Dr. Jason Harrison is one of the most trusted doctors for general surgery in Arlington, and puts the care and comfort of his patients as top priorities. This informative article offers several tips to help speed your recovery following your surgical procedure.
STEPS FOR A SPEEDY RECOVERY
Your surgery is over. Now what?
As a post-op surgical patient, your goal is to return to your normal activities in a safe and gradual fashion. If your procedure was minor, or performed on an outpatient basis, you can usually have someone drive you home, take your pain medication, and get back to your daily routine right away.
If you’ve had an inpatient procedure, however, recovery is going to be a bit more structured. Surgery itself is a kind of trauma, and one that requires care. Here is a brief list of recommendations.
- Move…but slowly. There’s no need to prove how tough you are by running a marathon right away, but unless you are directed otherwise, it’s important that you sit up, take a few steps, and walk around as much as you can as soon as you can. Yes, bed rest is vital for recovery, but a measured amount of light physical activity, while painful, will build strength and prevent a host of possible complications. Don’t overdo it, of course; sitting up, walking to the bathroom, and similar activities will do for starters. And listen to your body’s signals – it will tell you when it’s time to engage in more strenuous activity.
- Manage your pain. Recovering from surgery can be uncomfortable, even painful, but you’ll be prescribed medicines that will bring the level of pain down enough to allow you to sneeze, cough, and scratch where it itches. Don’t be a hero – take them as prescribed. As long as you take your meds, keep moving, and follow Dr. Harrison’s post-operative instructions, your pain should remain tolerable as it gradually decreases. Of course, if you experience a dramatic increase in pain, and/or pain for no apparent reason, call our office at once.
- Take care of your incisions. Prudent wound care is vital if you want to avoid scarring, excessive pain, or post-op infections. Our staff will provide you with detailed instructions for caring for your incisions. Follow them, and keep an eye out for redness, swelling, or discharges from the wound.
By following these three simple steps, you can speed up your recovery and get back into your daily routine in short order. Of course, although a certain amount of discomfort is sometimes unavoidable, you should contact our office at once if you notice any serious changes in your overall health. If you experience difficulty breathing, a high fever, changes in bathroom habits, sharp or sudden pain, dizziness, lethargy, vomiting, unexplained leg pain, or other prolonged or unusual symptoms, please notify us or call 911 right away.
Recovery takes time. Don’t rush it – but don’t lie around like a lump, either. The fastest way to a speedy and complete recovery is to follow the instructions you receive from Dr. Harrison and our nursing staff, get plenty of bed rest, and take your medication as prescribed. You’ll be back on your feet in no time – as long as you stick to the rules.