delaying it..that is actually what I would more be worried about rather than COVID. Generally speaking these places have strict procedures in place to mitigate COVID exposure.

 

[ronandannette]

I literally can not wrap my head around years long waitlists for surgery. My sister just had surgery on her thumb 2 days ago. It was booked 10 days ago.

Yes, I would have the surgery and not worry. Hospitals and outpatient surgery clinics are taking all the necessary precautions around here.

It does differ from province to province but Canadian universal health care does have a few drawbacks; wait lists being the main one. In addition, there are quite a few areas of this province (Alberta, which is roughly the size of Texas) where advanced procedures like orthopedics are not performed and people there have to travel to one of the major cities (at their own expense) to be treated.

 

[Disneylover99]

Another yes to surgery.

 

[aprilchem]

I would not; if it were me, I'd reschedule to April or May when COVID rates are likely to be lower and folks are more likely to be vaccinated. We've put off all elective visits, as well as annual drs visits, until that time. I know a lot of health professionals who have gotten COVID; a friend of mine works in scheduling for our local hospital and so many nurses have it that they cannot staff all the wards.