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Essay / Physiotherapy as an alternative to surgery
Physiotherapy and surgery are the most commonly used recovery methods for serious injuries. Surgery is essential for some injuries that have shown significant damage to the body, while physiotherapy is normally used as a means of rehabilitation, but in some injuries it may be the only method needed. A good example of an injury that may be amenable to physical therapy (PT) or surgery early in the healing process is a torn meniscus. While both can help heal the injury, physical therapy offers a much smoother way to recover and determine the overall appearance of the injury afterward. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Most, if not all, surgical procedures leave some sort of scar on the body. Many will say that the scar left on the body should be the least of the worries and all that matters is that the injury has been repaired. Surgical procedures can also be extremely risky. They can lead to infection, blood loss and, in the worst cases, loss of a limb or even death. Another major factor between physical therapy and surgery is the overall cost of the healing process. Neither is cheap, you will have to spend at least a few thousand dollars, but depending on the severity of the injury, PT may be more cost effective and worth a try. In addition to this, doctors usually prescribe pain medication after surgery and most patients will need physical therapy if the injury is to a limb or other important movement mechanism. Painkillers can become harmful to someone, especially when addicted. Physiotherapy rather than surgery is a safer way of rehabilitation and rebuilding the body to the best possible condition. When we think about surgery, one of the most important things we think about is “how big of a scar will this leave on my body?” » Many patients may have surgery to remove their appendix or have surgery to "beautify themselves." While others may undergo surgery for an injury caused by a sports accident, car accident, or an incident involving more emotional trauma. The scar left on the body can remind them of the injury that could change their lives. Scarring can also lead to keloids, which are raised scars where the skin has healed after an injury, and cause a person to have more difficulty moving a part of the body. The body can scar very easily, especially if "the stitches are not removed before the top layer of skin around them heals, the stitch entry points can become permanent features, leading to “railroad scar”” (NYU Langone Health). Scars can be difficult to remove and if present, most people consider scar revision. If the risk of getting a scar can be reduced by trying physical therapy, there should be no reason not to try it. There have been many studies and research done on the effectiveness of surgery versus physical therapy or vice versa, but many of these trial groups have proven otherwise. In some groups, “in the intention-to-treat analysis, [we] did not find significant differences between study groups interms of functional improvement 6 months after randomization,” explains Jeffrey Kate of the New England Journal of Medicine. These studies have given the wounds time to heal and show the after-effects of the healing process and in most cases those who have had surgery still have the scar which has not faded much. In many cases, postoperative scars also require intensive care. Many people have to come back and have exams from time to time, just to check the scar left behind and see if it could possibly require scar revision. People most prone to keloids may even receive "a corticosteroid injection if it appears that a hypertrophic scar or keloid is forming after surgery" (NYU Langone Health). Hypertrophic scars occur when the skin is scar becomes very raised unlike that of a keloid which looks more like a pimple. These scars will need to be revised and will require another surgical procedure. The scars aren't worth it unless it's absolutely necessary to have surgery. Physiotherapy leaves you scar-free and does not cause you to develop those major scars that are difficult to hide, especially on a more visible part of the body. Surgical operations carry many risks. When doctors come to see you, one of the things they talk about the most is all the possible risks involved. Physiotherapy is an excellent solution to these risks and prevents their appearance. Barbara Brody talks about a torn meniscus and says, “Although physical therapy is generally very safe, surgery carries a possible risk of complications such as infections, nerve damage, and blood clots. Is it really worth the risk? If physiotherapy can give the same, if not a better, result to the problem, then it should be the first solution a patient thinks of, especially if it can be a good way to heal an injury like that of a torn meniscus. Surgeries are performed almost every day. Many people are injured and need repairs, but "each year around the world, 4.2 million people die within 30 days of surgery, more than the number of deaths from malaria, tuberculosis and to HIV combined, according to researchers” (Jennifer Bieman). The most important thing that can happen is the number of complications and infections that can occur during and after surgery. It's not worth it if it can kill you in the end. There are always different trials and studies going on to show how effective physiotherapy and surgery really are. Dr. Kamaroff conducted a study on physical therapy and surgery and came to the hypothesis that "given these results, [I] think it is worth trying physical therapy before surgery." If your symptoms do not improve, talk to your doctor about if and when to have surgery. While PT may not always be the best option for your injury, why risk anything before you need it. Physical therapy includes a number of exercises and stretches that may be helpful to someone who is injured and in need of rehabilitation. Costs are what tend to motivate people to travel to and from certain things. Some prices may simply be too high for low-income families. Some injuries can cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the severity of the injury. When it comes to surgical operations, many.