Esmeralda's Road

I am a strong believer that a positive mindset unequivocally leads to optimum healing.

So for me, staying comfy, cozy, and entertained at home during post-op recuperation was key. 

Although I couldn’t wait to have the surgery done in order to fix my knee asap, I truly did not grasp the severity of the recuperation period. I was lucky to have a friend who’d previously had knee surgery. She told me to have tons of books at the ready, preselected shows and movies, as well as any hobby you know I enjoyed and could do from a seated position. Preparing these things beforehand was nice because once you get home, the last thing you want to do is make unnecessary decisions. At least that’s how I felt.

a positive mindset leads to optimum healing…

Something else my friend touched on was how the severe level of handicap could make you feel like your body was betraying you. I started to feel useless about two months post-op. I guess for normal recovery you may not get to this point. My recuperation was wayyy longer than is typical given that my first surgery did not generate the desired results. So I had to have it redone three months later.

In any case, if you think you might have this issue, I recommend planning to do something that fulfills you or deciding to finally do that thing you’ve always wanted to but never had time for. For example, this is the third article I’ve written today. But given that I’m not always in the mood to write, having other goals and hobbies is useful since you won’t always be in the mood to do any particular one. 

That being said, my other goals are to learn how to play chess, work on my online business, practice my fourth language twice a week (humble brag), and practice stretching, meditation and light upper body exercise. Preparing meals for my husband and I is something I focused on since I so enjoy cooking. It was a bit of a challenge since I had to do most of it from a seated position, but it did take up a large portion of my days. I broke it up into blocks since it was exhausting to cook a full meal. Every single thing took 2-3x longer than normal. 

lighting, music, scent, temperature, pillows and snacks

Now, we all know what is generally cozy, but in the days and weeks leading up to a surgery our brains could get a little wonky. So here are some of my favorite ways to create a comfy and cozy ambiance: lighting, music, scent, temperature, pillows and snacks. 

Twinkle lights, particularly the ones with warm light, make a huge difference to any space. Pulling up a cozy backdrop on my TV also makes for a much cozier set up. I love a fireplace loop, a snowy loop, landscapes or some classic marine life.

Candles kill two birds with one stone, they provide a lovely warm light while also contributing to the scent in your space. My favorite candles are either artisan ones (support local businesses!) or the Woodwick brand. Both tend to actually disperse the intended scent throughout the burning, while the wooden wicks make a satisfying crackling sound. If you prefer to not burn candles, you can use an oil diffuser or one of those thingies with the liquid and wooden sticks. Either way, a special scent always makes for a cozier environment.

As for music, when you are not in the mood for your usual music, or if you are watching TV or working on something that requires concentration, choose a favorite ambient music. I’m partial to a good lo-fi playlist, soft jazz (think coffee shop vibes), or nature sounds (my faves are rainforest, thunderstorms, ocean waves or river sounds).

When I say temperature I am referring to ways to keep warm or cool. In Europe, specifically, we tend to not have great AC or heating – at least not compared to the US. I am currently recuperating in the wintertime, so I keep lots of warm layers at hand. I get cold easily so even under regular circumstances I keep a beanie, scarf, robe and blanket at the ready. During recuperation, lots of layers are key since once you exert even a tiny bit of energy (like going to the bathroom, preparing a meal or getting dressed) you (I) tend to get hot pretty quickly. 

decide to do that thing you’ve always wanted to…

If it were summertime, I would make sure to keep extra ice in the freezer, not only for the wound but also for extra ice packs to keep body temperature down. Even when I’m not recuperating from a surgery, I place them on my head, neck or pulse points like wrists and feet. Frozen wet towels could also work but are obviously messier and don’t last very long. I even switched to iced coffee this year! WHAT. 

Finally, pillows and snacks. Having enough pillows to allow for comfy seated positions – whether in bed or on the couch – makes a world of difference. Remember you’ll be seated for MOST of the day, every day. So as I mentioned in my recovery “must haves” article, investing in an orthopedic pillow is totally worth it.

Another nice little thing is having your favorite snacks on hand. Just keep in mind that you’ll be fully sedentary for weeks on end, so in order to prevent excess weight gain (which is detrimental to knee healing), try to have some low calorie options sprinkled in with the cookies, chips, and candy we typically prefer.

do future you a favor

I know that may feel impossible for some, but I promise, it will be worth it, especially if you like to eat constantly throughout the day like me. I love sliced cucumber with salt, lime, and chili powder. I also LOVE watermelon, coconut and mango, I can eat copious amounts of any of those all throughout the day (some worry about the amount of sugars those have, but natural sugar beats processed any day). Just think of what works for you. I can’t decide everything for you. 😉