When you are in recovery after surgery or a serious injury, you need to be aware that, though the immediate danger is over, you are still quite vulnerable. While you are in recovery, there are a number of serious complication which you should strive to prevent. Make sure your recovery goes smoothly by keeping the following in mind.
Get a Communication Board
A communication board is a piece of poster board that has various pictures on it, indicating things like “bathroom”, “water” or “outside”. You can use this board to indicate what you need if you are unable to talk, write or text. This is very handy in the event of an emergency, and will prevent you from feeling too stressed out if your family or caretakers find it hard to understand you.
Take Care of Your Skin
Depending on what you are recovering from, you might not be able to move very much at all. Whether you are spending all of your time sitting or lying down, you need to be able to make sure that you are not putting too much pressure on your skin. Keep an eye out for blisters, skin spots that turn black or brown, abrasions on your skin or red areas that do not fade. If you press your fingers against your skin and the white marks stay after the pressure is removed, see a doctor immediately.
Remember to Eat
When you begin your recovery, you may find that you are completely uninterested in food. You may have a reduced sense of smell, or perhaps eating is associated with discomfort. There are a number of different conditions which will simply serve to take appetite away. When you want to make sure that you are recovering well, consult a dietitian or a nutritionist and make sure that you eat according to plan. This can keep your weight in a good place while making sure that you do not starve or suffer from malnutrition.
Do Your Physical Therapy
Even if your physical therapy hurts or feels uncomfortable for you, be sure you stick to your regimen and perform the exercises recommended by your doctor. According to a Personal Injury lawyer in Chicago, who often counsels clients in recovery, injuries are quite common during this time because the muscles are too weak to provide proper support and protection. Doing physical therapy will begin to build them up again.
Take a moment to think about how you can help your recovery go by faster while staying safe. There are a number of things you can do to prevent re-injury or worse. Simply being mindful and communicating your needs can help you deal with a number of serious issues involved in the recovery process.