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Recovery and Aftercare: Your Step by Step Guide to Healing

Follow these simple steps to feel better and heal faster.

You’ve made it through surgery, and now it’s time to focus on healing. We know the first few days after surgery can feel overwhelming, but we’re here to guide you through it. By following these simple steps, you’ll give your body the best chance to recover smoothly and comfortably. Remember, recovery is a journey and every step counts.

Gentle Movement: Helping Your Body Heal

Moving after surgery is one of the best ways to help your body heal. Even though it may seem tough, gentle movement prevents complications like blood clots, pneumonia, and stiffness. Start slow, follow your doctor’s instructions, and take small steps toward feeling better.

Take short walks, even just around the room.
Stretch gently but avoid any exercises your doctor hasn’t approved.
Avoid sitting or lying down for long periods.

Take short walks, even just around the room.
Stretch gently but avoid any exercises your doctor hasn’t approved.
Avoid sitting or lying down for long periods.

Take short walks, even just around the room.
Stretch gently but avoid any exercises your doctor hasn’t approved.
Avoid sitting or lying down for long periods.

Take short walks, even just around the room.
Stretch gently but avoid any exercises your doctor hasn’t approved.
Avoid sitting or lying down for long periods.

More Tips for Safe Movement

Deep Breathing to Keep Your Lungs Healthy

After surgery, your body needs extra support to keep your lungs healthy. Deep breathing exercises or using your incentive spirometer can help you avoid lung issues like pneumonia. It’s simple but effective – and we’re here to show you how.

Breathe in slowly through your nose, hold for a few seconds, then exhale slowly.
If you have an incentive spirometer, use it as your doctor showed you.
Do this exercise a few times a day to help your lungs stay strong?

Breathe in slowly through your nose, hold for a few seconds, then exhale slowly.
If you have an incentive spirometer, use it as your doctor showed you.
Do this exercise a few times a day to help your lungs stay strong?

Breathe in slowly through your nose, hold for a few seconds, then exhale slowly.
If you have an incentive spirometer, use it as your doctor showed you.
Do this exercise a few times a day to help your lungs stay strong?

Breathe in slowly through your nose, hold for a few seconds, then exhale slowly.
If you have an incentive spirometer, use it as your doctor showed you.
Do this exercise a few times a day to help your lungs stay strong?

How to Use Your Incentive Spirometer

Rest Well: Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep

Surgery can disrupt your normal sleep patterns, but rest is crucial for healing. A few simple changes can help you get the deep, restful sleep your body needs to recover. Remember, every hour of good sleep counts!

Avoid long naps during the day to help regulate your sleep cycle.
Use a sleep app like Calm to relax before bed.
Create a peaceful sleep environment – dim lights, comfortable bedding, and avoid screens before bed.

Avoid long naps during the day to help regulate your sleep cycle.
Use a sleep app like Calm to relax before bed.
Create a peaceful sleep environment – dim lights, comfortable bedding, and avoid screens before bed.

Avoid long naps during the day to help regulate your sleep cycle.
Use a sleep app like Calm to relax before bed.
Create a peaceful sleep environment – dim lights, comfortable bedding, and avoid screens before bed.

Avoid long naps during the day to help regulate your sleep cycle.
Use a sleep app like Calm to relax before bed.
Create a peaceful sleep environment – dim lights, comfortable bedding, and avoid screens before bed.

Explore More Sleep Tips

Managing Pain: Medication and Natural Relief

Pain is a normal part of recovery, but there are ways to manage it so it doesn’t slow you down. Along with your doctor’s prescribed medication, there are simple tools you can use to keep pain in check.

Take your pain medications as directed by your doctor.
Use ice packs to reduce swelling and discomfort.
Try heat pads, showers, or deep breathing to help soothe aches.

Take your pain medications as directed by your doctor.
Use ice packs to reduce swelling and discomfort.
Try heat pads, showers, or deep breathing to help soothe aches.

Take your pain medications as directed by your doctor.
Use ice packs to reduce swelling and discomfort.
Try heat pads, showers, or deep breathing to help soothe aches.

Take your pain medications as directed by your doctor.
Use ice packs to reduce swelling and discomfort.
Try heat pads, showers, or deep breathing to help soothe aches.

