I’m jesting of course. In a perfect world, you could ask your doctor about that pain in your knee when you do a chair squat, or which supplements to take, or how many times each day you could, or should, ice your surgical site. But let’s get real. In my case, my surgeon is a extraordinary…
Notice when you’re comparing yourself to a mental picture or expectation. You might hear about someone else’s rate of recovery and decide that you should be able to transition from crutches to walking sticks when I did. Or you might wait longer than necessary because you don’t think you should be able to do something so soon….
Easy, free and inarguably essential to health. Staying hydrated is one of the ways to reduce pain, support healing and well, every other metabolic function (for instance, carrying nutrients to your cells and toxins from them). And yet we seldom drink as much as we need. Hint: if you only drink when you experience thirst, you’re not…
You have pain and restriction now, and you’re going to have it after the surgery too. But it’s going to be improving (unlike the degenerative arc we’ve been on) as LONG as we are committing and investing in positive outcomes. My biggest fear going into this was that the surgery was not going to solve all…
1. Get clear about the decision. Don’t dally after you’ve done your research, or relitigate once you’ve made your decision. If you have a tendency to overthink or obsess (or other mental tricks), enlist an ally to help you maneuver past those. Listening to the Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster recording should help, too. If the issue…
Imagine that your best beloved will be having this operation. How might you make it wonderful for them? If they loved flowers or scents, you might arrange for those. Do they have favorite (health-promoting) foods? You’d stock up. But it’s you, so maybe you think you only deserve top ramen and energy bars. Or maybe you’re waiting and hoping that…
You’re preparing for an expedition. With Surgery Success resources, you’ll know the road ahead, and make a plan to realize your desired outcomes. There will be lots of things to do and learn and experience. Rich, world-expanding experiences that will enrich the rest of your life beyond measure, honestly. But at the center of this process…
When I asked my surgeon about the optimum frequency, duration and strategic use of cold in reducing inflammation, he shrugged his shoulders. “Studies are inconclusive. Fifteen minutes max.” No big surprise there. With cold, as with nearly every aspect of your recovery, the way forward is to start with an experiment and listen to your body….