When you have surgery, you have more work than just getting through the surgery itself. You likely have to complete some level of physical therapy to help your injury heal and regain your strength. You have likely researched physical therapy clinics near me and found some options, but these are the strategies you should focus on.
Working With Your Healthcare Provider
Your healthcare provider should give you specific instructions, such as staying off the injury for a specified period of time, pursuing physical therapy and attending follow-up appointments. You should follow every instruction your physician gives you even if you don’t feel like it or dislike doing it.
It is especially important to attend your follow-up visits, which typically occur at two and six weeks post-surgery. The doctor will check your incision to ensure it is properly healed. You also need to inspect and care for your incisions to prevent inspection.
Maintaining Your Health
Proper recovery depends on a healthy body. Like many in recovery, you may lose your appetite or not feel like doing any exercise. However, it is important that you drink enough fresh water and eat healthy foods. Choose meals that are high in antioxidants, minerals and Omega-3 fatty acids. Eat plenty of protein, which promotes tissue healing. Focus on foods that are high in zinc, copper, selenium, nitrate and vitamins A, C, E and D. Also, explore some alternative methods like gentle stretching, meditation, or yoga to support your recovery journey. In addition, consider discussing with your healthcare provider about IV at-home options, which can sometimes aid in replenishing essential nutrients and fluids when needed.
You should also follow the doctor’s instructions with regard to exercising your injury area, but if you can, you should maintain your exercise program as much as possible. Your body needs movement to promote healthy blood flow and oxygen levels. However, don’t overdo it.
Strengthening Affected Areas
Once your body begins to heal, you need to focus on strengthening the area where your injury is. Allowing this area to remain weak can cause future injuries or exacerbate the one you have. As you increase your strength, you can also improve your range of motion, rebuild your muscles and support your joints around your incision and whatever part of your body you had surgery on.
Using the Help of a Physical Therapist
In most cases, your physician will prescribe physical therapy. Choosing the right technician requires more than a quick search for “physical therapy near me.” Physical therapy has several benefits. It helps you improve your strength around your injury. However, it also increases your flexibility and mobility. It can reduce inflammation and ease pain. Physical therapy encourages healing and because it accelerates healing, you shouldn’t get as much scar tissue buildup. In addition, you should experience fewer complications after the surgery.
Learn When To Seek Medical Attention
Your physician should tell you when you need to go to the ER or seek medical attention. For example, you should have the ability to keep food and water down. You shouldn’t have breathing trouble of any kind. You should have the ability to use the bathroom regularly. Watch for infection and bleeding as well.
When you find the right physical therapist Seattle, this professional will help you recover, regain your strength, teach you what to look for, help you manage your pain and monitor your healing process.
