You've had surgery and you're home. The hospital gave you a stack of discharge papers, a bag of medications, and instructions that made sense at the time but now feel overwhelming.What do you actually need to do?
This guide covers the practical essentials of recovering from surgery at home — not the specific exercises for your joint (see our knee and hip replacement guides for those), but the broader picture: wound care, pain management, mobility, nutrition, sleep, and knowing when something isn't right.
The First 48 Hours at Home
The first two days are about settling in safely. Don't try to be productive. Your only jobs are:
- Take your medications on schedule— especially pain medication and blood thinners. Set phone alarms.
- Ice the surgical area— 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, as often as possible. This controls swelling more than any medication.
- Get up and move briefly every 1-2 hours— short walks to the bathroom and back. Movement prevents blood clots.
- Eat and drink— even if you're not hungry. Your body needs fuel to heal. Focus on fluids and simple, protein-rich foods.
- Sleep— rest when you can. Sleep may be disrupted by pain and discomfort. That's normal. A recliner often works better than a bed in the first few days.
Wound Care
Your surgeon will give specific wound care instructions. These general principles apply to most surgical wounds:
Keeping It Clean
- Don't remove the dressinguntil your surgeon says it's okay (usually 48 hours to 1 week)
- Once the dressing is off,keep the incision clean and dry
- You can usually shower once the dressing is removed (let water run over the wound — don't scrub it)
- No baths, pools, or hot tubsuntil the incision is fully healed (usually 3-4 weeks)
- Pat the incision dry gently — don't rub
What's Normal
- Mild redness around the incision edges
- Some bruising that may spread away from the site
- A small amount of clear or slightly pink drainage in the first few days
- Numbness around the incision (nerves were cut — sensation returns over months)
- Slight warmth around the wound
Warning Signs (Call Your Surgeon)
- Increasing rednessthat's spreading outward from the incision
- Pus or cloudy/yellow/green drainage
- Fever above 38.5C/101F
- Wound edges separatingor wound opening up
- Red streaksextending from the incision
- Foul smellfrom the wound
Pain Management
Post-surgical pain is real and expected. Managing it well is essential — not just for comfort, but becauseuncontrolled pain prevents you from doing the exercises that drive recovery.
Medication Strategy
- Stay ahead of the pain— take scheduled pain medication before the pain becomes severe. It's harder to control pain once it's established.
- Use ice liberally— 20 minutes on, 20 off. Ice is anti-inflammatory and reduces the need for medication.
- Transition off opioids as soon as possible— most surgeons recommend switching to acetaminophen (Tylenol) and/or ibuprofen within 1-2 weeks. Opioids cause constipation, drowsiness, and dependence.
- Don't skip blood thinners— they prevent dangerous blood clots. Take them for the full prescribed duration, even if you feel fine.
Non-Medication Pain Relief
- Elevation— keep the surgical limb elevated above heart level when resting
- Compression— compression stockings reduce swelling (wear as directed)
- Gentle movement— counter-intuitive, but gentle exercise reduces pain better than lying still
- Distraction— audiobooks, podcasts, visitors. Pain is partly psychological — occupation helps.
Mobility and Movement
The biggest mistake after surgery isdoing too little. The second biggest mistake isdoing too much. Finding the sweet spot is key.
Week 1 Rules of Thumb
- Get up and walk (even just to the bathroom and back) every 1-2 hours during the day
- Use your walking aid (walker or crutches) — it's not a sign of weakness, it's a safety tool
- Do your prescribed exercises 3-4 times per day in short sessions
- Stop an activity if pain is sharp (not just sore) or swelling increases significantly
- Ankle pumps every hour while seated or lying down — prevents blood clots
Progressive Return to Activity
- Week 1-2:Household mobility with walking aid, basic self-care
- Week 3-4:Light kitchen tasks, getting dressed independently, short outdoor walks
- Week 5-6:Light errands with help, transition to cane (if hip or knee surgery)
- Week 7-8:Most household activities, walking without aid (surgery-dependent)
- Week 9-12:Return to most daily activities, light recreation
Nutrition for Recovery
Your body is doing major repair work. It needs fuel. Prioritize:
- Protein— essential for tissue repair. Aim for protein at every meal: eggs, fish, chicken, Greek yogurt, beans, nuts
- Fibre and fluids— pain medications (especially opioids) cause constipation. Eat vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and drink 6-8 glasses of water daily
- Iron-rich foods— surgery involves blood loss. Lean red meat, spinach, lentils, and fortified cereals help rebuild
- Vitamin C— supports wound healing. Citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli
- Calcium and Vitamin D— important for bone healing (especially after joint replacement). Dairy products, fortified foods, and a supplement if recommended by your doctor
Sleep
Sleep is disrupted after surgery — it's one of the most common complaints. Some strategies:
- Try a reclinerfor the first few days if lying flat is painful
- Pillows— use them liberally to support the surgical area and keep yourself comfortable
- Take pain medication 30 minutes before bed— staying ahead of pain improves sleep
- Avoid caffeine after 2 PM— you may be tempted by coffee to fight daytime fatigue, but it will cost you at night
- Accept broken sleep— you may wake every 2-3 hours in the first week. This improves steadily.
Emotional Recovery
Nobody talks about this enough. It's common to feel:
- Frustrated— by how slowly things are moving
- Anxious— about whether you're healing properly
- Low or tearful— the combination of pain, medication, sleep disruption, and dependence on others takes an emotional toll
- Impatient— especially if you're normally active and independent
These feelings arenormal and temporary. They typically peak in week 2-3 and gradually lift as mobility improves and pain decreases. Talk to someone — a family member, friend, or your physiotherapist. If low mood persists beyond 4-6 weeks, mention it to your doctor.
When to Get Help
Call your surgeon or go to the ER for:
- Fever above 38.5C/101F
- Sudden severe pain in the calf (possible blood clot)
- Chest pain or shortness of breath (emergency)
- Wound signs of infection (see wound care section)
- Sudden inability to bear weight
Call your physiotherapist if:
- Range of motion isn't improving on schedule
- You're unsure if an exercise is safe
- Pain during exercises is sharp rather than dull
- You want guidance on returning to a specific activity
At Haven at Home, we provide in-home physiotherapy for post-surgical recovery throughout Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, and Oakville. We start within the first week of surgery — when you need the most support and can least afford to travel to a clinic.
Ready to recover at home?Call416-795-0373to book your first post-surgery physio session.