Anyone who has ever experienced surgery knows that things don’t stop when the operation does. Your body needs plenty of time to recover, both from the surgery and from whatever made the surgery necessary in the first place. As much as you want things to get back to normal, rushing your recovery is never a good idea.

Post-surgery recovery requires you to listen to your doctor, make accommodations for yourself, know your limitations, and generally take care of yourself as you recover. Your recovery process may take longer than you’d prefer, but the long-term results will be more than worth it. Here are several important things to remember as you plan for post-operative recovery.

Plan Ahead of Time

Depending on how extensive your surgery is, your routine will change drastically for anywhere from days to weeks afterward. Make sure you’re ready before the operation begins. Prepare healthy meals ahead of time, schedule time off from work (or remote work), and make sure a friend or family member will be available to help you if you need it. The last thing you need is to deal with potentially serious situations alone right after surgery.

Pro Tip: You may not feel like eating right after surgery, but your doctor may counsel you to eat a reasonable amount of nutrient-rich food. Give your body the help it needs to facilitate healing.

Know What You Can & Can’t Do

Once the operation is over, you’ll spend a while recovering at home. It may be tempting to try getting back into your normal routine as much as possible. With the increased time at home, you may also start noticing things you want to clean or projects you’ve never quite finished and find yourself wanting to deal with them. Don’t push yourself! Your body is healing and can’t keep up with all your old habits just yet. Know your limitations and don’t push your body beyond what you can realistically handle.

Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions

You may have heard your doctor tell you not to take a bath right after your operation, or not to lift more than a certain weight for a week. Patients may find instructions like these odd and wonder if they’re truly necessary. The answer is a definite yes! Remember, your surgeon is an expert and knows what your body can and cannot endure after a major surgery. More importantly, the doctor literally saw the inside of your body and can assess your condition very accurately. If the surgeon tells you to avoid something or to implement a new habit, do it.

Get Mobile as Soon as You Can

Once your wound has healed and your doctor has given you the all-clear, take time every day for a decent amount of physical activity. This can be as simple as going for a brisk walk around the neighborhood. Workouts are important in general, but they can be critical after surgery to help prevent deep vein thrombosis, blood clots, or pneumonia. Don’t overexert yourself–remember, you’re still healing–but give your body the right amount of physical activity to expedite your recovery.

Take Care of Yourself!

After you leave the hospital, your body still has a way to go before you’ll be completely back to normal. Even minor surgeries call for a careful recovery routine. With the right plan in place, you can ensure you’ll heal properly and be back to leading a healthy lifestyle soon.

Have more questions about post-surgery recovery or any surgical complications? Contact us for answers.