Pain Management Tips

Eat Well to Heal Well

Your body needs extra nutrients to heal after surgery. Eating the right foods can speed up your recovery and help you feel stronger. Let’s make sure you’re giving your body what it needs.

Focus on foods high in protein like chicken, fish, or beans to rebuild muscle.
Stay hydrated with water and avoid sugary drinks.
Eat fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to avoid constipation.

Focus on foods high in protein like chicken, fish, or beans to rebuild muscle.
Stay hydrated with water and avoid sugary drinks.
Eat fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to avoid constipation.

Focus on foods high in protein like chicken, fish, or beans to rebuild muscle.
Stay hydrated with water and avoid sugary drinks.
Eat fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to avoid constipation.

Focus on foods high in protein like chicken, fish, or beans to rebuild muscle.
Stay hydrated with water and avoid sugary drinks.
Eat fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to avoid constipation.

Download a Healthy Eating Guide

Prevent Constipation and Stay Regular

After surgery, it’s common for your digestion to slow down. Anesthesia, pain medications, and inactivity all slow our guts down. But you can take simple steps to stay regular and avoid discomfort. A healthy diet and staying hydrated will help get things moving again.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Eat fiber-rich foods like fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
If necessary, use a stool softener or mild over-the-counter laxative as recommended by your doctor.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Eat fiber-rich foods like fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
If necessary, use a stool softener or mild over-the-counter laxative as recommended by your doctor.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Eat fiber-rich foods like fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
If necessary, use a stool softener or mild over-the-counter laxative as recommended by your doctor.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Eat fiber-rich foods like fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
If necessary, use a stool softener or mild over-the-counter laxative as recommended by your doctor.

Tips for Bowel Health After Surgery

Keep the Communication Open

If you ever feel unsure about your recovery or notice something unusual, it’s important to contact your doctor. Your care team is here to help, and no question is too small. Reach out whenever you need guidance

Contact your doctor if you experience unexpected pain, swelling, or discomfort.
Keep your follow-up appointments to ensure you’re healing properly.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions – your health and peace of mind matter.

Contact your doctor if you experience unexpected pain, swelling, or discomfort.
Keep your follow-up appointments to ensure you’re healing properly.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions – your health and peace of mind matter.

Contact your doctor if you experience unexpected pain, swelling, or discomfort.
Keep your follow-up appointments to ensure you’re healing properly.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions – your health and peace of mind matter.

Contact your doctor if you experience unexpected pain, swelling, or discomfort.
Keep your follow-up appointments to ensure you’re healing properly.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions – your health and peace of mind matter.

Contact Your Care Team

Welcome to Piedmont Athens Neurosurgery. We are a patient-centered clinic dedicated to bringing you the best possible treatment options for cranial and spinal conditions.

Services

Patient Resources

Spine School

Fees & Financing

Before Your Appointment

Preparing for Surgery

Recovery and Aftercare

Pain Management

Pre-Hab for Surgery

Contact us

Address:

Piedmont Medical Services Building, 242 King Avenue Ste 150

Phone: 1 (706)-475-1870

Fax: 1 (706)-475-1879

Welcome to Piedmont Athens Neurosurgery. We are a patient-centered clinic dedicated to bringing you the best possible treatment options for cranial and spinal conditions.

Services

Patient Resources

Spine School

Fees & Financing

Before Your Appointment

Preparing for Surgery

Recovery and Aftercare

Pain Management

Pre-Hab for Surgery

Contact us

Address:

Piedmont Medical Services Building, 242 King Avenue Ste 150

Phone: 1 (706)-475-1870

Fax: 1 (706)-475-1879

Welcome to Piedmont Athens Neurosurgery. We are a patient-centered clinic dedicated to bringing you the best possible treatment options for cranial and spinal conditions.

Services

Patient Resources

Spine School

Fees & Financing

Before Your Appointment

Preparing for Surgery

Recovery and Aftercare

Pain Management

Pre-Hab for Surgery

Contact us

Address:

Piedmont Medical Services Building, 242 King Avenue Ste 150

Phone: 1 (706)-475-1870

Fax: 1 (706)-475-1879

Welcome to Piedmont Athens Neurosurgery. We are a patient-centered clinic dedicated to bringing you the best possible treatment options for cranial and spinal conditions.