7 Tips and Tricks to prepare for surgery

Dr. Laura Johnson discusses how planning for your upcoming surgery can make the recovery process easier.

Whatever journey leads you to the need for orthopedic surgery, we want to make sure you are prepared for a successful recovery.

Most likely, you will have some difficulty moving around after surgery, so do as much as you can beforehand to prepare for post-surgery.   

We know you’ll be bombarded with information as you prepare for your orthopedic surgery, so we wanted to keep it simple: Prepare, Practice, Organize.

Here are some Tips and Tricks that we’ve found helpful for our patients:

• Arrange meals ahead of time.

  While you are recovering, you may not feel up to standing in the kitchen for long periods or going to the store to gather all the ingredients.

  This may involve buying frozen meals or preparing meals to freeze beforehand. 

  Whip up a batch of your favorite homemade soup for a quick warm-up meal after surgery. 

  Having the premade foods on hand will help provide your body with the nourishment it needs while it recovers.

• Get your ice packs lined up. 

  Swelling and pain are common after surgery. The general rule of thumb is to ice for 15-20 minutes, then remove it for 30-40 minutes, repeating as needed.

• Prepare to elevate. 

  Get extra pillows available to help elevate your limb.  Elevating a limb above the level of your heart allows the blood to circulate back to the heart without fighting gravity. The force of gravity will assist with moving the fluid.

  You can combine elevating and icing at the same time to especially help with your swelling.    

• Practice makes perfect part 1.

  If you must use an assistive device, such as crutches, a knee scooter, or a walker for mobility after your surgery, PLEASE PRACTICE transferring, walking, and navigating stairs with the assistive device before surgery. 

  Getting used to these assistive devices can be a balancing act, so practice, practice, practice! Manipulating around your home with an assistive device can also be a bit cumbersome, so practice this before surgery. 

  You may need to adjust furniture to provide larger pathways, remove throw rugs, add a chair cushion, etc.  

• Practice makes perfect part 2.

  Be aware of any weight-bearing and/or movement restrictions you may have to follow post-surgery.  Practice that weight-bearing restriction (i.e., non-weight bearing, partial weight bearing), as it may be more challenging than you imagine. 

  If there are movement restrictions (e.g., you must keep the knee fully extended and limit the amount of trunk flexion), practice following those restrictions prior to surgery and adjust your home setup as needed. 

  You may be in an arm sling, so your toilet paper roll needs to be switched to the opposite side.

  Little adjustments beforehand will make a huge difference after.  

• Start your exercises.

  If there are any prescribed pre-operative exercises to perform before surgery to help strengthen muscles and improve flexibility, jump on board!

  Get into the routine of sticking to an exercise program. 

  This can aid in post-surgery recovery.   

• Ask for Help.

  Inform your family and friends about your surgery and ask for help, especially during your initial recovery. 

  Also, ask for assistance with outdoor chores, household cleaning, meal prep, transportation, etc. 

  Individuals may be more willing to help than you expect, ask!  

  If you have questions or concerns about your surgery, get them answered beforehand. The more prepared you feel for surgery, the better your outcome may be!  

Working through these recommendations with a skilled physical therapist can be very helpful, especially when practicing your restrictions and guiding your exercises. If that interests you, contact us today, and we will help set you up for success.

If therapy is part of your recovery, please contact Advanced Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine. We will be happy to guide you back to an active lifestyle!  

Happy Recovery! 

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Dr. Laura Johnson is a physical therapist at our Appleton North Clinic on Enterprise Dr. and Touchmark Clinic on Touchmark Dr. She is a post-surgical physical therapist specialist and certified in LSVT-BIG to help people with Parkinson’s thrive.