Vitality - Fall 2013 - (Page 10)

ECOVERY R After orthopaedic surgery, rehab may be a stop on the journey you'd rather not make. But it's the one thing that will get you to your destination fastest BY ALISSA EDWARDS B eing laid up after an orthopaedic injury or surgery isn't all that bad at ﬁrst-breakfast, lunch and dinner in bed, all the TV you can handle and a free pass on household chores and going to work. But when it comes to making a successful recovery, the hospital stay is just the beginning of the journey, and rehabilitation is the map that will take you all the way home. "There's a long road ahead before you're fully recovered," says Ellis Hall, MPT, director of rehabilitation services at CMH. "And every step is important." Here, our expert outlines the road ahead and why every step of your rehabilitation program counts. THE FIRST FEW MILES: EARLY RECOVERY After surgery, your care team will take good care of you and make sure you're recovering well from anesthesia and surgery. "The ﬁrst few days are really about getting you up out of bed, standing and walking," Hall says. "The sooner you move, the fewer complications-like swelling and blood clots-you're likely to have." Physical therapy may begin as early as the day of your surgery or as late as a day or two after, depending on the procedure you have. Some patients are afraid to get moving after surgery, anticipating a lot of pain, but Hall says the discomfort is usually minimal and temporary. "People are often surprised by how weak they can be after just a couple days in bed. It's uncomfortable at ﬁrst, but patients quickly realize that the more they move the better they feel," Hall says. Your physical therapist will guide you through a series of gentle range-of-motion and light resistance exercises, which will help keep joints lubricated, reduce swelling and increase circulation after surgery. "Though you might want to just rest and stay in bed at this point, getting your body up and going again is laying the foundation for the rest of your recovery," Hall says. GETTING IN GEAR: OUTPATIENT CARE Once you're discharged from the hospital, usually between three and ﬁve days after surgery, the responsibility for continuing rehabilitation will shift largely to you. Video ANXIOUS ABOUT REHAB? 10| FA L L 2 0 1 3 Watch motivational videos on how physical therapy helped real people like you get back to feeling like themselves again. Go to citizensmemorial.com/ vitality, and click "Why Physical Therapy?" For the next six to eight weeks, your program will include a combination of exercises you'll do at home every day and regular visits to your physical therapists. "During that time, you'll work on an individualized program designed to increase strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, and endurance," Hall says. As you progress, you might feel ready to be on your own-but acting on that impulse would be a mistake. "Following your program through to completion-just like with antibiotics-helps prevent relapse and ensures that you're recovered for the long haul," Hall says. ARE WE THERE YET?: EASING BACK INTO ACTIVITY Congratulations! Completing rehabilitation is no easy task, and you deserve a pat on the back for the effort and energy it took to get this far. But you're not out of the woods yet. Unfortunately, many people try to ramp up their activity or take up ambitious exercise too quickly and end up reinjuring themselves or damaging their new joint. "To ensure a complete recovery, coordinate your return to activity and exercise with your surgeon and physical therapist," Hall says. The take-away? Don't skip a single step. "Postoperative rehab rewards your dedication to the process," Hall says. "Each step is important, and following your program to completion will yield the best results." In the end, that's what anyone would call a trip worth taking. http://www.citizensmemorial.com/vitality http://www.citizensmemorial.com/vitality

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vitality - Fall 2013

Vitality - Fall 2013
Contents
Health Beat
Diabetes Survival Guide
A New Light
Road to Recovery
Heart Smart
Q + A

Vitality - Fall 2013