Any surgery can be quite a stressful experience. Lying on the cold operating table, staring up at the surgical lights, and waiting for the anesthesia machine to put you under. All of that is not something that one can ever get used to.
However, the recovery process tends to be far more challenging. You are required to care for your incision, take pain medication, and follow a very specific diet. If you need to come back to work to pay the bills or have a bunch of kids to take care of, you might feel like putting so much effort into recovering is pointless, or even start considering skipping it altogether.
In spite of that, keep in mind that there is a good reason why you shouldn’t perceive recovering from surgery as something redundant! After all, your body really needs that time to get back in shape. So, instead of trying to do without it, focus on improving your recovery. Once you put enough care into it, you will be able to heal faster and get back on your feet in no time!
To make it easier for you, we made a short list of the best ways of boosting your recovery process, and they are all both healthy and safe. Take a look!
Don’t Stay in Your Bed
Right at the very beginning of the healing process, you might feel quite tired and sleepy. As a result, you will probably have to deal with the urge to simply stay in your bed and sleep the surgery off. And that is one of the biggest mistakes that one can make after surgery!
Instead, try to get moving as soon as you possibly can. A quick walk every hour or two will help you prevent blood clots and weakening of muscles, as well as constipation.
If you are a fan of more demanding activities, such as contact sports or running, remember to talk to your surgeon beforehand. They will tell you whether your body is ready to take it, and thanks to that, you will avoid getting injured.
Keep Your Incision Nice and Clean
Do you know how to properly take care of your incision? You might know the very basics and always remember about washing your hands before you start touching the wound. But what should you do next?
First of all, a gentle wash with soap and water or whatever your surgeon has advised you to use should be more than enough to keep your wound clean. Don’t use alcohol or peroxide just because you think it will be more effective.
After that, leave all of the scabs that have already managed to form on your surgical staples. Just because they don’t look pretty doesn’t mean that they have to be removed! In fact, scabbing is totally normal and it’s a sign that your wound is healing.
Last but not least, avoid soaking your incision. It might weaken the incision line and cause your wound to reopen. Because of that, try to avoid taking baths post-surgery and take short showers instead.
Follow a Healthy and Balanced Diet
Having a balanced diet that contains a variety of different fruits and vegetables, as well as staying hydrated, is one of the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle. So, taking your time to eat well post-surgery is simply guaranteed to make you feel much better.
You might want to incorporate a certain set of vitamins into your meals. The one that you should focus on the most is vitamin C. Various scientific studies have shown that it helps with wound healing, which is crucial after all surgeries.
Next, think about the B complex vitamins, which you can easily find in leafy greens and seafood. Surgery patients can benefit from them quite a bit since they help prevent infections and promote cell health.
Lastly, read up on vitamin A! It is essential if you want your body tissues to grow healthy and quickly. Moreover, it has numerous benefits associated with the recovery of skin injuries. As a result, it might help avoid scarring!
Conclusion
To sum up, there are many healthy ways to make your body heal faster. All you have to do is follow your discharge instructions and take care of yourself and your incision. So, try to keep moving as soon as you are allowed to do so, and don’t forget to eat balanced meals and drink plenty of water.
If you still have some questions or doubts, simply ask your doctor. As a medical professional, they are obligated to give you expert advice on every topic related to your surgery, from what foods you might want to avoid to what kind of physical activities you are allowed to do.
Other than that, if your surgery requires lots of rehabilitation, you might want to look into booking an appointment with a physical therapist. Some of them offer special procedures aimed at improving their patients’ mobility and relieving pain. Thanks to that, your body will be able to recover much faster, and you will feel more comfortable with your healing wounds.
