You suspect you may need hand surgery and have decided to speak with a specialist. Before we begin, may we just commend you for taking the first step in bettering your health? We want to assure you that hand surgery is not always the only option after a diagnosis and that good hand surgeons like Dr. Avery Arora will always keep your best interest in mind. Here’s what to expect at a Michigan hand surgery consultation.
“What Types of Questions Will the Doctor Ask?”
It’s vital you know that open transparency of your medical background is of the utmost importance. Your doctor will want to know:
- if you have had any other medical conditions
- if you are presently going through any other medical treatments or prescribed any medications
- if you have ever had any other surgeries
- if you have any known drug allergies
- about tobacco use, alcohol, and other drugs
“What Should I Tell the Doctor About My Hand?”
The short answer? Everything. Be prepared to share the full medical history of the condition in question. The doctor’s office may require images of the hand, such as x-rays, to help paint a clearer picture of the problem.
During the consultation, the doctors will determine your overall health status and whether you have any risk factors or conditions that may prevent you from being a good candidate for surgery.
They will discuss the available options you have that will give you the best chance of restoring function of your hand and returning to a normal quality of live. If you decide to proceed with the procedure, the doctor will explain what happens from start to finish and will let you know of any potential risks involved.
“What Questions Should I Ask?”
We empower you to ask questions, too. While it might seem as though it’s the doctor’s role to ask questions during the consultation, patients need to make their voices heard as well. Some questions a patient should ask their hand physician could include:
- If surgery is the best option, what could the potential complications mean for me in my day-to-day life?
- How long will it typically take someone to recover from this particular type of procedure?
- What type of therapy would be useful to help recover faster?
- What else can I do in my day-to-day life to help the recovery process?
You can find more recommended questions in one of our other blogs.
During your hand surgery consultation, we can’t stress enough how important it is for local patient to feel empowered to vet if that particular Michigan hand doctor is right for them. If you have any reservations about the doctor, do not feel as though you are “locked in.” Speak with other Michigan hand specialists to get second opinions and feedback.
Your hand surgery consultation is the chance to learn everything you need to know about the procedures that could help improve or restore function to your hand. Pay attention, ask questions, and get peace of mind before surgery.
If you’ve been putting off speaking with a hand doctor about a hand, wrist, or elbow issue that has been bothering you, it may be time to get in touch with top MI hand surgeon Dr. Avery Arora. You can schedule an appointment at one of his four offices in West Bloomfield, Warren, Macomb, or Howell, Michigan.
