Cigarette smoking can reduce blood flow, impede bone creation and affect pain levels. "It's the worst thing you can do for your recovery," says orthopedic surgeon Michael Fitzgerald, MD. He tells patients they need to stop smoking in order to improve the health of their bones, particularly during recovery from surgery or injury. Bone health is affected by nicotine and carbon monoxide, he explains, and he believes orthopedic surgeons have a role in smoking cessation.