We’ve talked a lot about myths and unknowns in physical therapy, but there are also parts of PT that people know about without fully understanding what they involve. Post-operative physical therapy is one of the most common reasons people come to an outpatient physical therapy clinic.
Surgery can be a major step in recovery, but the surgery itself is only one part of the process. Physical therapy, your home program, daily activity, sleep, nutrition, and your support system all play a role in helping you get back to the things you want to do.
Surgery Is Serious: Even When It’s Common
There are many surgeries that physical therapists see regularly, including total knee replacements, total hip replacements, rotator cuff repairs, and many others.
But remember, common does not always mean simple.
Every surgery comes with risks, benefits, restrictions, and a recovery process that should be taken seriously. That is why a solid medical team is crucial to ensure each patient recovers to the best of his or her ability.
Have a Game Plan Before Surgery
If you are considering orthopedic surgery, take some time to prepare, not just your body, but your entire recovery plan.
Before surgery, I encourage patients to write down their questions and concerns and bring them to their physician. It is easy to get overwhelmed during an appointment and forget something you wanted to ask.
Some things you may want to discuss include:
- What should I expect immediately after surgery?
- What red flags should I watch out for?
- What will I be allowed and NOT allowed to do?
- When will I start physical therapy?
- Consider scheduling your initial PT evaluation before you have your surgery. This helps make sure you get the appointment that works best for you, rather than being squeezed into the schedule, especially during busy times of the year.
- How long might I need help at home?
- What are my transportation needs?
- What are my medication instructions?
- When are my follow-up appointments?
- What should I expect financially?
- This is a good question for your insurance company. Insurance can be complicated, so call early to better understand your benefits and potential out-of-pocket costs.
Don’t Forget About the Cost of Recovery
Sometimes patients plan their surgery around their insurance deductible. For example, they may have surgery in December because they have already met their deductible for the year.
That can be helpful, but remember: your recovery does not necessarily end when the calendar changes.
You may still need physical therapy and follow-up appointments in January, which could mean meeting a new year’s deductible or having additional out-of-pocket expenses.
Not every surgery can be planned around insurance benefits, and sometimes surgery needs to happen based on medical necessity, but when you have the ability to plan, it is worth considering the entire recovery, not just the day of surgery.
Prepare Your Body Before Surgery
One of the best things you can do before surgery is stay as active as you safely can.
This does not mean pushing through significant pain or ignoring your symptoms. Instead, work within your tolerance and maintain as much strength, mobility, and activity tolerance as possible. Sometimes physical therapy is recommended prior to surgeries, to assist in this preoperative care, but again this depends on the surgery and patient needs. All in all, the stronger and more prepared you are going into surgery, the more you have to work with afterward.
And don’t forget about the basics:
- Sleep: Give your body time to rest and recover.
- Hydration: Stay adequately hydrated.
- Nutrition: Give your body the nutrients it needs to heal.
- Activity: Maintain movement and strength within your tolerance.
- Support: Know who will be available to help you.
- Home setup: Think ahead about what you may need to make daily activities easier.
Your surgery and physical therapy exercises are important, but they aren’t the only things that influences recovery. The things you can control matter, too.
Your Recovery Is NOT Going to Look Like Someone Else’s
This is one of the biggest things I want patients to remember.
You may know someone who had the exact same surgery. Maybe they were walking without a cane after two weeks, back to the gym in six weeks, or feeling completely normal after three months.
That does not mean your recovery should look the same.
Two people can have the same surgery and have completely different recovery experiences because of factors such as:
- Different surgeons
- Different surgical findings
- Different injuries or levels of damage
- Different activity levels before surgery
- Different health histories
- Different support systems
- Different work and home demands
- Different goals
- Different pain and symptom responses
Comparison can be a thief of joy, and it can make recovery more stressful than it needs to be. Remember that every person’s journey is different. Everyone will face their own challenges along the way, so try not to spend your energy comparing your struggles, progress, or timeline to someone else’s.
Surgery Is Just One Part of the Journey
If surgery is in your future, don’t think of the operation as the finish line or the entire solution. Think of it as one step in a much bigger process.
Your medical team, physical therapist, home program, activity level, sleep, nutrition, support system, and your own goals all contribute to your recovery.
Over the next few months, we’ll be breaking down some of the common surgeries we see at Inspired Physiotherapy and talking about what recovery can look like.
