Got An Operation Coming Up? Plan For Recovery With PT
Do you have an operation or surgery coming up?
It doesn’t matter what your operation is for, we know one thing without even asking: you want to make sure you’re recovering as fast as possible! After all, who wouldn’t?
Surgeries are quite stressful events, and most individuals who go through them are out of commission for at least a few weeks following. It’s normal to question how long you’ll be unable to work, participate in your favorite sports, or live independently. Post-op rehab can reduce the time it takes to recover and improve your function after rehab.
If you have surgery coming up, it’s natural to be nervous and worry about your recovery.
When you have post-surgical rehabilitation with a Physical Therapist at Orthopedic Sports Therapy your recovery will progress faster and you will have a resource for all the questions you forgot to ask the Surgeon! Your PT will communicate with your surgeon before you even start therapy to ensure proper rehab treatment techniques are used any post-operative restrictions are observed to ensure the success of your procedure.
Call (480) 921-9000 or (480)547-4241 today to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists at Orthopedic Sports Therapy in Ahwatukee, Biltmore or Tempe, AZ.
They’re all trained specialists who know how to properly evaluate a variety of pain conditions and create a great post-op recovery plan so you can get back to your life faster!
Why should I choose physical therapy over opioid pain medications?
Another important reason for choosing post-surgical physical therapy is the potential to help minimize or remove the need for prescription pain relievers, including opioids.
An opioid epidemic currently has American in its grasp, and is impacting every socioeconomic class. For this reason, the CDC advises people to choose physical therapy over prescription painkillers whenever possible. Their website states that 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.
Positive postoperative results are dependent on pre- and post-operative preparation and healing. All surgery can be considered a sort of trauma and can have a wide range of repercussions on the body.
Even tiny, simple surgical procedures can have a huge influence on your health. As a result, post-operative rehabilitation is essential to ensuring that everything goes smoothly after the surgery.
Individualized post-operative therapy with a physical therapist helps reduce the likelihood of postoperative problems such as infections, bleeding, blood clots, muscular weakness, scar tissue, decreased function, and other variables that might impair your long-term health.
Common surgical procedures physical therapy can help you recover from
When conservative treatment options for an injury or health condition fail to provide effective relief, many physicians will recommend surgical correction.
Some common surgeries that may benefit from post-op PT rehab include, but are not limited to:
- Joint replacements – knee, shoulder, ankle
- Heart surgery – ablations, stent placements, cardiac pacemakers, etc
- Rotator cuff repairs
- ACL, MCL, and/or meniscus repairs
- Total hip replacements
These procedures have a significant impact on your body, which should not be disregarded. Many operations run the risk of causing extreme discomfort, irritation, movement restrictions, and inflammation during the healing process.
Depending on the nature and complexity of your operation, you will most likely have to retrain your body on how to move and protect the tissues during recovery to avoid persistent dysfunction.
Following your surgery, our physical therapists will teach you the proper and safest manner to do daily tasks like getting out of bed and dressing.
Your surgeon will also outline specific instructions which may include movement and weight bearing restrictions, as well as brace use, etc.
Benefits of physical therapy after surgery
Even after post-surgical rehabilitation procedures are over, our physical therapists are dedicated to ensuring that you live a healthy life and are able to continue with your everyday routine the way you want to.
Our physical therapists in Ahwatukee, Biltmore or Tempe, AZ will build a recovery plan that includes tailored stretches and exercises in order to help you heal and get back to your usual everyday life. Orthopedic Sports Therapy will help you get to your optimum levels of function after surgery.
You will likely need pain medicines immediately after your surgery, however, physical therapy has been demonstrated to lessen discomfort and reduce the need for long-term use of these medications.
In the days and weeks following surgery, physical limits may arise. For example, in the case of shoulder surgery, you’ll probably find that you cannot reach up high without experiencing pain, or lift items. In some cases, you may even have trouble dressing yourself. These are typical side effects of orthopedic surgery, and in most cases they will subside over time – and more quickly with physical therapy.
Our physical therapist will demonstrate ways you can safely manage limitations such as going up and down stairs, putting on clothing, or getting in and out of a car.
Part of your rehabilitation plan will also include instruction on lifestyle changes, ergonomics and other modifications which will enhance your long-term well-being and minimize the need for more surgery in the future.
Post-operative physical therapy can have you feeling better in no time
Set up your post-operative rehabilitation plan as soon as possible. Make an appointment now if you’re planning on having surgery soon so we can help you get ahead of the game!
We’ll provide you with everything you need to resume your life as swiftly and simply as possible!