5 Tips for Smoother Patient Recoveries

At The Lucas Center, we do everything in our power to set you up for success and give you the tools you need to heal quickly after a procedure. For some, recovery can feel slow. For others, it flies by. But no matter who you are or which procedure you have done, recovery isn’t meant to be fun.

Preparing ahead of time and sticking to some basic, healthy habits is a great way to make the recovery process as easy as possible. Check out these 5 essential tips for a smoother, better healing process overall.

1. Prepare your recovery space
Having a comfortable place to recover in is essential and easy to prepare ahead of time. Be sure to have a phone charger handy, as well as lots of water, any prescribed or pre-approved medications, and some entertainment to keep you busy as you heal.

2. Manage your expectations
During the recovery process, you’ll probably want to eat normally, get up and move around, do errands, wrangle the kids… whatever you’re used to doing in your normal routine. Take it easy and manage your expectations of what you’ll be able to do right after surgery. You have to walk before you can run!

3. Stay hydrated
Hydration is a crucial element in the healing process. As your body recovers from surgery, it needs all the support it can get. Proper water intake is essential for healthy digestion, normalizing blood pressure, flushing bacteria, carrying nutrients, regulating body temperature, maintaining sodium balance… the list goes on. Do your body a favor… Drink more water!

4. Up your fiber intake
Some pain medications (as well as less physical activity than usual) can lead to gut health issues or all around sluggishness. By adding in a little extra fiber, you can avoid this problem and will likely feel more energetic as you recover from surgery.
Some of our favorite fiber-packed foods to add into your daily diet include: pears, lentils, mixed berries, and brussel sprouts! Want more healthy food inspiration? Check out our team’s Go-To Healthy Lunch Ideas (link to this blog once posted) for easy recipes to work into your daily diet as you heal.

5. Listen to your body
After a major surgery, the body may swell or become inflamed in certain areas. This is natural! However, there are some things you can do at home to help keep you comfortable. Having a fan and an ice pack (or two) handy is great for controlling swelling and inflammation more easily post-op.

Pro tip! The key to using an ice pack is remembering to put them back in the freezer afterwards. Otherwise, you’ll wish you had another one if you start to swell up again. If you’re ever down an ice pack, try frozen peas! They’re able to form to your body, which can be a great option compared to hard blocks of ice.

Still have questions about a procedure and its recovery details? We’re here to help! Give us a call at (865) 218-6210 or get in touch online!

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