If your recent past included surgery at Fort Campbell, you may have been quite nervous before heading to the operating room, especially if it was the first time you'd ever undergone a surgical procedure. Your doctor hopefully discussed your condition and everything he or she planned to do during your operation, as well as any possible complications that may arise and what would happen if that were to be the case.

Failing to properly inform a patient of such things before surgery is neglectful. Sadly, it happens often and many patients would have opted out of their procedures had they known the risks. Then again, not all post-surgery complications are forewarned. Negligence can cause problems, such as infection or other injuries. In worst cases, your life may be at risk. That's why it's so important to have a plan of action in mind before your surgery takes place, including where you will turn for support if something goes wrong.

Signs of infection and other post-operative problems

It's not unusual for you to experience a bit of discomfort following surgery, especially if your procedure was complex. However, you should basically begin to feel a bit better every day; if you don't, one of the following underlying issues may signify that something is very wrong:

  • If your surgical wound or surrounding area on your body is hot to the touch, it may mean your wound is infected.
  • While you may be tender to the touch for the first few days, if touching the area of your surgery or a nearby area is painful, it definitely warrants mentioning to your doctor.
  • If post-surgery swelling doesn't subside in due time or if the area around your wound is red, puffy or oozing puss, you'll want to seek immediate medical attention.
  • Bad odor is also often a sign of infection.

You know your body, so any issue that causes you concern should be concerning to your doctor as well. No question is insignificant when it comes to inquiring about your health.

Top causes of post-surgical infection

If you wind up with a nasty infection, you have the right to know what caused it. The following factors are often involved when surgery patients return to the hospital with infections:

  • It is possible that a nurse or other care provider, perhaps even your doctor, did not wash his or her hands before touching you.
  • Surgical instruments must be sterile; unfortunately, they are often contaminated with germs or not properly purified before surgeons use them on patients. A dirty syringe or other surgical instrument could definitely be the cause of your infection.
  • If you had a surgery that lasted more than a couple of hours, chances of human error or infection are greater.

The last thing you need is to entrust your health to licensed professionals only to wind up in worse condition due to substandard care. Such situations can sometimes lead to temporary or permanent disability, and you may feel frustrated and angry that those who were equipped and obligated to care for you according to the utmost level of accepted safety standards failed to do so.

Seeking full recovery

There are support networks in place in Tennessee to help medical patients seek full recovery for their losses when they suffer injuries or illness due to inadequate medical care.