All about the postoperative period

Each surgical intervention in the human body leads to the need for a recovery period. This time is used to restore the full functioning of damaged organs. The duration of rehabilitation depends on how difficult the surgery was, the state of health, and whether there are complications. For those who are accustomed to an active lifestyle, the return to pre-operative habits will occur much earlier.

Recovery after surgery

Surgery is possible for various reasons:

• cavity operation;
• Laparoscopy;
• Performing surgery on other parts of the body.

Abdominal surgery involves intervention in internal organs. In this case, the integrity of the skin, soft tissues is violated. The reaction of the body is impossible to predict. In this case, the rehabilitation period can take up to 30 days.

Compliance with medical recommendations, the implementation of appointments, contributes to the speedy return to the usual way of life. The reverse development of the situation is also possible, when instead of recovery, the patient receives a complication of the postoperative period. As a rule, the main disturbing symptom is high fever, pain and inflammation at the suturing site. The main reason that provokes the development of an uncomfortable condition is the penetration of infection into a healing wound. This happens with improper care of the condition of the seams. Then the recovery of the body after the operation will be delayed.

Suppuration of the scar is not excluded, with itching, pain and redness of the tissues around the affected area.

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive type of surgery. It is not uncommon for a patient to go home on the same day without negative consequences and the need for a long recovery period. A slight temperature may appear. Pain may be observed, but only in places where punctures for medical equipment have been made. If the pain syndrome bothers, then the doctor prescribes painkillers. It is not excluded the manifestation of additional symptoms:

• Nausea;
• Excess gases;
• Weakness in the body.

During the postoperative period in surgery, medical recommendations should be followed:

• The room where the patient is located should be adequately ventilated. The room is provided with soft lighting that does not put pressure on the eyes;
• In the first days of bed rest, without prolonged exertion, weight lifting. At the first sign of weakness, lie down immediately;
• As soon as the doctor confirms the possibility of movement. The patient may begin to walk. This will help prevent the development of complications in the form of blood clots in the bloodstream. It also reduces the risk of pressure sores, which are extremely difficult to treat;
• It is quite normal if at the initial stage of the early postoperative period the patient will be disturbed by pain at the site of suturing. You can ask the nurse to bring ice and apply to the disturbing part of the body. When the cause of discomfort lies in a tight bandage, then you need to inform the nurse. The bandage will either be replaced or slightly incised to facilitate coverage;
• Surgical intervention leads to the loss of a significant amount of moisture by the body. Therefore, during rehabilitation after surgery, the volume of fluid consumed should be increased to 4 liters per day;
• Dietary food is obligatory observed. The complexity of the pathology and the performance of the operation speaks about how strict the diet will be.

Immediately after surgery, a bandage is applied, which is on the wound for 14 days. After the passage of the allocated period, the bandage is removed. This should be done only in a medical institution, since independent actions can lead to infection and increase postoperative recovery.

For what reasons may a rehabilitation program be required after surgery. The rehabilitation course is carried out to achieve the following goals:

• Reduce or remove pain after soft tissue intervention;
• Methods are used aimed at the speedy regeneration of damaged tissues formed after surgery;
• Normalizing the work of blood vessels to resume blood supply to internal organs. The tone in the muscles of the affected area is restored;
• Reducing the risk of complications after surgical procedures;
• Elimination of stressful situations, normalization of the state of the central nervous system.

About how long the postoperative period lasts, doctors talk about terms from 6 weeks to six months. The duration is calculated from the conditions of the surgery, the complexity of the pathology and the state of health of the patient.

Medical therapy

For the normal course of the recovery period, the doctor prescribes medications:

• Painkillers. If the pain syndrome is constantly bothering, then you can use medications to alleviate the condition. If the symptom often recurs, you should consult a doctor, complications may develop;
• Vitamin complex;
• Means that help to clot blood and stop possible bleeding;
• sedatives;
• Antiviral;
• Antihistamine medicines.

If the surgery was difficult, then strong antibiotics and other drugs are prescribed, aimed at enhanced tissue regeneration, and the removal of puffiness. Doctors do not recommend enduring severe pain, as this can lead to even greater complications and cause irreparable harm to the patient's health.

Therapeutic gymnastics and physiotherapy

For the recovery period after surgery, exercise therapy and physiotherapy are mandatory. The doctor prescribes procedures where medical equipment is used:

• Magnetotherapy;
• electrophoresis;
• Ultrasonic impact;
• laser heating;
• Balneotherapy.

The advantage of using physiotherapy techniques is that they can be used the very next day after surgery. The effectiveness of the application of these methods shows itself well in combination with other methods. Significantly reduces the risk of complications, postoperative care for patients in surgery takes less time. Also, when using medical equipment, the manifestation of side symptoms in the form of pain, possible swelling or redness is reduced. This means that the consumption of medications will be reduced, which will favorably affect the liver and other internal organs.

At the same time, the soft tissues and the affected area are better supplied with blood, muscle tone rises, the inflammatory process is eliminated, and swelling disappears. Today, there are many procedures of a physiotherapeutic nature. Most of them are prescribed by a doctor so that rehabilitation after surgery is easy, comfortable and without side complications.

