Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1256336
30 It is important that you are comfortable enough to participate and make progress in physical and occupational therapy. PHYSICAL THERAPY (PT): Your physical therapist will help your functional progress with the goals of being able to get out of bed, on and off the toilet, and ambulate household distances while utilizing prescribed medical devices, such as a walker, to allow for a safe transition home. Preparing for your PT visit: In addition to pain management, please take care of your personal needs, such as using the restroom, brushing your teeth and washing your face before the physical therapist arrives for your session. Any time that the therapist spends to help you complete personal activities reduces the time they actually get to work with you on therapy. OCCUPATIONAL T HERAPY (OT): Though occupational therapy may not always be needed, when recommended, your OT will help you regain your independence with your basic self-care and daily activities such as dressing, bathing, hygiene, and toileting. Preparing for your OT visit: Different from the PT visit, if you have an upcoming OT session and you are able to wait until the OT arrives, please wait to take care of your personal needs, i.e., using the restroom, brushing your teeth or washing your face. Your OT would like to evaluate you performing these tasks. THERAPY S CHED ULES: Your rehab therapist will coordinate with your nurse on therapy session times. We expect that you will be getting out of bed on the day of surgery. Your rehab therapy team will create a plan that prepares you for discharge from the hospital. REHA B PART ICIPATION: Expect to feel tired and have pain with your recovery. Fatigue and pain are normal sensations and do not mean there is something wrong. Remember that activity is vital to your recovery. Your rehabilitation after surgery is as important as the surgery itself. Rehabilitation may take a long time – longer than you expected. Your continued effort with rehab and rebuilding your activity level in the hospital (as well as at home) will, in part, determine how successful your recovery will be. All patients are required to participate in sessions daily. Even if you are experiencing some pain or nausea, try to sit on the edge of the bed or complete the bed exercises and some movement during your session. Although not commonly used, the CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) machine may be ordered/prescribed by your physician. A physical therapist/assistant or nurse will set you up on this device when you return to your hospital room. This will happen either on the day of your surgery or on the following day.