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One of the unfortunate parts about getting older is the occasional health problem that escalates into a more serious issue. Sometimes that issue leads to the need for major surgery. From a surprise problem with your heart to a broken hip after a fall, these surgeries are not to be taken lightly – and neither is the recovery from those surgeries once you’re out of the hospital and back home.
If you’ve ever had surgery before, you already know that movement is one the most crucial factors in recovery. The sooner you get up and move around, the better your medical outcome will likely be. That’s why it’s so important to ease back into an exercise routine as soon as you comfortably can.
During the first several weeks after surgery, it’s common and expected that you will be nervous about movement and worried that you might damage the careful work of the surgeons. But as your pain levels drop and your confidence grows, you can begin to step up your exercise routine. Taking care to do it the right way will help you avoid “overdoing it” and sustaining injuries.
The Importance of Exercise After Surgery
Research has left little doubt that moving around after surgery is incredibly important, especially for seniors and the elderly. Getting back into an exercise routine is essential for good senior whole health.
A shocking study in Current Opinion in Anesthesiology points out that up to 50% of elderly surgical patients come into the operating room with limited function already; after the surgery, 80% of patients tend to lie in bed with no real medical reason, getting much less movement than their body needs to speed the healing process.1
There are many consequences of that inactivity, including muscle wasting, a rapid loss of strength, and a lower pulmonary capacity. These issues can have a marked and profound effect on anyone, but especially the more vulnerable elderly population.
As you begin your recovery, your risk of falling increases dramatically. As mentioned earlier, staying in bed for long periods of time is a big culprit. But you might also suffer from the effects of blood loss, the side effects of a variety of new medications, and the general feeling of malaise and fatigue that often pops up after major surgery.
And of course, falls after surgery can lead to very serious injury. The CDC reports that 95% of all hip fractures are the result of falls, and that 300,000 seniors wind up in the hospital each year for treatment of those injuries.2 Falling down after surgery could mean the added complication of injuring the delicate surgical site. That makes the ability to get help even more vital.
An emergency alert for elderly adults and seniors can help you avoid the dire consequences of falling down while trying to recover from major surgery. You don’t have to worry about lying on the floor for hours, waiting for help; pressing the panic button means help is on the way within minutes.
Questions to Ask After Surgery
Before you leave the hospital after surgery, ask the doctors and nurses what exercises are okay for you to do. They will probably give you a list of exercises you should be doing, as they will want you to start moving around as soon as possible to help retain your strength and range of motion.
But just to make sure you understand what you can and can’t do, ask these questions:
· Are there some parts of your body you shouldn’t move right now?
· Are there any restrictions on movement?
· Can you push, pull, or lift things?
· If you can lift things, how many pounds is safe?
· If you are in a sling, should you take it off to exercise or to sleep?
· Will you be in physical therapy, and if so, should you do home exercises too?
Easing Into Exercise
Once you have the answers to those questions, you will know what sort of exercise routine you can ease back into. And when you’re ready for that, these tips can help you make the most of your recovery.
· Start with gentle exercise in bed. If you’re going to be in bed during the majority of your time in the hospital after surgery, make the most of it! Work what muscles you can. Simple stretching exercises are always a great idea. Talk to your doctors and nurses about certain areas you should avoid exercising, if any, and simple exercises they might recommend to retain strength.
· Basic tasks are exercise too. Remember that when you are recovering from surgery, even the simplest physical tasks can require more effort. Getting out of bed on your own, getting dressed, making a cup of coffee, or walking outside to get the mail all count as exercise in the aftermath of surgery. Given that, don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t get back into a regular exercise routine immediately.
· Break up your exercise time. The World Health Organization recommends 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week for those over the age of 65.3 Most people break this up into workout sessions of 30 minutes each, five times a week. But when you are recovering from surgery, a long workout session might not be advisable. The good news is that you can get very good benefits from breaking that time down even further and exercising for five or 10 minutes throughout the day. As you continue your recovery, engaging in “mini workouts” can help you ease into more.
· Listen to your pain. When you begin exercising again, you might experience “breakthrough pain,” or an increase in pain that occurs despite taking medication to prevent it. If you feel this as a result of exercising, it’s safe to say you’re doing too much too soon. Back down on the intensity of your exercise and speak to your doctor if you continue to experience pain with increased movement.
· Get a medical alert device. A button alert can be your best friend in the aftermath of surgery and as you begin moving back into an exercise routine. As you work through recovery, having a personal emergency response system at your fingertips can provide incredible peace of mind. An emergency alert button means you can get help right away, 24/7.
· See a physical therapist. In many cases, a physical therapist will work with you after surgery to help you regain function and range of motion of the affected area. Ask them about exercises that are right for you and your unique situation. If a certain recommended exercise suddenly begins to hurt, mention it right away.
· Stick with low impact exercise. Start off very slowly and carefully, no matter what your activity level was before the surgery. The last thing you want is more injury! Simple exercises like walking on a treadmill, using a stationary bike, or gentle stretching can help you stay in better shape while recovering. Gentle water aerobics might also be an option, but always talk to your doctor before you allow any surgical wound to get wet or before starting a new exercise routine—especially after major surgery.
· Use all assistive devices as recommended. You might be eager to ditch that arm sling or try walking without the cane you’re supposed to use. Not so fast! That medical equipment was prescribed for your safety, so let it do its job. Find exercises that you can do comfortably while using those assistive devices. You will eventually get to the point of not needing them, but wait until your doctor gives you the green light before stopping usage.
Staying Safe During Recovery
Recovery from major surgery isn’t always linear. You might have a setback or two as you move your body more. Those difficult moments are yet another reason to have a medical alarm at your fingertips. If you were to experience sudden dizziness, weakness, fatigue, breakthrough pain, or other medical issues, you can have solid peace of mind that if you press the button on a medical alert pendant or bracelet, help will be on the line within moments.
Choosing a medical alert system with fall detection is an even better idea. The fall detection technology in the device can sense when a fall has occurred and alert the monitoring center on your behalf, even if you are unable to press the emergency button yourself for any reason.
Your peace of mind might be shaken after major surgery. Recovery can be tough, but you can ease back into living confidently after surgery.
