Get Plenty of Rest With any major surgery, it's important to stay in bed as much as possible for at least 24–48 hours after the procedure. Some surgeries may require even more patient bed rest. Sleep if you feel tired and be sure to move slower than your usual pace.
Infections occur in around 5% of all surgeries and up to 33% of all abdominal surgeries. Pushing yourself too hard after a procedure, especially major surgeries, can cause immediate or long-term physical complications.
The surgery itself causes tissue injury. After surgery, your body undergoes repair and recovery, which drives a higher baseline metabolic rate and draws on your nutrient stores. So it isn't surprising such intense activity at a cellular level results in feeling tired after surgery.
Walking is one of the best activities to do while you're recovering after surgery. This includes walking with or without help from a person or an assistive device, such as a walker.
Bed rest can help you heal from an injury, surgery, or illness. Bed rest may also prevent more damage to your body after an injury or illness. You may be on bed rest for hours, days, or weeks. Do not get out of bed until your healthcare provider says it is okay.
Tissue injury, whether accidental or intentional (e.g. surgery), is followed by localized swelling. After surgery, swelling increases progressively, reaching its peak by the third day. It is generally worse when you first arise in the morning and decreases throughout the day.
How long does post-surgical fatigue last? There is no set time limit on how long post-surgical fatigue lasts. This is because different procedures have varying effects on your body. The more intensive the surgical procedure is, the longer your recovery time will be, including the exhaustion you're feeling.
Get Plenty of Rest
Your body does most of its healing and repairing while you're asleep, making it essential for you to try and get more sleep than usual. Try to get the recommended 7-9 hours of rest each night, sprinkling in short naps throughout the day to help support the recovery process.
Fatigue is normal following surgery and should improve day after day as your body begins to heal itself. Some people have it worse than others due to age, health, and the type of surgery they had, but with time and proper care, most will be able to build up their strength and energy levels.
Examples of major surgery include organ transplant, removal of a brain tumour, removal of a damaged kidney or open-heart surgery. The person will need to stay in hospital for some time. The risk of complications may be high and the person will take a longer time to recover.
People can often remain in bed for days or even weeks after surgery. This can lead to a lack of energy and fatigue. It is vital that you begin moving quickly and trying to exercise. Basic movements and exercise help rebuild muscle strength and improve your blood circulation.
Specifically, the average recovery time for a vasectomy is less than a week, while the average recovery time for an appendectomy is a week at its minimum. The longest average recovery period we found was that of a total knee replacement, which can take from three months to one full year.
Get Moving
Walking after surgery is one of the most important things you can do for your recovery. A quick walk around your home every hour or two can help prevent serious complications like DVT (deep vein thrombosis which is a blood clot) and pneumonia.
It would be most helpful to have someone living with or near you for the first 3-5 days. This is very important for your safety and health that you have around-the-clock care.
Continue walking around your home and changing positions frequently. If you are on bed rest, exercise your legs every hour and change positions at least every 2 hours.
In general, research has found that orthopedic surgeries, or those involving bones, are the most painful. However, researchers also found that some minor surgeries or those classed as keyhole or laparoscopic could also cause significant pain.
In general, surgeries with larger incisions are more likely to require an overnight stay or even an extended stay in the hospital. This would include procedures like open-heart surgery, brain surgery, major abdominal surgery, joint replacements, and lung procedures.
Surgery is an ordeal, so take it easy. Rest when you are tired, eat well and get as much gentle exercise (such as walking or swimming as directed by us or your physician) as possible. Physical activity helps combat fatigue. The latter is an essential part of successful postsurgical rehabilitation.
Nausea and vomiting that occurs more than 24 hours after surgery should never be considered normal and if the problem is ongoing or worsening, we recommend you call or go to the emergency room.
General anaesthetics can affect your memory, concentration and reflexes for a day or two, so it's important for a responsible adult to stay with you for at least 24 hours after your operation, if you're allowed to go home.