Recovery isn’t just about time—it’s about strategy. In this post, I break down five key areas that can help you recover better and get back to the activities you love:

✅ Follow your recovery plan—a personalized approach prevents setbacks.

✅ Manage pain smartly—we use more than just medications to stay ahead of discomfort.

✅ Fuel your body—targeted nutrients like collagen, vitamin C, and magnesium can enhance healing.

✅ Prioritize sleep—rest is when the real recovery happens.

✅ Move when it’s safe—early, guided activity helps circulation and reduces stiffness.

 

If you’ve ever asked, “Is there anything I can do to heal faster after surgery?”—you’re not alone. Whether it’s a knee scope, rotator cuff repair, or fracture fixation, most patients want to get back to normal life as quickly and safely as possible.

The good news? While there’s no magic shortcut, there are proven ways to support and enhance your recovery—and avoid delays that set you back.

Let’s talk about what you can do, and more importantly, why it matters.

At Davis Orthopedics, we understand how debilitating injuries and surgery can be. We want to help you understand what steps you can take to improve your overall recovery and get back to your normal life as quickly as possible.

 

Let’s break it down.

1. Following your plan prevents setbacks—and we make that plan together.

At my practice, recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. We create a step-by-step plan that’s tailored to your surgery, your activity level, and your long-term goals. Whether you’re an athlete hoping to return to training or a grandparent who just wants to get back to chasing grandkids, your recovery timeline and milestones will reflect that.

Too often, patients are handed a generic list of instructions and left to figure it out on their own. That’s not how we do it here. I walk you through each phase of healing, so you know what to expect, what’s normal, and when it’s time to push—or pull back. When you follow a plan that’s built around you, your body has a better chance to heal right the first time.

2. Managing pain early helps you stay on track—and we use more than just medication to do it.

Pain after surgery is expected—but uncontrolled pain can stall your recovery. It limits your ability to move, affects your sleep, and raises stress levels, which all work against healing. That’s why we take a multi-layered approach to pain management, rather than just relying on stronger and stronger medications.

We encourage the use of ice, compression, and elevation, as well as home-based strategies like positioning and guided breathing to reduce tension. We also use non-opioid medications when possible and combine them with targeted exercises, nerve blocks, or regional anesthesia techniques to keep pain at a manageable level from the start.

The goal isn’t just to mask the pain—it’s to control it in a way that supports healing, so you can move forward safely and comfortably.

3. Nutrition fuels healing—and specific nutrients can give your body a real advantage.

After surgery, your body needs raw materials to rebuild tissue, control inflammation, and restore energy. That starts with the basics: adequate protein, hydration, and a balance of whole-food nutrients. But certain targeted supplements can support and even accelerate the healing process.

For example, collagen, especially type I and III, provides the building blocks for connective tissue repair. When paired with vitamin C, your body can better synthesize new collagen to rebuild tendons, ligaments, and skin.

Vitamin D and magnesium play critical roles in muscle recovery and bone healing, while zinc helps the body fight off infection and supports tissue regeneration. These aren’t magic pills—but when used in the right context, they can support your recovery from the inside out.

The bottom line? What you put in your body after surgery is just as important as what we do in the operating room. I work with patients to tailor a recovery nutrition plan that supports healing, strength, and long-term function.

4. Sleep is your recovery superpower—and improving it can accelerate healing.

Most people don’t realize just how much of your recovery happens while you sleep. During deep sleep, your body releases growth hormone, rebuilds tissue, reduces inflammation, and restores energy—making sleep just as important as physical therapy or proper nutrition.

But after surgery, quality sleep can be hard to come by. Pain, immobility, medication side effects, and stress all interfere with rest. That’s why we help patients create a recovery routine that prioritizes sleep from the very beginning.

For some, this includes incorporating natural sleep aids like melatonin or magnesium glycinate, which can promote relaxation and support more restful sleep without the side effects of stronger medications. We also encourage sleep hygiene strategies like reducing screen time before bed, sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, and using supportive pillows or positioning to reduce nighttime discomfort.

When your body is well-rested, it’s primed to heal—and that translates to better outcomes and faster recovery.

5. Movement promotes circulation and reduces stiffness—but timing is everything.

It’s tempting to think rest is best after surgery—but strategic movement is what keeps recovery on track. Simple activities like ankle pumps, deep breathing, and gentle range-of-motion exercises help improve circulation, reduce swelling, and prevent joint stiffness—even in the first few days post-op.

That said, the right movement depends on the type of surgery and your stage of healing. Moving too much, too soon can undo surgical repairs, while doing too little can lead to muscle atrophy, poor mobility, and delayed progress.

That’s why I work closely with each patient to introduce the right movement at the right time—whether that’s basic positioning, guided physical therapy, or a customized home routine. Active recovery isn’t just about regaining strength—it’s about re-training your body to move with confidence and control.

Bringing It All Together

Recovery isn’t passive. The steps you take in the days and weeks after surgery directly shape your outcome—and they’re just as important as the procedure itself.

In my practice, we don’t just fix injuries. We guide you through the full healing process with a clear plan, personalized strategies, and support that goes beyond the operating room. Whether it’s nutrition, pain control, sleep, or safe movement, I’m here to help you recover fully—and return to the life you love.

📌 If you’re planning surgery or currently in recovery, let’s talk. We’ll build a plan that fits your goals, your lifestyle, and your timeline.