Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that aims to replace the damaged bones. If you have any decayed or dysfunctional bone that requires an immediate replacement, bone graft surgery is the way out. This surgical procedure involves removing the affected or injured bone and placing a healthy bone there. Through bone graft surgery, one can successfully eliminate damaged or useless bones and implement functional bones.
Although bone graft surgery is usually a safe procedure, the recovery phase may vary from person to person. Some people recover very soon. On the other hand, some individuals may take months to heal. Also, the recovery speed often depends on various factors like the area of the graft, the affected bone’s condition, and some other health issues. However, we can speed up this healing process by eliminating some ill habits and cultivating healthy ones. This article will discover how to speed up bone graft healing process. Here is a list of dos and don’ts you must follow to recover quickly.
What Essential Activities Must You Do After a Bone Graft Surgery?
Some essential activities can effectively speed up this recovery process. So, if you are wondering how to speed up the bone graft healing process, here is the answer. Follow these steps properly to heal fast.
Follow up on your surgeon’s advice and take the prescribed medications:
Your surgeon must have advised you of some post-surgery healing tips for you. Follow up on your surgeon’s advice strictly. From taking the medications on time to restricting your screen limit, do as your surgeon advises. Adopting healthy lifestyle changes can make a huge difference, fostering the internal and internal healing process.
Also, be mindful about taking your medications on time. A bunch of medications will smoothen up this healing process. However, you need to make sure you are taking all these medications properly and on time.
Eat balanced meals
To speed up this healing process, be selective about your meals. Ensure every meal contains vitamins, minerals, and other antioxidants. You can also ask a nutritionist or a surgeon for dietary suggestions. Add some dairy products to your everyday diet. Also, ensure you consume nuts, fish, and green vegetables daily.
Drink more Water
After surgery, make sure to drink a lot of Water. This healthy habit will keep you hydrated and foster the tissue regeneration process. Also, drinking more Water eliminates toxicity from your body, improving your bones’ strength and activities.
Limit Tobacco consumption
Bone Graft surgery is one of the most common procedures in dentistry. While it’s essential to cultivate some new healthy habits, it’s equally important to eliminate the ill habits. Say a big no to tobacco consumption if you have undergone dental graft surgery. Tobacco consumption can lead to serious infection and slow down the recovery process. Hence, it’s important to restrict yourself from having any tobacco products.
What Things Should You Not Do After a Bone Graft Surgery?
Even after completing a successful surgery procedure, you must restrict yourself from engaging in certain behaviors. Remember, even a small act of causality can lead to a major infection. Hence, one should remain careful in the post-surgery stage. Do not perform the actions listed below, as such actions can affect recovery.
Don’t overlook the symptoms of post-surgery inflammation
As mentioned, bone graft surgery is safe if performed properly. However, there is a strong risk of post-surgery infections. Observe yourself well. Do you feel any swelling, itching, pain, or redness in the surgical area? If yes, you may have an infection in the operated area.
Inform your surgeon or doctor immediately and let them do the rest.
Do not touch the infected area. Let the doctors diagnose whether it’s an infection or some post-surgery effects. Do not overlook these above-listed symptoms at any cost. Such wise action will foster the recovery process.
Do not engage in strenuous activities
After bone graft surgery, a patient must rest for at least two weeks. Don’t engage in any heavy or strenuous activities during these two weeks. Offer yourself some proper rest. Make sure the graft area doesn’t come under any strain.
Restrict yourself from lifting heavy weights. Such careless activities can impact the entire healing process and cause further injury. Hence, one shouldn’t engage in strenuous activities in this recovery stage.
Don’t choose self-medication
Some people experience unbearable pain in this post-surgery phase. This might indicate you are recovering and your muscles are regathering their needed strength. Sometimes, this pain gets reduced on its own. However, sometimes, the pain becomes consistent. In such cases, patients often choose self-medication. They often consume painkillers to get rid of this unbearable, painful sensation.
Such activities can cause many side effects, including slowing the recovery process. Hence, one must limit their tendency for self-medication. Instead of taking any random painkillers, reach out to your surgeon or doctor. They will suggest you some effective pain remedies.
Don’t drink sugary or processed drinks
After surgery, you might crave tasty sugary drinks to gain instant energy. While such processed energy drinks might suffice your energy needs, their consumption can badly impact this entire recovery process.
Say a big no to these sugary drinks until you achieve a healthy state again. Such drinks do not slow down the healing process and trigger infections and swelling in the graft area. Hence, it is wise to stay away from such unhealthy, sugary drinks in this post-surgery phase.
Don’t neglect the post-surgery care routine
Your surgeon must have prepared a post-surgery care routine for you. Now, it’s time to follow that routine properly. From incorporating physiotherapy sessions to consuming some dietary supplements, every step counts in speeding this healing process. Hence, listen to your doctor carefully and do as they say. Remember, neglecting this post-surgery care routine can impact your healing process and cause further infections.
Final Thoughts
This post-recovery phase might feel challenging; remember to stay gentle and positive. Take your food and medications on time, and trust your doctor. Remember, this healing phase may take longer than you expected.
However, the above-listed guidance can influence the speed of recovery. With the right actions and supervised behaviors, you will recover quickly.