Senior Care News

Recovery Tips for After Hernia Surgery

After hernia surgery, 24-hour home care ensures a safe and quick recovery by providing essential support and assistance during the critical first weeks.

Hernias occur when an organ pushes itself through the muscle and tissue that contain it. They usually occur in the groin or abdomen and create a bulge. They can be painful at times, but smaller ones may go unnoticed. If your senior loved one gets a hernia or surgery, they may need 24-hour home care to heal and recover.

Why is Hernia Surgery Needed?

Your loved one’s doctor will most likely suggest surgery to fix the hernia once it has grown large enough to need repair. Hernias don’t go away on their own and only get larger as the walls around them weaken. The more tissue that continues to push through, the more pain it can cause and even cause the tissue to die off, so surgery, while uncomplicated, is often the best choice for repairing the area.

Helping Your Loved One Recover from Hernia Surgery

Most surgeries are outpatient surgeries – your loved one will return home the same day as the surgery. He will be in pain for a few days and probably feel exhausted, but within a couple of weeks, he should be able to return to doing most activities in his normal daily life.

Until then, it can be helpful to have someone to care for him and help around the home. If your loved one lives far away or if it’s not possible for a family member to join him as he recovers, having a 24-hour home care team ready for him when he returns home can aid in his recovery. A 24-hour home care team can take care of his immediate needs and ensure that he recovers safely and quickly.

Home Recovery Tips with 24-Hour Home Care

Avoid strenuous activities like carrying heavy loads or pushing heavy objects (like vacuums, lawnmowers, and shovels). This might mean he can’t do laundry, take out garbage, or walk the dog. A 24-hour home care team provider can help him with these tasks so he doesn’t injure the healing area.
Get plenty of rest. Your loved one should take these first few days to rest as much as possible. Having someone else prepare meals for him is a great way to ensure he stays rested but continues to eat healthy meals to help his body rebuild its strength.
He should try to walk a bit each day. If your loved one lives in a small apartment or home, it might be difficult for him to walk without going somewhere first. A 24-hour home care provider can help by walking with him outside or driving him to an indoor place to walk. Walking will help prevent side effects of surgery, like constipation or pneumonia, from developing. It will also increase blood flow, which aids in healing.
He should wear the abdominal binder as directed by his doctor. The bandage helps support the stomach muscles after surgery and can prevent injury.
Drink plenty of fluids and eat meals packed with important nutrients. Since it can take a while for the bowels to regulate after surgery, he should consider having plenty of fiber in his diet and possibly taking a mild laxative if he’s struggling to have a bowel movement.
No driving until the doctor says it’s okay. Another benefit of a 24-hour home care team is that they can help bring your loved one to and from appointments while his ability to drive is curtailed.

It won’t take long for your loved one to feel better. His recovery will occur best when he is well taken care of during those first few weeks after surgery with 24-hour home care services and family caregivers.

If you or an aging loved one are considering 24-Hour Home Care in Garland, TX, contact the caring staff at HomeWell Care Services Plano TX today. Call (469) 596-6500

HomeWell Care Services Plano TX is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Richardson, Garland, Little Elm, Prosper, and the surrounding areas.