Back on your feet faster after surgery with 5 essential surgical recovery tips. Discover proven ways to support healing, reduce complications, and safely return to daily activities. If you have to have a medical procedure? It can make you feel like you’ve been benched from your own life. One minute you’re independent and you’re busy and you’re heading to work and you’re dealing with kids and you’re biking on the weekends.The next minute you’re negotiating with your body over how to sit without wincing.
You could be bouncing back from a major procedure, or you could be bouncing back from something more serious like spinal surgery. But the recovery phases where consistency in patients will really go a long way. Let’s take a look at some realistic tips to help you to heal without losing your mind.
Rest. It’s your new job.
This is not the time to push through anything. Rest is not laziness, but repair mode. Your body is doing something productive and it’s doing a lot behind the scenes, even when it looks like you’re just laying there watching TV for the third hour in a row. 
Prioritising your sleep and taking naps when needed is important, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about cancelling any plans either. Healing is productive, even if it doesn’t look particularly flashy.
Be gentle in your movements.
After surgery or a minor procedure that you’re recovering from, you need to make sure that gentle movement is injected into your day. Short walks, light stretching, and even some basic mobility exercises approved by your medical team will help your circulation to move and prevent stiffness. You do need to be gentle here though, and if you start feeling like a super hero on day three, great. But don’t test that theory. Slow and steady wins the race.
Eat like you care about yourself.
During recovery, it’s tempting to dive into the biscuits, but it’s not a good idea. Recovery is not the moment to live off of vibes alone. Your body needs fuel to rebuild your tissues and fight inflammation. Aim for balanced meals with proteins, fruits, and vegetables, and stay hydrated with plenty of fluids. You can enjoy comfort food, of course, just don’t make it the entire menu. Nourishing with a side of traits rather than snacks only is the way to go.
Follow instructions. All of them.
The post op guidelines aren’t written for you for decoration, medication and wound care and activity limits all exist to keep those complications away. If you need to set reminders for movement, do so. Keep notes. Ask questions about things when they’re not clear.Being too chilled about your recovery rules is rarely the flex you think it is.
Don’t forget to be kind to your brain.
Recovery is more than just physical, and it’s very common to feel frustrated or bored or even a little bit down when your routine disappears overnight. Stay connected to people and celebrate small wins. Standing up without groaning totally counts as a win, by the way.
Getting back on your feet after a medical procedure takes time, and there’s no price for rushing it. So don’t.
Want to unlock greater wellness?
Listen to our friends over at the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast to unlock your best self with Dr. John Lieurance; Founder of MitoZen; creators of the ZEN Spray and Lumetol Blue™ Bars with Methylene Blue.
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