The period after heart surgery is important for every patient. The healing period looks different for every patient and for each surgery type, but there are a few things that you can expect during this time.
There are a lot of components to consider when it comes to healing after open heart surgery, but one of the most important components is the treatment of the sternum. In truth, the sternum is actually a broken bone at the beginning of the healing process. But is it treated as such? Are there extra considerations? Here's a closer look.
How much and what kind of exercise you can enjoy after heart surgery depends on how you're feeling and what your doctor feels is safe for you. Everyone is different, and the exercise your physician says is okay for you after heart surgery may not be the same as recommendations you've read online or heard from a friend. Here are a few tips for making sure the activities you participate in after heart surgery are safe for you.
After heart surgery, it's natural to wonder about your post-surgery life. How soon can you expect to feel like yourself again? When will you be able to resume your normal activities? While the answers to these and other questions vary widely between individuals, there are steps patients can take after heart surgery to shorten recovery time and get back to everyday activities.
After surgery, it's important that patients, physicians, and caregivers strive to avoid readmission. Readmission rates directly affect providers and costs, but they also create different sorts of risks for patients as well. Being readmitted to the hospital after cardiac surgery is also especially stressful for patients.
After surgery, pain management becomes a priority, and prescription medications like opioids are typically the first line of defense. For many, the idea of using opioids is concerning -- after all, we constantly hear all the terrible stories about the opioid crisis. While some medication is necessary in most cases, there are several other alternatives for pain management. Always talk to your doctor about your plans for pain management. Here are some of the best options to consider.