By Joon Nah - Certified Vestibular Physiotherapist and Founder, Therapia

Fear of the Unknown. Surgery can be a trying time in ones’ life. People delay the inevitable because of the lack of time, money, or support. While others are thrusted into surgery with unplanned injuries. Regardless of what scenario, knowledge is power, information alleviates apprehension. This guide is a compilation of real time patient experiences that may not be addressed by your physician, surgeon, nurse, or physiotherapist.

1. First floor care – Eliminate potential for injury or fall by avoiding stairs and making the first floor your temporary space.Thiskeepsbathrooms close, ability to answer the door, and proximity to the kitchen.
2. Arm’s length Rule – Keep the essentials close by, medications, water, phone, remote. Less unnecessary travel, less risk for injury.Especially true for crutches, walkers, scooters, and commodes. You shouldn’t need to crawl to get to your walker to walk.
3. Pain Meds – Fill the prescriptions, have them available in times of need, not when it’s too late.
4. Check-In– Have a daily check-in with a family member, colleague, or friend. Knowing when things are going bad, will allow the help to plan their schedule ahead too.
5. Help numbers – Keep them handy, specially to Physician, Surgeon, Physiotherapist, and transportation services.
6. Know your Social Worker/Discharge planner – Educate yourself on your community personal service worker, discharge planners, and CCAC services. They can arrange wound care, meals, and help with house hold chores.
7. Meals – pre-plan your meals, have them setup, less work the better, you need nourishment as your body goes through the process of healing.
8. Physiotherapy – Stick to the plan, both overachieving and underachieving can result in further dysfunction.
9. Don’t miss appointments – pre-plan, arrange disability vehicles, cabs for special needs, be aware of disability ramps, disability elevators, and give yourself extra time.
10. Pre-Op conversation – Discuss with the Surgeon the norms of your post-operative course, surprises are scary, the more prepared you are, the less anxiety you will encounter.
11. Hygiene – Bathing is necessary for personal hygiene as well as mood! We take for granted this simple task until function is lost. Have in place bath chairs, support handles, lifts, Cast covers, etc. Place objects like soap, scrubs, shampoos and lotions at usable heights. Stay low, go slow!

This list is not all encompassing; however, it is a start to get you thinking about your future surgery.  For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@therapia.com

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