Tips To Help You Heal After Orthopedic Surgery

Health & Medical Blog

After you have undergone orthopedic surgery to repair an injury, you likely want to heal and recover from surgery as soon as possible so you can resume your normal activities. Here are some tips to help you boost your healing and help your body's recovery after surgery.

Eat Healthy

After surgery you may not be as hungry as you normally would be, but eating during this time is important for your body to heal and recover. And not just eating junk foods or fast foods to help you heal, but it is important to eat foods high in protein and other vitamins and nutrients.

Foods high in protein should be a main focus of your diet after surgery to help improve your body's ability to heal your muscles and any broken bones. Try to include a small portion of protein each time you eat, including snacks. You can add in some cheese, an egg, cottage cheese, or a glass of milk to boost your intake of protein.

Zinc is another mineral your body will need to heal after surgery. Be sure to eat foods high in zinc, such as animal proteins of meat, poultry, and fish, along with whole grains, beans, and nuts.

You should also focus on eating foods high in vitamin C, which is necessary for your body making the protein-based collagen in your body. Without enough vitamin C, your body will not be able to heal and regrow tendons and ligaments in your body that may be injured, in addition to healing the surgical incisions made during your surgery. Be sure to eat plenty of oranges, grapefruits and other citrus fruits, along with strawberries, kiwi fruit, and bell peppers, which are all high in vitamin C.

Use Herbs

There are several different herbs you can use, either externally or taking internally to help boost your body's ability to heal and for you to reduce pain and swelling associated with your post surgery. Calendula, which comes from the marigold flower and is helpful in several ways as you recover from surgery. Calendula, in an oil ointment form to use topically has antibacterial properties to rid your wounds of bacteria and can also reduce your risk of acquiring MRSA infections, cellulitis, and blood poisoning during your recovery.

You can also use ginger as an internally-taken herb to help your body heal during recovery after surgery. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce swelling of and around your incision site. Be careful that you don't take ginger before your surgery, as it is has blood-thinning properties. If you do decide to use ginger medicinally after surgery, it can help treat and reduce any nausea and vomiting you experience from the anesthesia after the surgery. Contact a medical center, like Aspen Mountain Medical Center, for more help.

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4 October 2017