25/11/2024
Ever wonder if you’re on track with rehab? Do you worry about over or under doing it?🏃🏻♀️ Read the caption below to find out more about the phases of healing📈
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I am now just over 4 weeks post op now and healing well. My PICO dressing was removed 7 days post surgery, and my staples removed after 14 days. It’s only now, 3-4 weeks post op where recovery can start being a little more fun!☺️
The first few weeks after any type of surgery can be a little boring. However this is the most crucial period where we can create a strong💪, smooth and sppedy recovery in the long term. A few things I personally experienced in the first few of weeks were:
- Minimal pain
- Abdominal swelling (although this was quite uncomfortable at times)
- A slow increase in mobility, such as walking
- Reduced range of movement
The healing process at a glance:🤓
Week 1:
- Bleeding🩸 from the operation itself and incision, followed by bruising, known as the bleeding phase
- Inflamation increases from excess fluid as a result of the body starting to heal, this starts almost immediately and may last anywhere from days to weeks. This is also known as the inflammation phase
Week 2:
- As both the skin and muscle start to heal, the inflamation starts to settle.
- Vital healing properties such as collagen and proteins begin to enter the site of injury to help rejoin broken tissues.
Week 3:
- The alignmet of the new skin and muscle fibres are laid down in an irregular way, this process is called proliferation.
- Most scabs (if not all) have gone, leaving a new scar
Week 4:
- Scar tissue is formed which can feel tight and ‘rope like’ 🪢
- As the scar tissue strengthens, hands on therpaies help to realign, and create a smoother flexible scar, this phase is called remodelling
Note: For my person recovery journey I will be sharing the healing process of the muscles and skin which have been affected by the surgery incision.
