Navigating Post-Surgery: Tips for First Day Recovery

Getting through the first night and day after surgery is one of the toughest parts of the early healing process. Here’s how I managed the early obstacles.

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Thursday, December 19, 2024

Obstacle 1: Pain

I went to bed feeling pretty good. I started to regain some feeling in my bad leg, but the nerve block was still covering most of it. I still couldn’t fully move my toes and had significant numb spots all over the foot. I took the Percocet to go to sleep, hoping it would give me some coverage when the feeling came back.

The nerve block wore off around 2:30 am. Now I know just how painful this surgery is. I sat up got up to go to the bathroom. I instantly felt the full brunt of all the blood rushing down to my ankle. I took the Percocet again and it subsided in time, but holy cow, this hurts. Thankfully, I managed to get back to sleep once the meds kicked in.

I woke just before 8 a.m. and the meds were starting to wear off. Decision time: prescription or regular Tylenol? I sat up and felt the blood flow down to my ankle again. Oooooo lots of pain. I went to the bathroom again, opted for the Percocet and got back into bed. I elevated the foot again and waited for the meds to kick in again. Once the pain subsided, I’d be able to get downstairs and get something to eat. 

At least the feeling is back in my leg and I can wiggle my toes now. Hooray for the bright side. 

As I laid there breathing through the pain, I keep saying to myself “Behave, be patient, this too shall pass.” The Queen of impatience is trying to let the time pass. That’s hilarious. She’s screaming in the back of my head “This is such a waste of time! You should be at work and getting the house ready for Christmas!!”

Instead, I had to gag her and stick her in the back corner of my brain. 

There’s definitely guilt that is circulating in there too, but that’s probably going to be another post. That’s a pain all unto itself.

Obstacle 2: Bathing

By 9 a.m., I felt comfortable enough to sit up and re-assess for pain. Not too bad.

I opted for a washcloth bath, since I was not quite mentally prepared to go through the shower ordeal. I have the shower chair, cast cover and saran wrap all ready to go. The issue is that every step of the way has to be planned to the microsecond. The meds were making me a bit loopy (no food yet). I didn’t want to take any chances of slipping and falling in the shower.

It felt good to do my skincare routine and clean up, even if it took three times longer than usual. Also, standing on one foot and pistol squatting onto the toilet seat gets tiring. The hair? Well, a ponytail would have to suffice. I got dressed in clothes with pockets, so I was able to carry small things around. (Medicine, lip balm, etc.)

I stood up with the crutches and got ready for the next part of my day.

Obstacle 3: The stairs

Once out of bed and dressed, I needed to eat something. Of course, the kitchen is downstairs. With no weight-bearing allowed, my options were limited. I’d have to sit and use my triceps to hoist me up or down, one stair at a time. It’s slow and requires a lot of mindfulness. This is what it looks like:

• Step one: make your way to the floor without putting your foot down. It doesn’t have to be pretty or graceful, just safe.
• Step two: sit at the top of the stairs, keeping my bad leg in the air. Feel that hip flexor!
• Step three: keep your good foot square on each step.
• Step four: prevent the crutches from crashing into a heap at the bottom of the stairs.
• Step five: ignore the attention-craving dogs who think they will be getting hugs and kisses when I’m at their level.
• Step six: follow a pattern – foot, butt, elbow bend. All the way to the bottom.

The whole ordeal is a workout in itself. But once I got to the bottom, I pistol squatted back up and was on my way.

Obstacle #4: Food prep

One leg, two hands, two crutches. Those are the tools I had to navigate my world.

I was determined to make my protein shake. I do it every day, as part of my daily routine. I am determined to do as much of the basics as I can. This will keep me feeling centered as I go through the next two weeks.

With one leg, two hands, and two crutches, simple things like making a protein shake becomes complicated. It requires advance planning. This is what it looks like:

• Get the milk from the fridge and put it on the end counter.
• Move over, then move the carton to the corner counter where all the other ingredients are.
• Keep the crutches from falling down. (One crutch falls down anyway.)
• Stabilize myself on the counter and bend on the good leg to pick up the fallen crutch.
• Stand up, recenter myself and get the ingredients from the top shelf of the corner cabinet.
• Pour the milk, add the ingredients, and forget about going to get the ice. Too many steps. I’m getting tired anyway.
• Shake it up and put everything away, including the milk carton.

Once I successfully made the shake, it was time to sit down and put the foot back up. I got a grocery bag that would become my go-to carry all while I hobble around. It’s impossible to carry anything in your hands on crutches, so having a bag is essential.

I situated myself on the couch and took care of some loose ends for work. Then, the dogs started yelling at me to go outside. Grrrr. They are so attention-starved when we’re home. So, back up I got to let them out, use the bathroom, and fill my big-ass water bottle. I also figured out some lunch, so I’m not going hungry. I also enjoyed a good afternoon couch nap, a rare occurrence nowadays.

A happy twist

Back in 2023, when I was dealing with my broken foot debacle, a friend lent me a knee scooter. I rolled down the halls of the school, and it made for a much easier time at work. Once I healed, I passed the scooter on to another friend who was healing from ankle surgery. It was goodbye and good riddance.

Or so I thought. Today, she brought the scooter back to me.

I had forgotten how much easier it was to navigate longer distances. I figured out how to hang the crutches from the handlebars. That made the transition from one transport method to the next more efficient.

I am now at the end of the first day after surgery. I survived. There’s definitely pain involved, but I get reprieves once in a while. I’m told the first three days are the worst, then the pain starts to subside. I pray that’s true.

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So, this is my lot for the next two weeks. I figure out what I can, leave the rest for some other time. As long as I can take care of the basic necessities, I’m fine. I’ll need lots of rest in-between tasks. I’ll be managing some pain as I go.

Here’s a little summary of what I’ve learned so far:

• A sponge bath feels just as good as a regular shower. Even if it’s just one day.
• A good nap helps to pass the time.
• Always look at the ground where your crutches are being placed before you swing through.
• Crutches: keep them in an easy-to-reach, stable place when not using them.
• Have a shopping bag handy to transport things you can’t carry in your hands.
• Keep the foot elevated as much as possible. Move and wiggle the healthy body parts often.
• Know where your pets are at all times. They will easily get underfoot.
• Slow down! Plan out your movements before you move. No sudden or jerky movements.
• Get up once in a while to keep the blood flow going. Wiggle all your body parts so they don’t get too stiff.
• You can accomplish more than you think if you plan carefully. Things that take three steps will now take nine. That’s just the truth.
• Stay on top of the medication schedule. The pain is no joke and will crush your soul if it goes unchecked.
• Knee scooters are a fantastic tool. If you are on crutches, I highly recommend using one. You’ll get around more easily and with less exhaustion.