Surgery for patients involves not only physical but also emotional difficulties. The feeling of helplessness is more difficult for many than other difficulties. The fact is that the solution of medical problems depends more on doctors, and postoperative rehabilitation largely depends on the efforts of the patient himself. To properly organize the recovery period, the interaction of the physician and the convalescent is necessary.
Goals
Rehabilitation of postoperative patients has several goals:
- it is necessary to prevent possible complications;
- the patient needs to be relieved of pain and to eliminate the restriction of mobility;
- important to speed up recovery and help psychological recovery from illness;
- return the patient to an active and fulfilling life.
All these goals are logical andunderstandable. It even seems to many that postoperative rehabilitation is a natural process, and the body is able to recover on its own. But this is an erroneous opinion, which often destroys the effect of medical efforts.
Quality rehabilitation of the postoperative period is a set of medical measures developed by rehabilitation doctors.
Recovery process for the elderly
Properly organizing the recovery period is important for a patient of any age. But for older people, this process can be more difficult. Many of them are more difficult to endure the forced limitation of movements after the operation, they believe that there is very little time left and the state of helplessness will not pass. This causes depression, as a result of which patients refuse the necessary procedures and manipulations. Postoperative rehabilitation is delayed or becomes completely impossible due to a negative psychological attitude.
Many are embarrassed to talk about pain and discomfort, so as not to "distract" busy people with their problems. It is important for relatives of elderly patients to choose a clinic that can provide the necessary care and create confidence that all postoperative problems are temporary.
Timing
It is impossible to specify the exact time for which the patient will be able to recover from the operation. Many factors influence this process. One of the main -the nature of the intervention. So, for example, the removal of an intervertebral hernia will require a complex postoperative recovery, which is divided into several stages. The total term is often stretched over more than a year. Major abdominal surgery, especially in the abdominal area, will require a long-term diet. The recovery period after joint surgery depends on high-quality physiotherapy and a complex of physiotherapy exercises.
Important factors on which the recovery time may depend are the gender of the patient and his age. According to doctors, women recover faster than the representatives of the strong half of humanity, young patients recover earlier than elderly colleagues in misfortune. Often, postoperative rehabilitation is hampered due to the patient's bad habits, such as smoking, craving for alcohol, and so on. Motivation plays a huge role in the recovery process, which is why good rehabilitation centers are staffed with psychologists.
Basic methods of postoperative rehabilitation
The arsenal of rehabilitation therapy is very extensive:
- taking medications such as painkillers, vitamin complexes, adaptogens, antispasmodics and so on;
- physiotherapy procedures such as electrophoresis, electromyostimulation and so on;
- reflexology or acupuncture, that is, the activation of biologically active points with special needles;
- complexes of physiotherapy exercises (LFK), using a system of regular exercises to raise the physic altone, increase appetite and improve psychological state;
- mechanotherapy, that is, rehabilitation with the help of simulators, orthoses and special devices;
- bobat therapy, that is, the elimination of muscle spasticity by stimulating natural reflexes;
- different types of massages that can improve blood circulation, increase immunity, stimulate the respiratory system, speed up muscle recovery;
- diet that determines the correct diet, depending on the type of surgical intervention;
- psychotherapy that forms the right motivation and eliminates depressive states;
- ergotherapy, which allows you to regain self-care skills and reduce dependence on others.
For each patient, a combination of methods is selected that benefits him, since postoperative rehabilitation is a complex and individual process. There are no bad or good methods, there are methods that are suitable or not suitable for a particular patient.
And now we will describe in more detail the recovery process after some diseases.
Removal of intervertebral hernia
Intervertebral hernia brings patients not only discomfort, but also debilitating pain that does not go away. But, even if the operation is performed by a brilliant neurosurgeon, the result will not please if the postoperative rehabilitation is not correctly selected. A hernia removed by surgery may recur if the doctor's recommendations are not followed.
It was already indicated above,that the recovery period after removal of intervertebral hernias is divided into several stages:
- Postoperative recovery for up to 1 month, including the removal of pain, swelling and prevention of early complications. During this period, you can not sit, carry weights, get physical activity, perform sudden movements and prescribe massages.
- Intense recovery that can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months. This is an adaptation period aimed at restoring motor activity.
- Late recovery that lasts a lifetime. The patient should restore the functionality of the muscular corset, regularly perform strengthening exercises, take courses of manual therapy and massages, and prevent new intervertebral hernias.
Phlebectomy
After the removal of varicose veins, patients are not detained for a long time in medical institutions. Usually the attending physician draws up an extract for 2-3 days. And how long does rehabilitation take after a phlebectomy? The postoperative period may take several months. Restorative therapy begins with simple flexion movements that can be performed already on the first day after surgery. Then, for several months, the wearing of compression underwear is prescribed. In the process of rehabilitation, venotonic agents and drugs are prescribed that reduce the risk of thrombosis. The recovery process will also require rehabilitation exercises and hiking.
Kidney removal
Neprectomy, that is, the complete or partial removal of a kidney, is a very serious operation. Upon completion, the patient is transferred to the intensive care unit to monitor the general condition. How is rehabilitation after kidney removal? The postoperative period is associated with constant monitoring of electrolyte and water balance. At first, the patient consumes less liquid and eats pureed food.
Despite the pain, rehabilitation includes all possible physical activity and breathing exercises.
When discharged home, the patient must continue to follow the diet and avoid unnecessary stress. In addition, he must be prescribed regular consultations with a urologist.
Compliance with guidelines
It can be difficult for patients to stay under control for long periods of time. But it should be understood that refusing procedures, breaking a diet or returning to bad habits is, first of all, a blow to one's own he alth. Is the momentary pleasure worth the resulting problems?
