BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuGetting out of bed after surgeryAfter surgery, it is normal to feel a little weak. Getting out of bed after surgery is not always easy, but spending time out of bed will help you heal faster.Getting out of bedTry to get out of bed at least 2 to 3 times a day to sit in a chair or take a short walk when your nurse says it is OK.Your surgeon may have a physical therapist or assistant to teach you how to get out of bed safely.Make sure you are taking the right amount of pain medicines at the right time to reduce your pain. Tell your nurse if getting out of bed causes a lot of pain.Steps to TakeMake sure someone is with you for safety and support in the beginning.To get out of bed:Roll onto your side. Bend your knees until your legs are hanging over the side of the bed. Use your arms to lift your upper body up so that you are sitting on the edge of the bed. Push off with your arms to stand up. Stay still for a moment to make sure you are steady. Focus on an object in the room that you can walk to. If you feel dizzy, sit back down.To get back into bed:Sit on the edge of the bed. Gently swing your legs back onto the bed. Use your arms for support as you lie down on your side Roll onto your back. Movements in bedYou can also move around in bed. Change your position at least every 2 hours. Shift from your back to your side. Alternate sides each time you shift.Try ankle pump exercises in bed every 2 hours by bending your ankles up and down for a few minutes.If you were taught coughing and deep breathing exercises, practice them for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 hours. Place your hands on your stomach, then your ribs, and breathe deeply, feeling the stomach wall and rib cage move.Deep breathing exercisesAfter surgery it is important to take an active role in your recovery. Your health care provider may recommend that you do deep breathing exercises....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Put on your compression stockings in bed if your nurse asks you to. This will help with your circulation and recovery.Compression stockingsYou wear compression stockings to improve blood flow in the veins of your legs. Compression stockings gently squeeze your legs to move blood up your...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Call the DoctorUse the call button to call your nurse if you have trouble (pain, dizziness, or weakness) getting out of bed.Open ReferencesReferencesSmith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Aebersold M, Gonzalez L. Exercise and ambulation. In: Smith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Gonzalez L, Aebersold M, eds. Clinical Nursing Skills: Basic to Advanced Skills. 9th ed. New York, NY: Pearson; 2017:chap 13.Smith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Aebersold M, Gonzalez L. Perioperative care. In: Smith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Gonzalez L, Aebersold M, eds. Clinical Nursing Skills: Basic to Advanced Skills. 9th ed. New York, NY: Pearson; 2017:chap 26.AllVideoImagesTogTalking to your MD Questions to ask your surgeon about spinal surgeryQuestions to ask your doctor before knee replacementMastectomy and breast reconstruction - what to ask your doctorHip or knee replacement - before - what to ask your doctor Self Care Getting out of bed after surgeryGetting your home ready - knee or hip surgeryHip or knee replacement - in the hospital after Taking care of your new knee jointTaking care of your new hip jointAfter a C-section - in the hospitalPreventing pressure ulcersRelated Information Gallbladder removal - open - discharge(Discharge)Urinary incontinence surgery - female - discharge (Discharge)Intestinal or bowel obstruction - discharge(Discharge)Large bowel resection - discharge(Discharge)Small bowel resection - discharge(Discharge)Total colectomy or proctocolectomy - discharge(Discharge)Gastric bypass surgery - discharge (Discharge)Hysterectomy - abdominal - discharge(Discharge)Open spleen removal in adults - discharge(Discharge) Review Date: 8/22/2022 Reviewed By: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery Practice Specializing in Breast Cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. 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Getting out of bed after surgeryAfter surgery, it is normal to feel a little weak. Getting out of bed after surgery is not always easy, but spending time out of bed will help you heal faster.Getting out of bedTry to get out of bed at least 2 to 3 times a day to sit in a chair or take a short walk when your nurse says it is OK.Your surgeon may have a physical therapist or assistant to teach you how to get out of bed safely.Make sure you are taking the right amount of pain medicines at the right time to reduce your pain. Tell your nurse if getting out of bed causes a lot of pain.Steps to TakeMake sure someone is with you for safety and support in the beginning.To get out of bed:Roll onto your side. Bend your knees until your legs are hanging over the side of the bed. Use your arms to lift your upper body up so that you are sitting on the edge of the bed. Push off with your arms to stand up. Stay still for a moment to make sure you are steady. Focus on an object in the room that you can walk to. If you feel dizzy, sit back down.To get back into bed:Sit on the edge of the bed. Gently swing your legs back onto the bed. Use your arms for support as you lie down on your side Roll onto your back. Movements in bedYou can also move around in bed. Change your position at least every 2 hours. Shift from your back to your side. Alternate sides each time you shift.Try ankle pump exercises in bed every 2 hours by bending your ankles up and down for a few minutes.If you were taught coughing and deep breathing exercises, practice them for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 hours. Place your hands on your stomach, then your ribs, and breathe deeply, feeling the stomach wall and rib cage move.Deep breathing exercisesAfter surgery it is important to take an active role in your recovery. Your health care provider may recommend that you do deep breathing exercises....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Put on your compression stockings in bed if your nurse asks you to. This will help with your circulation and recovery.Compression stockingsYou wear compression stockings to improve blood flow in the veins of your legs. Compression stockings gently squeeze your legs to move blood up your...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Call the DoctorUse the call button to call your nurse if you have trouble (pain, dizziness, or weakness) getting out of bed.Open ReferencesReferencesSmith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Aebersold M, Gonzalez L. Exercise and ambulation. In: Smith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Gonzalez L, Aebersold M, eds. Clinical Nursing Skills: Basic to Advanced Skills. 9th ed. New York, NY: Pearson; 2017:chap 13.Smith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Aebersold M, Gonzalez L. Perioperative care. In: Smith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Gonzalez L, Aebersold M, eds. Clinical Nursing Skills: Basic to Advanced Skills. 9th ed. New York, NY: Pearson; 2017:chap 26.