Post-Surgery Tips
Readers share tips, tools and techniques on performing daily tasks when you’re just home from surgery.
“I used a long-handled brush to wash my hair and a long-handled sponge to wash my body."
“I used a dressing stick and wore comfortable clothing. I also avoided buttons, zippers and other closures. T-shirts and sweats were the attire of the day for a while.”
Karen Palmer
Mason, Ohio
“Plastic bags, like the ones newspapers come in, are a perfect fit for covering a hand cast while bathing. As far as clothes, I needed knit tops, where the sleeves stretched easily.”
Peggy Villemarette
Kenner, La.
Basal joint arthritis
Basal joint reconstruction
“Before surgery, I practiced a maneuver to make getting in and out of a bathtub easier. Place a towel on the edge of the tub, and you can sit on it and then swivel in and out of the bathtub."
“I removed throw rugs and other articles in the walkways around my home to help prevent tripping and slipping."
“I attended orientation classes offered by the hospital, which explained the surgery and the recovery phases. I also read – cover to cover – the binder of information provided in the classes."
“Recruiting a coach, such as a loved-one or friend to attend classes, was a big help me with my recovery.”
Barb Vargo
Wilmington, Del.
OA and RA
Total joint replacements on both knees and shoulders
“Meditation with music helped me relax and ease pain."
“A back scratcher-shoehorn combo saved my life! Other devices that helped with daily tasks include a long-handled lotion applicator, elastic shoelaces that don’t need to be tied, a very sharp knife for cutting anything (from food to boxes – I still use it), and a plate with a high edge to prevent spills.”
Sandra Awood
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Toe, hand, wrist, rotator cuff surgery and total knee replacement
“A good reading light and a bed wedge kept my eyes safe and my head propped at a comfortable angle while I read during my recovery.”
Debra Caruso
Keysville, Va.
Total joint replacement on both hips
