Getting out of bed after surgery

Try to get out of bed at least 2 to 3 times a day to sit in a chair or take a short walk when your nurse says it is OK.

Your surgeon may have a physical therapist or assistant teach you how to get out of bed safely.

Make sure you are taking the right amount of pain medicines at the right time to reduce your pain. Tell your nurse if getting out of bed causes a lot of pain.

Make sure someone is with you for safety and support in the beginning.

To get out of bed:

• Roll onto your side.
• Bend your knees until your legs are hanging over the side of the bed.
• Use your arms to lift your upper body up so that you are sitting on the edge of the bed.
• Push off with your arms to stand up.

Stay still for a moment to make sure you are steady. Focus on an object in the room that you can walk to. If you feel dizzy, sit back down.

To get back into bed:

• Sit on the edge of the bed.
• Gently swing your legs back onto the bed.
• Use your arms for support as you lie down on your side
• Roll onto your back.

You can also move around in bed. Change your position at least every 2 hours. Shift from your back to your side. Alternate sides each time you shift.

Try ankle pump exercises in bed every 2 hours by bending your ankles up and down for a few minutes.

If you were taught coughing and deep breathing exercises, practice them for 10 to 15 minutes every 2 hours. Place your hands on your stomach, then your ribs, and breathe deeply, feeling the stomach wall and rib cage move.

Put on your compression stockings in bed if your nurse asks you to. This will help with your circulation and recovery.

Use the call button to call your nurse if you have trouble (pain, dizziness, or weakness) getting out of bed.

Redelmeier DA. Postoperative care and complications. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 401.

Schwartz S, Vo V, Lamuraglia GM. Postoperative management. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 36.

Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.