Post-Operative Care At Dublin Physical & Chiropractic
At Dublin Physical & Chiropractic, post-surgery treatment is our specialty. Whether it’s post-operative care for a total knee replacement or post-op rehabilitation after open-heart surgery, we are here to help you get back on your feet.
Our post-surgical treatments include individualists physical therapy care that will help reduce post-operative pain and swelling, restore mobility and strength of the operated area. Post-surgery care can be difficult but with Dublin Physical & Chiropractic by your side, it’ll feel strong and confident again.
For more information about our Treatments & Relief or to book your consultation, call us at (01) 254 4800 or visit our contact page.
What Causes Post-operative Pain?
Post-operative pain is caused by inflammation. Your body has just got through a lot of change in a very quick period of time, it is very normal to feel pain and fatigue as your body recoveries and adapts.
The first adaptation your body will go through in the healing process is the inflammatory phase – this is the few days post-op when you feel the most pain and have the most swelling. The second adaptation your body will go through is forming scar tissue. Scar tissue quickly formed, a quick fix, it is not very organized or functional tissue. It is very tough and fibrous. And often restricts mobility. That is where physical therapy comes in.
The Importance Of Physical Therapy Post-Surgery
Post-operative physical therapy is important because it gives your body the best chance at an optimal recovery, without complications, like pain or restrictions that last longer than they should.
Physical therapy reduces post-operative pain and swelling, breaks up the tough, fibrous scar tissue, increases range of motion and freedom of movement, promotes strong, organized, and functional tissue (like ligaments, tendons, and muscles), strengthens damaged or torn muscles and promotes new and optimal movement patterns. Physical therapy works to reduce your symptoms right after surgery and improve your function long after your surgery.
After post-operative surgery, it is very common to have pain and restrictions in range of motion. Your physical therapist at Dublin Physical & Chiropractic will help you get your body moving again with a combination of joint mobilizations and massage therapy and a graded and gradual exercise program that is tailored specifically for your post-surgery recovery.
Post-surgery treatment can be difficult at times but our team will help you get back on your feet.
What Will My Post-Surgery Journey Look Like?
Your post-surgery journey will vary depending on the surgery you have had. Every post-operative physical therapy treatment plan is personalised to your specific injury and post-op recovery needs, so it’s difficult to give an exact timeline of what that will look like. Generally speaking though, most patients are discharged within one day or less after surgery. Your surgeon will most likely refer you to a private practice physical therapist or to the outpatient physical therapy services at the hospital for a rehabilitation program.
Your rehabilitation program can even a few hours after surgery once you are feeling rested enough. Our physical therapist will communicate with your surgeon in regards to such things as; when your bandages or wrappings can be removed when full weight bearing can begin, and what movements are safe to perform.
The first step is to reduce pain and swelling, slowly wean off pain medication, and prevent secondary complications, like infections and stiffness of surrounding joints. This is done with good wound hygiene, deep and slow breathing exercises, elevating the affected limb, frequent light activity (for example walking for 5 minutes every 30 minutes), and gently exercises the non-operated limbs and joints (for example throwing a ball with the non-operative shoulder) so they stay nice and healthy and strong.
Once you are walking around (with or without walking aids) feeling a little stronger, your eating and drinking with no side effects, you will be discharged from the hospital. The physical therapist may visit you in hospital and give you a few exercises to do at home to already start strengthening the operative area.
Over the next few days, it is normal to feel pain and increased swelling. Some light activity and keeping the limb elevated will help.
Post-Operative Physical Therapy: Heart and Lung Surgery
Heart and lung post-operative physical therapy is a little different than other post-surgeries. To begin with, you cannot go home on the same day as surgery because your heart and lungs need to recover too. Expect to stay in the hospital for at least three days after major open-heart or thoracic surgeries (like valve repair/replacement or bypass surgery).
Post-operative physical therapy can begin on post-op day one if you are stable enough. However, after open-heart surgery/aortic repairs the priority is to get your pain under control and protect your sternum (breastbone) so it can heal properly. Your post-surgery rehabilitation program will include a number of post-operative physical therapy treatments, such as range of motion exercises and massages to help you mobilize without pain. Outpatient physical therapy services post-heart surgery will also include a few post-operative rehab sessions at our facility so we can monitor your recovery very closely.
Your rehabilitation will then continue once you have been discharged from the hospital. You will most likely join a Pulmonary Rehab (PR) program at the hospital or a private PR program. PR is great for gaining confidence, strength, and endurance again after your surgery. You will also meet a lot of people who share many of the same experiences as you. You will graduate feeling so much better, your cardiovascular system will be strong than ever.
For more information about our Treatments & Relief or to book your consultation, call us at (01) 254 4800 or visit our contact page.
PR improves things like muscle weakness, low exercise tolerance, and breathlessness through physical therapy-led sports and exercise therapy.
Post-operative Care At Dublin Physical & Chiropractic
Our physical therapists are experts in post-operative rehabilitation and post-surgical physical therapy. We know that each post-surgery scenario is different and we tailor our treatment programs to meet your specific needs around the clock, so you can get better faster. Our post-surgical physical therapy patients often join a regular physical therapy program before they finish post-operative care with us because it helps them maintain peak performance.
We offer post-operative physical therapy services to patients who have had breast, thoracic (chest), abdominal, pelvic, and orthopedic surgeries. We also treat a number of post-surgery complications such as post-traumatic arthritis or frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis.
There are many different types of post-operative physical therapy treatments available post-surgery that are designed to help you recover as quickly and fully as possible. For example, post-operative physical therapy range of motion exercises will improve the strength, flexibility, endurance, and function in your affected limb after surgery.
Post postoperative physical therapy includes gentle stretching movements for new joints or tissues located near scar tissue so they can be mobilized in a safe and effective manner. Your post-operative physical therapy treatment plan will include specific activities to help improve your strength, balance, coordination, endurance, and function so you can get back out there as soon as possible!
Meet One Of Our Physical Therapists Today
Call us on (01) 254 4800 or schedule an appointment online to continue your post-operative journey with confidence in excellent physical therapy care.
Visit Us In Dun Laoghaire, Dublin Ireland
Our physical therapy & other services extend throughout Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown including Blackrock, Cherrywood, Stillorgan, Rathfarnham, Shankill, Cabinteely, Foxrock, Clonskeagh, and Killiney.
Our office is located just outside the center of Dun Laoghaire and is between Deansgrange and Monkstown. You can find our building entrance on Lower Mounttown Road, across from Woodland Park. We are a 30-second walk from Dublin Bus stop 2031 which is outside of Mccormick’s Pub.
