Compassion and the effects of long-term recovery on physical and mental wellbeing.
Having multiple orthopedic injuries occur in one instance is considered trauma and requires immediate medical treatment.
There are several methods trauma can occur, and our patient care provides for a full range of treatment plans for any circumstance. However, we often see multiple traumas occur during a motor vehicle collision.
There is typically a long road to recovery associated with trauma injuries and requires the support of others, physical and mental strength, and compassion. There is fatigue associated with all three factors, but there is no set time that the fatigue will take effect.
Once the patient journeys through their trauma recovery, they always have a story of survival to share with others.
Here, we will discuss the factors of trauma and the physical and mental effects on the patient’s road to recovery.
Orthopedic Trauma and Common Causes
Broken bones, trauma to the organs, internal bleeding, and brain injuries are all considered traumatic injuries. However, we are explicitly discussing orthopedic issues in this article, which consist of:
• Strained muscles
• Torn or stained tissues surrounding the joints
• Broken bones
• Severe injury to the musculoskeletal system and one or more organs or tissue.
Multiple trauma injuries can be sustained during a number of circumstances, such as:
• Falling
• Motor Vehicle or Motorcycle Accident
• At Work and Home
• Playing Sports
• An Attack
• And more
Treatment Course
Patients will go through a trauma course as an in-patient at a hospital where they will receive intensive trauma care. Treatment will begin with imaging of their extremities, head, abdomen, and pelvis. The results will reveal any broken bones, affected organs, and any degenerative changes to the spine, hips, ankles, knees, and other extremities to be considered during the recovery process.
What is Considered Long-Term
Injuries that take an excessive amount of time to recover from are considered long-term. Chronic pain is often associated with the recovery process from any long-term injury. These injuries are severe and have a longer healing process than others. For example, breaking your ankle would take weeks, if not months, longer to recover from than spraining your ankle.
Long-term injuries acquired through trauma could even mean an impairment that lasts throughout your lifetime. Such injuries as a fractured limb that requires surgical repair with hardware implementation, like screws, metal rods, pins, and complete replacements of joints, can cause a limp or the inability to extend your arm or leg to a full range of motion.
The lasting effect of pain, stiffness, unsteady gait, and the need for prolonged use of a hand help assistive device like a cane, crutches, or walker are possible for some patients. Though these devices are required while healing, as a person ages and joint tissues, wear down, these old injuries will produce pain.
Compassion Fatigue
There are mental health factors to be aware of that are often associated with long-term injuries. Not only is the patient struggling to maintain a positive attitude while accepting they have severe injuries they will need to work hard to recover from, but the caregiver working alongside you may experience compassion fatigue.
The effort your caregiver has put into your recovery may result in emotional and physical exhaustion.
Unfortunately, this also means the caregiver has experienced diminished compassion toward you and your recovery. Not only are you affected, but others who are associated with the caregiver will also be affected.
Symptoms can include:
• Exhaustion- both physically and mentally
• A change in worldviews or spirituality
• Ruminating thoughts
• Emotional instability
• Increased depression
Compassion fatigue can happen with both professional caregivers and amongst family and friends. Be aware of the warning signs and work to surround yourself with those who have positive views and mindsets while you are recovering. Take care to notice if someone close to you is suffering from compassion fatigue and encourage that they take a step back while you continue to work on your progress.
If you are suffering from any pain, you can be confident that you can find relief with the help of Jaffe Sports Medicine. Our highly skilled staff specializes in a range of pain management techniques and welcomes patients from Naples, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and the surrounding areas of Florida. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
TEXT BY M. HIATT