Coping with the Emotional Impact of Orthopedic Surgery

Snap, snap, crackle, pop. That was the sound of my life changing in an instant during a summer stroll. I fell on slightly uneven pavement and broke three bones in my ankle and severely dislocated it, leading to a surgery and months of recovery. An orthopedic injury is typically a traumatic event. The recovery can elicit many emotions. As a psychotherapist, I was surprised not much has been written on coping with the psychological impact of such an injury and the following recovery. By allowing emotions to arise without judgment, we allow them to move through us. We can also take committed action to make positive changes as a response to these reactions. The following list notes emotions and reactions that might be felt as part of an injury that requires many weeks to months of recovery. This list does not imply that every patient will experience all or even most of these, but many patients will feel at least several of the following: Trauma reactions Trauma can be anything we experience or witness that threatens life or well-being. Depending on how the injury occurred, studies have shown 20-50 percent of orthopedic injuries can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Risk increases with age. While most patients won’t develop full PTSD, the physiological trauma reactions immediately following the injury may include shaking, chills, nausea, insomnia, and lack of appetite. Such reactions may also happen once the cast is removed and one sees the limb or foot looking quit...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Anxiety Chronic Pain Grief and Loss Personal Stories Relaxation and Meditation Self-Esteem Trauma Treatment Blame Coping Skills Disappointment Healing Health injury Surgery surgical recovery Vulnerability Source Type: news