As for physiotherapy exercises, not a single restoration of damaged organs can do without exercise therapy exercises. They will be especially relevant if the damage touched the arms, legs, or the musculoskeletal system was affected.

Therapeutic exercise consists of three stages:

• At the first stage, the articular parts are developed;
• Second phase. Next, you need to strengthen the muscular apparatus;
• Third stage. The ability to do the usual things and endure stress. If a person was engaged in professional sports before the illness, then at the third stage, special measures are taken to strengthen the damaged areas and prepare them for taking on an increased load.

The doctor and the patient are faced with the primary task - after the operation, the patient must stand up and be able to serve himself independently.

However, the patient must obtain approval from the doctor to carry out even the simplest movement - getting out of bed. The doctor evaluates the patient's capabilities, the condition of the wound and the capabilities of the body.

The early postoperative period is therapeutic exercises performed while lying in bed, without having to get up. These are the first loads that are possible on the body and the affected area. After sufficient strengthening of the muscular apparatus, you can rise and perform other, more complex exercises. And so gradually complicating the movements and increasing the load, under the supervision of a doctor, they achieve the restoration of the full functioning of the damaged organ. Exercise should be regular, without gaps, not lazy. During this period, the patient will need perseverance, patience and perseverance. Only compliance with these rules will bring positive results, return a normal life. Otherwise, disability, complications are possible, paralysis is not excluded.

Therapeutic gymnastics shows good results in terms of how to restore strength after surgery, combined with the use of special simulators. This is a special piece of equipment designed and developed to help the patient develop the joints and enable them to move.

The doctor prescribes mechanotherapy if:

• There are residual effects after the lesion;
• The patient has a pathology of the musculoskeletal system. This means that there is low motor activity in the joints, improper fusion of bones and tissues occurs;
• Soft tissues form pathogenic scars;
• Rheumatism, paralysis develops;
• The limbs are no longer mobile.

Massage treatments

Carrying out massage activities has no contraindications, allergic reactions. Massage has a beneficial effect on the whole body. The procedure affects not only the affected limb, but also the back. In this way, positive effects are achieved:

• Improves blood supply to tissues at the site of violation of the integrity of the bones;
• The regenerative processes occurring in the body are even more activated;
• The central nervous system calms down, the tone of nerve cells is restored.

It will be effective if medicinal ointments are used during massage procedures.

Diet food

Do not forget about proper nutrition for the period of rehabilitation after surgery. Using a diet to maintain a balanced content of vitamins, micro and macro elements and other essential substances in the body.

The diet is discussed with the attending physician so that the chosen food does not cause a repeated admission to the hospital with problems in the digestive tract. When a menu of future dietary nutrition is compiled, the following indicators are determined:

• Nutrients must be supplied to the body in a balanced way. This means that proteins, carbohydrates and fats should be enough, but not much;
• The patient's daily calorie intake should be indicated. Therefore, dishes should not be fatty or high-energy, which will lead to a set of extra pounds and the recovery process will be delayed;
• The food consumed should be beneficial to the digestive tract. As a rule, they try to include plant-based products, not fatty ones, in the diet. The inclusion of fermented milk products is also welcome;
• Mandatory compliance with water balance. During the recovery period after surgery, it is very important to consume enough fluids. Your doctor may recommend increasing your intake to 4 liters per day.

All products included in the diet are natural, do not contain GMOs and preservatives.

The work of a psychologist

Not only physical injuries need to be treated and rehabilitated. Often the resulting physical injuries deal a blow to the human psyche. This is especially true in cases where the patient is isolated from society and is on long-term treatment and recovery. Then psychologists begin to work with patients.

They find out the cause of the condition that has arisen and try to solve the problem of the person.

What are the reasons for the appearance of a depressive state in many patients admitted to the hospital and being treated here:

• Severe pain syndrome. When a patient is constantly in pain, the world around him ceases to exist. Everything is focused on the source of the pain. For this reason, a person is irritated, very excited, reacts aggressively to others;
• Movement restriction. Prolonged immobility leads the patient to a state of melancholy. A state of apathy arises, you don’t want anything, indifference to what is happening around;
• Feelings of hopelessness and inferiority. The most dangerous psychological states. When a patient has serious injuries that require long-term treatment and even longer recovery, then the thought begins to creep into the person that this will never end. A state develops that there is a risk of remaining disabled and not being able to take care of themselves. The patient is cut off from society due to illness and is increasingly visited by the thought of uselessness to anyone.

Often the patient repels loved ones, refuses to accept help, then the psychologist deals with the case. The doctor chooses the right approach to the patient, removes fears, returns the person.

Reflexology is used as an aid. This method is aimed at stimulating the nerve fibers located in the skin where the damage has occurred. The method helps to normalize the work of the central nervous system. Also, thanks to the manipulations, blood flow is restored and the affected tissues are supplied with blood in sufficient quantities to continue the regeneration processes. Puffiness is removed, muscle tissue is restored, the work of internal organs is normalized, the general condition of the patient becomes satisfactory.

Any operation violates the integrity of the internal organs, interferes with their work. When following medical recommendations, the recovery process is faster, less painful, without complications. As an aid to the body, medical devices, massage activities are used. Remedial gymnastics classes are required. Also, do not forget about the work of a psychologist.