Simple ways to improve healing
Surgery and recovery can take a lot out of you.
The amount of time it will take to recover from surgery varies from person to person.
What you do while recuperating after surgery can either speed up your healing or slow it down.
Cherayut Jankitrattanapokkin / EyeEm / Getty Images
This article discusses what to do and what not to do after surgery.
Here are 10 things to do after you should do when recovering after surgery.
You won’t get far without hearing this reminder, probably repeatedly.
But healthcare providers have learned plenty from post-op patients who follow the instructions they like and disregard the rest.
This is the wrong response because there is always a reason for a direction.
Rather than dig in and oppose your doctor, call and ask for the reason behind an instruction.
Post-surgical follow-up visits are commonly recommended at two weeks and six weeks after surgery.
By the six-week visit, the incision should be mostly healed.
If not, you may need another follow-up appointment.
However, patients do not always keep all of their follow-up appointments.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
Your medications may also be adjusted, so it’s important to keep your follow-up appointments.
Is the incision pink or red?
Is therewound drainageand, if so, what color is it?
Are the stitches or staples intact?
They want to scrub it and remove any scabs that form around it.
Or they want to use alcohol or peroxide to keep the area free of germs.
It may be unsightly, butscabbingis normal around surgical staples.
Removing them could slow the healing process.
Similarly, soaking the incision can be harmful because it could weaken the incision line.
Many surgeons recommend showers instead of baths following surgery and often forbid swimming during the early stages of recovery.
Check with your surgeon for special instructions.
Drink and Eat Properly
Many people lose their appetite after having surgery.
They may feel nauseated,constipated, or just don’t feel hungry.
It is important to see to it you get enough calories and nutrients when recovering from surgery.
Inadequate nutrition is associated with an increased risk of post-surgical infections.
How Long Does Post-Surgery Nausea Last?
A new incision isnt very strong, and a violent sneeze can cause a new surgical incision to open.
it’s possible for you to do this with your hands or by covering the area with a pillow.
Gentle pressure will help keep the sutures intact.
Bracing gets easier with practice; it may even become second nature as you feel a cough coming on.
Better to err on the side of being cautious while you’re recovering from surgery.
Control Your Pain
Keeping pain under control after surgery is crucial.
Yet some people resist taking prescription pain medication.
However, not managing pain can lead to serious complications.
If you’re in too much pain to cough, you put yourself at risk for pneumonia.
Keeping your pain at a tolerable level will keep your recovery process moving along as it should.
If taking opioids concerns you, talk to your healthcare provider about other options for pain relief.
Staggering doses of different pain relievers can also help prevent breakthrough pain.
For example, alternate between Advil and Tylenol doses every three hours.
Just be sure to keep a log of what you take and when.
Walking is a gentle way to return to physical activity.
It can also hasten your return to all of your normal activities.
Here are things not to do after surgery.
If you live alone, arrange for someone to stay with you.
Complications can arise after surgery from anesthesia or the procedure itself.
It is important to have someone with you who can call for help if you are unable.
Overdo It
You should also listen to your body.
Pain and fatigue are signals to slow down.
Your body needs rest to heal properly.
How Long Does Post-Surgery Fatigue Last?
Fatigue after surgery can vary.
Anesthesia can cause grogginess for about 24 hours after surgery.
Major procedures that require a hospital stay will cause fatigue for longer than minor outpatient procedures.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you are unsure whether your fatigue is normal after surgery.
Walking around is important to prevent blood clots, muscle atrophy, and other post-surgical complications.
Ask a nurse or caregiver for help or to spot you until you feel steady on your feet.
The movement will help to improve circulation and relieve post-surgical constipation.
Be sure to take your medication according to your aftercare instructions.
For some medications, like antibiotics, you will need to finish the full prescription.
Keep a log of what medications you take and when you last took them.
It is important not to take larger or more frequent doses.
Avoid Using the Bathroom
Moving your bowels after surgery is often challenging for a number of reasons.
Anesthesia and opioid pain medications can slow movement in the digestive tract.
Air and gasses used during surgery can become trapped, causing gas pain.
If your surgery involves an incision in your abdominal or lower back muscles, bearing down can be difficult.
The longer you avoid using the bathroom, the more painful it can become.
Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and keep things moving.
If you are struggling to poop, your surgeon may recommend a stool softener or laxative.
Even a minor laparoscopic procedure will require taking time to heal.
At the very least, you will need the day after surgery off.
More involved surgeries can require several months of recovery, especially if you have a physically demanding job.
When surgery is a medical necessity, workers are typically eligible for short-term disability.
For more information about temporary disability after surgery, talk to your employer’s human resources department.
Recovery after surgery can take a while.
Avoid doing too much, listen to your body, and rest when you should probably.
If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to your surgeon’s office for guidance.
2018;14(2):77-88. doi:10.14797/mdcj-14-2-77.
2017;6:45. doi:10.1186/s13756-017-0202-3.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Surgical site infections.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Surgical wound careopen.
Son D, Harijan A.Overview of surgical scar prevention and management.J Korean Med Sci.
2014;29(6):751-7. doi:10.3346/jkms.2014.29.6.751.
2017;9(12).
2014;7(10):34916.
2023;7(1):E1-E8.
doi:10.1055/a-2051-7756
American Society of Anesthesiologists.Effects of anesthesia.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Oxycodone.
Gan T.Poorly controlled postoperative pain: Prevalence, consequences, and prevention.J Pain Res.
2017;10:2287-2298. doi:10.2147/JPR.S144066.
2015;2015(9):CD008659.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008659.pub3
University of Michigan Medicine.Managing your pain after surgery without opioids.
2014;27(2):161-6. doi:10.1097/ACO.0000000000000062.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Getting out of bed after surgery.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.After surgery: discomforts and complications.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Constipation.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Rehabilitation.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.The day of your surgeryadult.
2023;52(2):106-116. doi:10.1016/j.jogn.2022.11.002
MedlinePlus.After surgery.
