rehabilitation

Doing Your Part for a Successful Surgery

By Kerry Palm, PT, DPT, RESTORE Therapy - Heritage Health

aking the decision to have elective surgery such as a hip or knee replacement, can be difficult. But once the decision has been made, all the work is not over. Choosing a surgeon with the skills and expertise you trust is an important piece in ensuring a positive outcome. You also play a critical role in how smooth and successful your recovery will be. There are many things you can do to prepare yourself, your home and your support system to lay a smooth foundation for the road to recovery.

Get Yourself Ready Talk with your doctor about changes you can make to prepare your body for surgery. If the procedure you are undergoing involves specific, postoperative exercise, ask for a copy of the program and begin to practice. Learning the exercises in advance can help decrease the stress of introducing new activities on a painful limb and can build confidence in your ability to be successful. Would losing five or 10 pounds make the activity of recovery easier? What a better target than surgery day to implement a new diet. Are you a smoker? You wont have access to your cigarettes in the hospital, so start the process beforehand to take one more stressor off your plate. Think about what your obstacles may be after surgery and start to tackle them ahead of time. Get Your Home Ready Most likely you will be moving slower after surgery. Take a look around your house and try to simplify the environment. The biggest fall risks are throw rugs (with the exception of bathroom rugs). Pick them up ahead of time to make clear paths for walking around your home. Think about where you will be spending your time after you get home: do you have a sturdy, comfortable chair in which you can sit? Will you be able to elevate your legs? Is it easy to get in and out of that chair? If the answer to any of these questions is no think about changes you can make. Does your home have a lot of stairs? Oftentimes there is no getting around the stairs. Consider rearranging a room on the first floor for sleeping to avoid climbing stairs to the second floor several times a day. Next on the list is the bathroom. Sit on the toilet; are your knees lower than your hips? Can you get up without using your hands? Is there a spot where a grab bar might be installed? Can you manage to stand in the shower? Can you get in and out of your main bathroom with a walker? You may not need to make any changes in advance, but its good to take stock of the situation, as a therapist will likely ask you about your home setup while in the hospital and make recommendations for equipment like a tub bench or raised toilet seat. Finally, spend some time in the kitchen. While you may think of the obvious like filling the freezer with meals, you should also take time to think about where your most used items are located are the glasses on a high shelf? Are the plates on a low shelf under the counter? Try to rearrange items so that the things you need most are easy to reach you may even consider leaving a place setting on the counter that you can re-use. (Paper plates and plastic ware can be life-savers too). Get Your Support System Ready Talk with your family and friends to see who will be available to help you after surgery. Often, you will not be cleared for driving for several weeks after surgery and will need someone who can drive you to medical appointments. Think about the activities that will be

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challenging for you like laundry, cooking, shopping or even caring for a pet. Ask for help in advance from friends and family. Get Your Backup Plan Ready Despite your best efforts and best preparation, sometimes going home directly after surgery is not an option. If you live alone and know in advance (or decide in the hospital) that you cant or arent ready to go home, it will be helpful if you have done your homework about where youd like to continue your recovery. Take the time to learn about skilled nursing facilities in your area that can provide the care that you need. There are many factors in choosing the facility that is right for you. Is it close to your home/family? Do they have therapy and nursing staff that are knowledgeable in the kind of rehabilitation you will need? Do they have state-of-the-art equipment and resources? Do they have private rooms? Visit some facilities and get a feel for each place so you know where you feel welcome, comfortable, and confident in the care you will receive. Making that choice in advance (whether you ultimately need it or not) will allow you to rest easy as you head into surgery and will be one less decision to make in the days that follow. Congratulations on making a decision to improve your life. Best of luck in your preparations and cheers to a speedy recovery! For more information about RESTORE Heritage Health Therapy, or therapy services in general, please call Heritage Health in Bloomington at 309-827-8004 or visit www.Heritage Of Care.com/restore.

Christian counselors, social workers, psychologists, and support staff committed to a therapeutic process that ministers to the whole person. Assisting individuals and their families in their pursuit to become all of whom they were created to be. We look forward to having the opportunity to serve you.

211 N. Veterans Parkway, Suite 1 Bloomington, IL 61704 Phone: (309) 663-2229

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75 E. Queenwood Rd. Morton, IL 61550 Phone: (309) 263-5565 2001 W. Willow Knolls Rd., Suite 110 Peoria, IL 61614 Phone: (309) 692-4433

www.agapecounselors.net

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June 2013 Bloomington Healthy Cells Magazine Page 35