These 3 Post-Surgery Mistakes Are Hurting Your Recovery (And What to Do Instead)
- Made 2 Move Team
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
If you’re preparing for or recovering from surgery, we don’t have to tell you how big of a decision it is.
But here’s the truth most people don’t realize: Your outcome doesn’t just depend on the surgery. It depends on what you do after surgery.
As Charleston physical therapy specialists, we’ve seen it all—clients walking into our clinic 2 weeks post-op, 6 months post-op after seeing another PT, and even 3 years later still struggling with pain, stiffness, or weakness that never fully went away.
If you want a smooth and complete recovery, avoid these three common post-surgery mistakes:
1. Choosing the First Physical Therapy Clinic You See
“Just go to the PT place down the road—they’re all the same, right?”
Absolutely not.
Even if your surgeon did a perfect job, choosing the wrong physical therapy clinic can completely derail your recovery. On the flip side, working with the right physical therapist can help you not just recover, but get back to doing the things you love—sometimes even stronger than before.
One of our post-Achilles repair clients visited a few different clinics for trial sessions before choosing where to continue her recovery. Why? Because this is your health, your mobility, and your long-term quality of life we’re talking about.
At our clinic, we take pride in helping people in the Charleston area recover after surgery the right way—through personalized, thoughtful, movement-based rehab that fits your goals and lifestyle.
So don’t settle for whatever clinic is closest or most convenient. Search for a Charleston physical therapy team that truly specializes in post-surgical rehab and will treat you like a human, not just a protocol.
2. Completely Resting for Weeks After Surgery
Yes, you need to follow your post-op restrictions.But “rest” does not mean “do nothing.”
Let’s take Jeff, for example—a client of ours who had a rotator cuff repair. He was in a sling for several weeks, which meant no movement on that side. But instead of parking on the couch for 6 weeks, we kept him active by training his lower body and non-surgical arm. We even gave him a custom workout plan to follow using our app.
Why? Because:
It keeps the rest of your body strong
It boosts your mental health
It makes post-op recovery easier
Research even shows training one side of the body can benefit the other through something called "cross-education."
Early post-op rehab shouldn’t be passive. Ar our Charleston physical therapy clinic, we help you stay safely active during every phase of recovery—even the earliest ones.
3. Rushing Into Surgery With the First Surgeon You Meet
This one's technically pre-surgery—but it’s too important to leave out.
Surgery should never be rushed unless it's a true emergency. In many cases, you’ll get a better outcome if you take time to prehab—especially with procedures like ACL reconstructions or total knee replacements.
Better strength and mobility before surgery = better results after.
We’ve worked with too many athletes and active adults who were pushed into surgery before understanding their options. No prehab, no conversations about graft types, no research into different surgeons.
That’s why we offer free ACL consultations to help people:
Understand the best timeline for surgery
Explore all graft choices
Get honest feedback on local Charleston orthopedic surgeons based on your goals
In most cases, you should be getting second and even third opinions before moving forward with surgery. If your PT or surgeon isn’t encouraging that...you might not have the right team yet.
The Bottom Line: Your Recovery Starts After Surgery
If you’re planning to go under the knife, every decision counts.
Don’t settle for the first PT clinic you see—find a Charleston physical therapy team that specializes in post-op recovery and truly listens to your goals.
Don’t take 6 weeks completely off—stay active in smart, creative ways that help your recovery, not hurt it.
Don’t rush into surgery—explore your options, get second opinions, and prehab your body so you’re set up for success.
At Made 2 Move, we specialize in helping active adults and athletes in Charleston and Charlotte bounce back after surgery stronger, faster, and more confident than ever.
Want help with your post-op plan or looking for a second opinion? Book a free consultation—we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
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