Rehab After Surgery Can Speed Up Recovery
Do you want to heal as soon as possible from your surgery? Of course, you do! If you have a surgical procedure coming up, while preparing for the operation, it is natural to be a little anxious and wonder how easily you will be able to recover. Luckily, understanding that you have a Post-Surgical Rehabilitation scheduled, can help to relieve some of the tension.
To consult with one of our dedicated Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Dauphin, Shrewsbury, and Hershey, PA physical therapists, contact Madden & Gilbert Physical Therapy today. They’re all trained specialists who know how to properly assess a variety of pain conditions and create a recovery plan so that you can get back to your life faster!
Benefits of post-surgical rehabilitation
Pre-and post-surgical rehab are vital to positive outcomes after surgery. Any type of surgery can be treated as a form of trauma and can affect the body in many different ways.
Even minor surgical procedures that are uncomplicated may have a significant effect on your health. Post-surgical recovery with a Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Dauphin, Shrewsbury, and Hershey, PA physical therapist is particularly necessary because of this, in order to ensure that everything goes smoothly after the surgery is completed.
In addition to reducing your pain and accelerating the rate of recovery, individualized post-surgical rehab with a physical therapist will also decrease the chances of post-operative complications, including infections, bleeding, blood clots, muscle fatigue, scar tissue, diminished function, and other factors that can adversely affect your long-term health.
Another critical reason for selecting post-surgical physical therapy is its ability to help you reduce or completely avoid prescription painkillers, including opioids.
An opioid epidemic is currently gripping the country and impacting every socioeconomic class. According to the CDC, an estimated 115 people every day die from an opioid overdose, and upwards of 29% of people, prescribed opioids will end up misusing these dangerous drugs.
For this reason, the CDC advises people to choose physical therapy over prescription painkillers whenever possible.
Common surgical procedures
When conservative treatment options for an injury or health condition fail to provide effective relief, many physicians will recommend surgical correction.
Some common conditions that may lead to surgery include, but are not limited to:
- Heart surgery – ablations, stent placements, cardiac pacemakers, etc
- Full or partial knee replacements
- Total hip replacements
- ACL, MCL, and/or meniscus repairs
- Rotator cuff tears
The effect these operations will have on your body should not be underestimated. At least some degree of discomfort, inflammation,
mobility restrictions and swelling are caused by most surgeries.
In order to help your tissues to heal, and to prevent chronic dysfunction, it is possible that you will have to learn how to do simple things all over again, like walking and getting dressed.
Our Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Dauphin, Shrewsbury, and Hershey, PA physical therapists will teach you the best and safest way to perform tasks safely after your operation.
Your surgeon will also outline these instructions which may include hip precautions, sternal precautions, spine precautions, not putting weight on your limb, etc.
What should I expect from physical therapy?
Even after your post-surgical recovery procedures are finished, our Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Dauphin, Shrewsbury, and Hershey, PA physical therapists are committed to ensuring that you enjoy a safe life.
Though pain relief medications may be prescribed by your doctor, physical therapy has been proven to alleviate pain and eliminate the need for them.
Your discomfort is masked by pain-killing drugs, while physical therapy resolves the problem where it starts. Specialized procedures, techniques, and modalities, such as ultrasound, joint mobilization, laser therapy, electrical stimulation, and home exercise systems are all things that a physical therapist will utilize for your treatment.
To help you heal and get back to your usual everyday life, our Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Dauphin, Shrewsbury, and Hershey, PA physical therapists will build a recovery plan that will include tailored stretches and exercises. Madden & Gilbert Physical Therapy will help you get to your optimal levels of operation afterward, no matter what condition or injury you might need surgery for.
Physical limitations can occur in the days and weeks following a surgical procedure. Our physical therapist will instruct you on how to navigate those limits, such as how to go up and down the stairs, put on clothing, or get in and out of a vehicle.
This can be achieved with the help of assistive devices, in many cases. You will be able to walk around more comfortably while still trying to regain the normal range of movement in your body by making these accommodations.
In order to optimize your long-term wellbeing, prevent injury and avoid the need for more surgery in the future, part of your recovery plan will also provide education on any lifestyle and/or dietary improvements you might make.
Get back to your life with post-surgical rehab!
If you are planning on having a surgical operation in the near future, Contact Us Today at Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Dauphin, Shrewsbury & Hershey, PA Centers to set up your post-surgical rehab plan with Madden & Gilbert Physical Therapy.
We’ll provide you with everything you need to get back to your life as quickly and easily as possible!
