Nobody wants to sit on the bench while recovering. Whether you’re nursing a reconstructed ACL, a repaired labrum, or a spine injury, it feels unproductive to just sit around and watch others train while you recover.
Luckily, you haven’t completely lost control. Take a look at these surgery recovery methods you can use to take action and help speed your recovery along.
Why Recover Well?
When your sole focus is getting back on the field, court, or in the gym as soon as possible, recovery might feel like a waste of time. But the best thing you can do is follow your doctor’s instructions. Put all of your energy into supporting your body as it recovers. If you don’t take the time your body needs to heal, you risk reinjuring yourself — meaning you’ll be out for even longer.
The good news is there are multiple things you can do to help your body recover. For example:
- Get 10 hours of sleep a night
- Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of protein
- Elevate the area where you had surgery
- Do any physical therapy prescribed by your doctor
- Continue training body parts that were not affected by the surgery (with your doctor’s approval)
Compression therapy and ice can also relieve your pain and speed up your recovery. Here, we’re discussing the best surgery recovery methods for every budget.
Make sure to speak with your doctor before trying any of these suggestions. Everyone’s body and circumstances are different, so it’s essential to get the OK from a medical professional who knows you best.
DIY Cryotherapy
Ice can help reduce pain, swelling, and bruising after an orthopedic surgery. Treating surgical wounds with ice is called cryotherapy. You may need less pain medication by using ice.
To create a DIY icing solution, we recommend:
- Putting a towel in the freezer
- Filling a Ziploc bag with ice (wrap the bag in a towel before placing it against your skin)
- Using a bag of frozen veggies
If you’re looking for a more advanced product that goes beyond simple icing, check out the SquidGo Cold & Compression Recovery System. Easy to take with you on the go, this breakthrough treatment improves pain and swelling after 15 minutes of use.
Set up the SquidGo by turning it on and choosing one of four pre-programmed compression settings. The SquidGo works for:
- Ankles
- Back
- Elbows
- Legs/knees
- Shoulders
- Wrists
