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You’ve probably waited months to get your joint replacement, enduring daily pain and even significant disability. Now it’s finally behind you and you’re on the road to recovery. You’ve got your ice packs and walking aids and instructions for follow-up appointments. But what about your network of support?
Building a support network to help you navigate the days and weeks after your surgery is as essential as ice packs and Tylenol, and it’s worth thinking ahead about how to make sure you’ve got this set up.
Why is building a support network so important?
Even the most capable person can use a bit of support in getting through challenging medical moments. Practical help, ranging from taking notes, navigating medical bureaucracy, staying with you in the hospital or accompanying you to appointments can be incredibly supportive. In fact, this can be something of a “round-the-clock” mission, that might necessitate even finding 2 or 3 people to share the task.
Moral and social support are also key factors in your recovery process. You may experience emotional ups- and- downs during your healing, coping with pain and feeling uncertain about the future. Surrounding yourself with people you can trust makes it easier for you to share and process your feelings, not to mention just staving off plain-old loneliness.
Who should I invite to support me?
Not everyone is ideal for this role. Stick with people you feel comfortable with and who are committed to you and want the best for you. It can be a family member, a close friend, a neighbor or a volunteer from your community. You may want to prepare them for the new situation in advance by making sure they know how they can help you.
Go with the flow
No one is perfect and recovery situations can be quite a challenge. Disagreements may occur and are completely normal; both sides should show understanding and compassion towards each other. The key factor for a successful relationship is communication. Talk to each other, explain what you need and what can help you at the moment. Remember that they are here to help you - but you’re all also experiencing this situation for the first time, so it may be slightly confusing for them as well.
Whatever you choose, remember that this will pass. These days will soon be behind you, and with a successful joint replacement surgery under your belt, you’ll be feeling better than ever!
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