If weekend activities have left you with backache, it’s time to alleviate the discomfort. Most backache won’t require emergency medical attention, which means you shouldn’t require a trip to the emergency room – unless the pain gets unbearable. Needing surgery is rarely a fun experience. Even after the actual surgery is over you still face a potentially long road to recovery. When you know essential tips to help during your surgery recovery, you can have an easier time getting back to your healthy active self.
Avoid Bed Rest
If your back is hurting, you may feel like heading to bed for some rest. Unfortunately, bed rest is one of the worst things you can do for an achy back. You see, lying still will allow your muscles to tighten, which will increase the pain, and slow down the rate of recovery. The best thing you can do is keep moving. Don’t overdo it on the movement, but get some walks in throughout the day. It’s also a good idea to do some mild stretches to help prevent your back muscles from tightening up.
Try Ice and Heat
If you’ve pulled some muscles in your back, try using ice and heat to reduce the inflammation, and alleviate the pain. Begin by applying a heating pad to your back and leaving it there for about 15-20 minutes. Be sure to adjust the heat level to medium to avoid burns. After 15-20 minutes, replace the heating pad with ice packs. Leave the ice packs in place for an additional 15-20 minutes. Repeat the cycle of heat and ice several times a day until the discomfort has subsided.
Keep Your Blood Flowing
When you sit down to relax, try to avoid staying in one position for too long. You want to keep blood flowing to your back. Bring out some pillows and use them to help you adjust your position. Place them under your legs to get some elevation, and take the pressure off your back. You can also lay down on your side, and place a pillow between your knees. The pillow will help align your spine and alleviate the backache. If you’ve got someone at home with you, have them gently massage your back to help keep blood flow to your muscles and reduce the pain.
See Your Doctor
If you overdid it this weekend, and your back is paying the price, use the tips provided here to help eliminate the pain. If your back continues to cause you pain, or you’re having a hard time moving around, you’ll need to see your doctor for further treatment.
Stick to All Your Instructions and Appointments
Your body wants to heal on its own, but you are better off with professional help. Follow all your care instructions, and keep up with any appointments that you have scheduled for follow-up care after your surgery is complete. It is far too often that people do not take care of themselves and their wounds’ post-operative care.
Prevent Infection
Surgery usually involves at least one incision. If you have one, then take care of it. Always wash your hands before touching any wounds of any kind. Inspect it regularly, clean the incision as directed, and change the bandage as need be.
Inpatient or Outpatient Surgery?
Hospitals are turning to outpatient surgery more and more often as a means of reducing costs and keeping beds free for patients that really need them. On the other hand, if you’re having something serious, such as spine surgery, then you’re likely to be in the hospital for an extended stay. Be prepared for not only that but also being immobilized physically for a time. Depending on the extensiveness of your injury or the repairs needed, be prepared for some very important physical therapy sessions. Do not take this lightly.
Know Your Symptoms
Certain symptoms might have made you realize you needed to see a doctor in the first place, and that consultation might have resulted in your surgery. However, you also need to know your potential recovery symptoms following the surgery. Some things might be expected or possible to happen, but others might indicate complications. In short, you need to know what to wait out and what means a trip to the ER.
Manage Your Intake
If your physical situation makes it cumbersome to use the bathroom, you might not feel like eating or drinking much so you don’t have to go as often. However, you need to keep your nutrition and hydration up so your body can heal. For that matter, make sure you are maintaining your intake of medications and pain relief as necessary.
It Might Go Better Than You Think
The thought of surgery might make you cringe based on memories of what you or others have been through before. However, advances in medical science and technology have come a long way in recent years. Don’t become your own obstacle, and use this advice to recover from your own surgery faster and easier than you think.
Whether it’s having your tonsils removed or reconstructing the joints in your foot. Surgery is something that you can recover from. Life may not be exactly the same, but with patience and perseverance you will most definitely come out on top in the end.
