The Essential Guide to Post-Op Recovery at Home
Professional strategies to reduce complications, manage pain, and recover with confidence.
Recovering after surgery requires more than rest — it calls for clear planning, skilled oversight, and consistent support. Use this guide to understand each phase, common challenges, and practical steps you can take between nurse visits.
Understanding Recovery Phases
Most recoveries follow three arcs: immediate (0–72 hrs), early (days 3–14), and functional (weeks 3–8). Each has distinct goals for pain, mobility, nutrition, and wound care.
- Immediate: protect the incision, control pain, prevent nausea.
- Early: reduce swelling, reintroduce gentle movement, support sleep.
- Functional: rebuild strength, stamina, and daily independence.
Common Challenges
Pain spikes, swelling, constipation, poor appetite, and low energy are typical. Clear protocols keep things on track.
Nurse-Led Solutions
Our professional concierge team tailors care plans to your procedure and home setup:
- Medication timing + side-effect monitoring
- Incision assessment, dressing changes, and escalation criteria
- Mobility coaching to prevent stiffness and clots
- Sleep + positioning guidance to reduce swelling
Self-Care & Home Tips
- Hydrate steadily (aim for pale yellow urine).
- Small, protein-forward meals to support healing.
- Short, frequent walks; elevate as instructed.
- Track pain 0–10 before/after meds and activity.
When to Seek Help
Call your surgeon or a nurse if you notice fever ≥100.4°F, spreading redness, worsening drainage/odor, calf pain, chest pain, or shortness of breath. In an emergency, call 911.
Recover with a professional concierge nurse-led plan.
Educational content only. Not a substitute for medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.