By David Blyweiss, M.D., Advanced Natural Wellness

March 05, 2012

• Preparing your immune system for a surgical intervention
• Healing faster and keeping infection at bay
• Natural ways to handle pain

Whether it is a simple and routine procedure, or something more complicated, surgery can be scary. And it makes most of us nervous.

At the very least, you want to avoid complications and heal as quickly as possible when you come out.

It may be tempting to surrender to conventional medicine completely – and get back to your routine of using natural health solutions once you’ve mended.

But I would urge you to resist that temptation…

While you do need to exercise caution – make sure you don’t take any supplements that might interfere with your surgery or your healing – there’s no need to do nothing.

Here are some important additions to your diet and supplement regimen that can boost your immune system going in. And speed your healing when you come out. Plus, we’ll discuss a few natural ways to alleviate pain and take fewer mind-numbing, addiction-inducing pain meds. Let’s get you get back to your active healthy life, faster… shall we?

Getting Ready

It’s optimal to have some time to prepare for a surgery – both mentally and physically. And boosting your immune system is essential. All surgeries come with some risk of post-operative infection, plus hospitals are notorious for bacterial infections. A healthy immune system is your best defense against infection.

Be sure to get enough sleep, not just the night before your surgery, but starting from the day you find out you need surgery. It is also an important time to be mindful of your diet. Reduce or eliminate sugar, add in plenty of fruits and vegetables. Of course, find out from your doctor if your condition requires a special diet and cling to it mercilessly! This is no time for cheating on a diet… you only end up paying for it later.

Here are the Big Three essential immune-enhancing nutrients:

• Zinc: This mineral is essential for a healthy immune system, and also plays a role in wound healing. You might want to ask your doctor to test your zinc levels prior to surgery, and make sure you aren’t deficient. Then, you can be sure to take an appropriate dose and have your levels up to par well in advance of the big day.
• Vitamin C: Another must for boosting your immunity and fighting off infection. Vitamin C is also required to making collagen, the connective tissue in skin that will need to heal around any incisions or wound area.
• Vitamin D: Some studies suggest that, depending on the type of surgery it is, Vitamin D levels should be checked and restored to normal before the surgery to improve the outcome. This is especially true for orthopedic, dental or other surgeries that impact bones, but studies are showing that all post-operative healing is faster and more successful if pre-surgical levels of Vitamin D are within normal ranges.

Healing and Getting Home

One of the main things to remember is your body is designed to heal itself – as long as you let it! This might mean resting longer than you like, or getting up and moving around sooner than feels comfortable, depending on the type of surgery you’ve had.

Remember also: Inflammation can be a natural, healthy part of the healing process. Of course, it must be watched carefully, and managed, as it can also be a sign of infection… And even cause discomfort. But keep in mind that it exists to bring blood and nutrients to the area to promote healing.

To reduce inflammation, consider taking bromelain as an alternative to ibuprofen or acetaminophen, which can be tough on both the liver and the stomach. Bromelain is an enzyme found in the stem of a pineapple. It promotes digestion and reduces inflammation. Make sure to check with your doctor, as it’s more appropriate after some types of surgery than others. And if you have an ulcer or are allergic to pineapple, you’ll want to skip this suggestion.

There is also a popular herb called gotu kola often used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat wounds and scars. It can be taken internally or used externally as a cream.

Adding chlorella, green superfoods and anti-oxidants to both your diet and your supplements will go along way to promoting cell growth, supporting your immune system, and reducing inflammation.

Now, for everyone’s biggest concern after surgery…

What about pain management?

It’s natural to be concerned about pain – and certainly, managing pain, especially in the earliest hours and possibly days after surgery especially. For a day or so, those pain meds they send home seem like a good idea… but then, not so much. Especially if you find the side effects more difficult to endure the pain itself, or you have concerns about dependency or addiction.

You’ll find that if you prepare ahead for your surgery, and support your body to heal after, you can significantly reduce both how much and how long you experience pain after surgery. And there are a few other things you can do…

• Get enough rest and don’t push yourself too hard, too soon.
• Recuperate in a stress-free environment, with soothing music, warm lighting, surrounded by whatever physical comforts you’ll need with easy reach.
• Incorporate activity as soon as you get clearance from your physician – the body needs to move to heal as much as it needs to rest.
• Limit visitors to only those who are supportive, helpful and relaxing. The rest can wait until you feel better.
• Try to handle in advance – or delegate – any unnecessary activities, such as paying bills, working, or making any big decisions, during the early days of your recovery.

 

Resources:

• Bogunovic L, et. al., Hypovitaminosis D in patients scheduled to undergo orthopaedic surgery: a single-center analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010 Oct 6;92(13):2300-4.Bashutski JD, et. al., The impact of vitamin D status on periodontal surgery outcomes. J Dent Res. 2011 Aug;90(8):1007-12. Epub 2011 May 9.