Home » Your Health » 6 Post-Op Habits that Slow Recovery

6 Post-Op Habits that Slow Recovery

By: Emily Lockhart on Monday, June 20th

We all hear about the so-called tough nuts, those who undergo a serious surgery only to go back to work in a few days. However, doctors provide post-op recommendations (i.e., medications, physical therapies, bed rest, diet advice, etc.) for good reason. When patients choose to ignore their doctor’s advice following a major surgery it can greatly affect recovery and even result in further health issues down the line…

1. Returning to Work Too Soon

A surgery with a lengthy recuperation time can eat into time (and money) you could be spending at work. However, according to research from Cardiff University, doctors will advise against shortening recovery time to return to work too early for many reasons. For instance, patients should be free from the sedative effects of any painkillers before returning to work as well as free of the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after an operation.

Firstly, following a major surgery (especially if you’re on medication and your body is still healing) you’re attention will not fully be on work. So pack your toothbrush and a good book for your hospital stay, but leave the laptop and work cell phone at home until you’re fully recovered.

Work Stress

Ways to Speed Up Recovery After Surgery

We all know that surgeons are very precise and that surgical procedures have come a long way over the years, but the truth is, you're still having a knife (or laser) making a hole...

Your Health
8 Conditions Doctors Often Diagnose Wrong

When painful indigestion, joint pain, or other unexplained health woes plague you for weeks and months on end, you naturally make an appointment with your doctor for answers.

Your Health
Piercings, Pacemakers Pose Hazards During MRI Scans

If you have piercings, a pacemaker, or metal dental work, you may want to think twice about undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI) exam.

Your Health
Staples Faster but Sutures Safer Following C-Section

Speed versus safety -- unless you're talking about race cars, usually the latter is more important.

Your Health
ER Visits Skyrocket After Introduction of Obamacare

The introduction of Obamacare last year has resulted in a surge of visits to emergency rooms. That’s the finding of a new survey of more than 2,000 American doctors.

Your Health
Probiotic Foods That Help Strengthen Your Immune System

You’ve probably heard the term ‘probiotics’ thrown around, especially when discussing healthy eating or fermented foods (side note: probiotics and fermented foods are not the...

Your Health
Signs You're Eating Too Much Salt

It's not hard to eat a lot of salt. Look a little closer at the foods you're eating on a regular basis, you might be surprised to find out how much sodium you're actually eating!

Your Health
Gout Diet: Foods to Eat & Foods to Avoid

Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden and severe bursts of pain in the joints which leads to swelling and inflammation.

Your Health
Possible Signs of Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome

If you constantly feel run down and can't seem to find that extra step, you may have what some experts call adrenal fatigue syndrome.

Your Health
The Best Natural Sources of Iodine

Iodine is one of the many essential minerals for our health, but it's not one we hear about all that often.

Your Health
Chronic Cough: Common Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Having a cough isn't that unusual, it's something we all develop as the seasons change or if we're getting a little sick.

Your Health
Everything You Need to Know About an Adenovirus

It's that time of year again! And no, we're not talking about Christmas. It's flu season! The flu is a nasty virus that is highly contagious and hard to avoid in the winter months.

Your Health
Biggest Myths and Misconceptions About Cancer

Cancer is a scary word and an even more terrifying concept. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t been personally affected by cancer, or at least know of someone who...

Your Health
Best Flu Prevention Tips

It's that time of year again, and we're not talking about the holidays! It's that time of year when the flu virus makes its annual rounds, and last year was particularly rough.

Your Health
What Every Woman Should Know About High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (also referred to as hypertension) occurs when there’s a force of blood pushing against the lining of the arteries and that force remains higher than normal...

Your Health