Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
Rehab After Surgery Can Speed Up Recovery
Do you want to heal as soon as possible from your surgery? Of course you do!
If you have a surgical procedure coming up, while preparing for the operation, it is natural to be a little anxious and wonder how easily you will be able to recover.
Luckily, understanding that you have a post-surgical physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy schedule can help to relieve some of the tension.
Our innovative care strategies at Holistic PT will help you find quick relief. To consult with one of our dedicated Tampa therapists, contact Holistic PT today. They’re all trained specialists who know how to properly assess a variety of pain conditions and create a recovery plan so that you can get back to your life faster!
Benefits of post-surgical rehabilitation
Pre-and post-surgical rehab are vital to positive outcomes after surgery. Any type of surgery can be treated as a form of trauma and can affect the body in many different ways.
Even minor surgical procedures that are uncomplicated may have a significant effect on your health. Post-surgical recovery with a Holistic PT physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist is particularly necessary because of this, in order to ensure that everything goes smoothly after the surgery is completed.
In addition to reducing your pain and accelerating the rate of recovery, individualized post-surgical rehab with a Holistic PT therapist will also decrease the chances of post-operative complications, including infections, bleeding, blood clots, muscle fatigue, scar tissue, diminished function, and other factors that can adversely affect your long-term health.
Another critical reason for selecting post-surgical therapy is its ability to help you reduce the need for prolonged use of prescription painkillers, including opioids.
An opioid epidemic is currently gripping the country and impacting every socioeconomic class. According to the CDC, an estimated 115 people every day die from an opioid overdose, and upwards of 29% of people prescribed opioids will end up misusing these dangerous drugs.
For this reason, the CDC advises people to choose physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy over prescription painkillers whenever possible.
Common surgical procedures
When conservative treatment options for an injury or health condition fail to provide effective relief, many physicians will recommend surgical correction.
Some common conditions that may lead to surgery include, but are not limited to:
- Heart surgery – ablations, stent placements, cardiac pacemakers, etc
- Full or partial knee replacements
- Total hip replacements
- ACL, MCL, and/or meniscus repairs
- Rotator cuff tears
The effect these operations will have on your body should not be underestimated. At least some degree of discomfort, inflammation, mobility restrictions, and swelling are caused by most surgeries.
In order to help your tissues to heal, and to prevent chronic dysfunction, it is possible that you will have to learn how to do simple things all over again, like walking and getting dressed.
Our Tampa physical therapists will teach you the best and safest way to perform tasks safely after your operation.
Your surgeon will also outline rehab instructions which may include hip precautions, sternal precautions, spine precautions, not putting weight on your limb, etc.
What should I expect from therapy?
Even after your post-surgical recovery procedures are finished, our Tampa therapists are committed to ensuring that you enjoy a safe life.
Though pain relief medications may be prescribed by your doctor, physical therapy has been proven to alleviate pain and reduce the need for them.
Your discomfort is masked by pain-killing drugs, while physical therapy resolves the problem where it starts. Specialized procedures, techniques, and modalities, such as joint mobilization, ice/heat, and home exercise systems are all things that our therapist utilize for your treatment.
To help you heal and get back to your usual everyday life, our Tampa therapists will build a recovery plan that will include tailored education, stretches, and exercises. Holistic PT can help you get to your optimal levels of operation afterwards.
Physical limitations can occur in the days and weeks following a surgical procedure. Our physical, occupational, or speech therapist will instruct you on how to navigate those limits, such as how to go up and down the stairs, put on clothing, prepare and consume meals,, or get in and out of a vehicle.
This can be achieved with the help of assistive devices, in some cases. You will be able to function more comfortably while still trying to regain the normal motion in your body by making these accommodations.
In order to optimize your long-term wellbeing, prevent injury and avoid the need for more surgery in the future, part of your recovery plan will also provide education on any lifestyle and/or dietary improvements you might make.
Get back to your life with post-surgical rehab!
If you are planning on having a surgical operation in the near future, don’t wait to set up your post-surgical rehab plan with Holistic PT, contact or book your appointment today.
We’ll provide you with everything you need to get back to your life as quickly and easily as possible!
