Your recovery plan is based on your health care team's judgments about your needs:

• You will work with a physical therapist trained in rehabilitation. Your physical therapist and surgeon will prescribe a personal exercise program for you. You may want to take pain medication just before your physical therapy session to increase your comfort during exercises and walking.
• If you need a cane, walker or crutches, your physical therapist can help you decide which type. If you brought a cane, walker or crutches to the hospital, your physical therapist can check them for correct size and safety.
• You and your nurse can decide how soon you can start to eat and drink and how long it will take you to return to your usual diet.
• You and your family members will do your personal daily care such as bathing, brushing your teeth and combing your hair.
• If you have drainage tubes placed, they will be taken out.
• You may use a toilet seat riser or commode to urinate or have a bowel movement. A commode is a chair set on wheels with an opening in the seat.
• Your surgical dressing is removed one or two days after surgery. You will get a lighter-weight dressing in its place.
• You may have blood samples taken.