How to Plan for Surgery Recovery
For most people, the process of recovering from surgery can be frightening and complicated, but the best way to make it simpler is to know exactly what to anticipate and how to get by in the weeks, months, and even years that follow an operation. In fact, before you even lie down on the surgical table, you should have your recovery plan in mind. Here are some tips to help you learn how to plan for surgery recovery.
As always, if you have questions, feel free to contact the team at Desert Edge Physical Therapy!
Aspects of Pain Management
Let’s face it: nobody is precisely like another, especially when it comes to pain and how they cope with it. A large part of pain management can depend on how you feel about the treatment plan you and your doctor have developed and how well it matches your expectations for how long recovery will take. Knowing how to prepare for surgery recovery depends on this.
Always keep in mind that pain management is more about being proactive than it is about how much misery you can tolerate before you have to tap out and call your doctor. Avoid waiting until your pain becomes unbearable because this could negatively affect your future experience with physical therapy. The best course of action is to call your specialist for advice or, to be safe, make a trip to visit them if you notice this tension beginning to build up. Although it may seem like a nuisance at the time, doing this will keep the problem from escalating into an emergency, which is what you want to attempt to avoid.
Understand What to Expect and Ask Questions
Having a complete understanding of your management plan is paramount. Before you leave the hospital, be sure to ask questions regarding your treatment both with and without medication:
- How do they work?
- When do I take them?
- How do I apply them correctly?
- How does this medical device work?
- What is Physical Therapy?
In many cases, a caregiver will be required for assistance, and for others it makes sense to have this support available in knowing how to plan for surgery recovery. It is quite crucial to ensure that this caregiver is up to speed with your pain management arrangement with the adequate knowledge to aid in your recovery by all means necessary. If you aren’t able to have someone available, don’t be afraid to ask a friendly neighbor or co-worker to check in on you from time to time. This is helpful in preventing an accident or setback from becoming even worse, which can prolong the physical therapy process later down the road.
Think Ahead
Don’t wait until you get home to learn that climbing the stairs to go to your bedroom will be nearly impossible following surgery. Be proactive and move all of the items you’ll need downstairs to a location that will be simpler to get before the actual surgical recovery. This will help prevent any accidental injuries or straining.
Be sure to include an incline if your home even has a little step that can make daily tasks challenging. Pick purchase a pair of cozy slippers or flat shoes to wear while moving around to prevent tripping over the ground. Even if you didn’t expressly have an operation, install railings on the stairs and in slightly narrower halls.
Where will you store your prescription drugs? While it is important that these are readily available, it is also a good idea to keep them in a drawer or cabinet that can be locked and protected to prevent misuse.
Make certain that you have made the appropriate travel arrangements in advance. It’s crucial to have a strategy in place for getting to and from your doctor’s appointments, everyday activities, physical therapy, and even the grocery store. To reduce the number of unnecessary visits you will need to make during your recovery from surgery, it might sometimes make sense to stock up on food and supplies.
Complications are a Possibility
Even though nobody wants to consider the worst-case scenario, it is a situation where you need to know how to prepare for surgical recovery and what to anticipate. Once more, you should call your doctor if you start to show signs that you aren’t getting better or that new symptoms are appearing. Even if you faithfully adhere to your post-surgery recovery plan, you can experience problems.
It is important to watch out for:
- Heartbeat Sped Up
- Pain and Discomfort that Worsens (Even with Treatment)
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Fever
- Trouble Speaking
5 Tips for Speeding up Surgery Recovery
The benefits of obtaining enough sleep after surgery are numerous. However, it is a prevalent fallacy that the only thing needed after leaving the hospital is relaxation. Here are a few pointers to help you speed up the recuperation process.
- Deep Breaths. Prolonged lying down might cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs. Try inhaling deeply while using your entire diaphragm and your abdomen to help prevent pneumonia.
- Coughing is another effective method of preventing pneumonia. Any forming chest secretions are broken up by doing this.
- Spirometer. A spirometer is a tool that doctors use to assess how well your lungs are working. It is useful for detecting the severity of lung disease, how well the lungs are using air, and whether the lungs are constrained.
- Regular Movement. Try your best to stand up and stretch when you are able to move around without severe discomfort. Altering your position in bed is a helpful option if you can’t get out of bed. Start out slowly by making 2 to 3 modifications or walks, then try to increase from there.
- Exercises for the feet and legs can help to improve circulation to the lower extremities, and there are also specialized elastic stockings available. You may learn more about physical therapy there.
Do I have to hire someone to assist me?
A lot can happen during surgery. Your energy may be depleted for a few days or weeks following. You might require assistance from your loved ones or a medical expert.
If your surgeon advises hiring a nurse, physical therapist, or health assistant, make plans in advance. You can ask your pals, doctor, hospital’s home care staff, or insurance provider for recommendations. Prior to leaving the hospital, make sure you schedule the initial visit.
When can I resume my regular activities?
Everyone wants to get back to their usual schedule as soon as they can. Some issues that you may be curious about are:
- Driving. After surgery, you must wait at least 24 hours before operating a vehicle. You must wait until the anesthetic that kept you pain-free throughout your procedure has completely worn off. You’ll need to wait to drive until your recovery is well underway after various types of surgery.
- Travel. Your doctor could advise against flying if you underwent certain procedures, such as an operation on your eye. The shift in atmospheric pressure might be dangerous.
- Work. Find out from your doctor when you can resume working. But you still have to be careful when you come back.
What complications should I watch out for?
A setback can occasionally occur after surgery. However, if you identify issues before they become serious, you may be able to prevent them. Keep an eye out for these red flags:
- Pain that worsens over time
- Pain when urinating
- Vomiting and nausea that doesn’t go away
- Rapid heart rate
- Fever
You’ll recover more quickly than you anticipate. You can anticipate a swift and safe return to your regular schedule if you’ve done your research and made advance planning.
Stick to a Physical Therapy Schedule when Deciding how to Plan for Surgery Recovery
It is very important to find the right physical therapist for the surgery recovery process. Be sure to set and stick to a schedule that works best for you. If you’re more of a morning person and have more energy in the AM, then look to see your specialist earlier. The same goes for those that have more natural stamina towards the afternoon and end of the day.
If you are wanting to know how to plan for recovery surgery and are looking for a physical therapist that you can trust will have your personal health as their highest priority, call Desert Edge Physical Therapy.
