Information on active patient recovery

Active patient recovery

The recovery programme consists of the totality of procedures that help the physical and mental recovery of patients who have suffered from various conditions.

Rehabilitation must be put in place as soon as possible to ensure a normal life.

Rehabilitation methods differ from person to person, but they all have the same goal:

  • Acquiring a functional status that provides independence and minimal help from others;
  • The physical and psychological adjustment of the person to the changes brought about by the disease;
  • Proper integration into family and community.

Initial recovery varies from patient to patient, depending on several factors such as: the condition suffered, the patient’s age and associated diseases.

Recovery also requires a lot of patience and support from healthcare staff as well as family and friends.

The initial rehabilitation continues after discharge or transfer to another medical ward (medical rehabilitation).

The rehabilitation programme includes:

  • A series of physical exercises;
  • Drug treatment (if necessary);
  • Psychological counselling;
  • Encourage social activities (walking, reading, watching TV, etc.);
  • Participation in various educational programmes;
  • Healthy lifestyle;
  • Encouraging activities that can give them the independence they need to lead a normal life.

Rehabilitation is a lengthy process that can become frustrating and trigger recurrent episodes of depression. In this case, psychological counselling and specialist drug treatment is recommended. Language and communication disorders can slow the patient’s recovery, so social reintegration can also be more difficult. It is good for the patient to talk to the family about the frustrations they are experiencing to help them overcome them.

Healthy lifestyle is made of:

  • Rest (sleep), active rest and stress management (energy management);
  • Healthy eating and hydration;
  • Work and movement;
  • Education;
  • Nature – natural factors.

Rest: 7-9 hours a day – whoever sleeps less or more shortens their life.

The healthiest sleep is at night between 22:00 – 23:00 until 6:00 – 07:00 in the morning.

Rest can also be active. Active rest or doing something that relaxes you, doing what you like in life: dancing, swimming, doing hard work, movement, exercise or intense sport, reading a book, listening to music, walking with friends in the park (nature), etc.

Healthy eating:

Less animal food, protein, animal fat (milk, cheese, meat, eggs and their derivatives) and more plant food as more and more nutritionists recommend.

Hydration:

6-10 glasses of water a day, preferably a minimum of 7-8 glasses (2 litres) of water a day (water and NOT coffee, sweet or fizzy drinks, juices from the market, preferably plain water or even tap water – those who can afford it can use a charcoal filter).

Work and movement:

Work (preferably intense) 8 hours a day. Intense sweaty movement (especially for those with sedentary work, office work, etc.) for at least 1 h a day or housework, exercise, sports, even climbing stairs and walking for at least 30-45 minutes a day is healthy.

Physical activity and weight control.

It’s important to take life as it is (good or bad) and not allow everyday stress to take over our lives. Otherwise, the immune system can suffer and people with a low immune system are more prone to serious diseases such as obesity, cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke.

We need to find ways to relax and detach ourselves from daily stress. You can do this by listening to your favourite music, reading a book, going out with loved ones or pets in nature. Physical movement should also not be neglected, as sport has the ability to boost the immune system.

Education (including self-education, personal development):

Education is another important factor in a healthy lifestyle. Healthy lifestyle means changing our way of living and our (unhealthy) way of thinking to a constructive, positive healthy way of living and thinking.

Let’s give up bad, unhealthy habits through information, education, self-education and replace them with good, healthy habits for ourselves and those around us.

Main elements of the fight against chronic pain

Chronic pain is widely regarded as representing the disease itself. It can be greatly worsened by environmental and psychological factors. Chronic pain persists longer than acute pain and is resistant to most medical treatments. It can and often does cause serious problems for the patient. Pain signals remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months or years. Physical effects include muscle tension, limited mobility, lack of energy and changes in appetite. Emotional effects include depression, anger, anxiety and fear of recurrence. Such fear can prevent the person from returning to their regular work or play.

Common chronic pain complaints include:

  • Headache;
  • Low back pain;
  • Cancer-related pain;
  • Arthritis pain;
  • Neurogenic pain (pain resulting from nerve damage);
  • Psychogenic pain (pain due not to a past illness injury or any visible sign of internal injury);

Treatment of chronic pain usually involves medication and therapy. Medications used for chronic pain include analgesics, antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Different types of medication help people with different types of pain. Usually use long-acting medication for constant pain. Short-acting drugs treat transient pain.

Some types of therapy help reduce pain. Physiotherapy, for example (such as stretching), as well as low-impact sports (such as walking, swimming or cycling) can help reduce pain. However, the intensity of the sport must be balanced. Too much or no physical exercise can harm patients with chronic pain. Occupational therapy teaches you how to adjust your pace and how to perform your regular tasks in a way that doesn’t harm you. Behavioural therapy can reduce your pain through methods (such as meditation or yoga) that help you relax. These things can also help reduce stress.

Lifestyle changes are an important part of chronic pain treatment. Adequate sleep at night, not napping during the day, is the most important factor. Quitting smoking is also essential, as the nicotine in cigarettes can make certain medicines less effective. Smokers have more pain than non-smokers.

Most pain treatments won’t completely eliminate your pain. Instead, treatment will reduce the degree of pain you have and its frequency. Talk to your doctor to find out the best way to keep your pain under control.

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București

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Cluj-Napoca

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Timișoara

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Alba-Iulia

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Address: no 10, Louis Pasteur Street, Alba-Iulia, Alba County