24 Post Surgery Gifts To Help Them On The Road To Recovery

Having a loved one go through surgery is a worrying time, so a little gift to help them get back on their feet can be just what the doctor ordered.

Having to undergo surgery is a stressful time for anyone, as your mind is filled with fear and dread of what is to come.

As you have to trust the surgeons and medical team to do a good job, have to spend time in hospital, and know that it may take you weeks or months to fully recover again afterwards.

Not to mention having to deal with the after effects of the anesthetic and strong painkillers, and having a body that feels it's been run over by a ten tonne lorry afterwards.

So it can be a really nice idea to get a loved one who is facing surgery a little gift beforehand.

As not only will this put a smile on their face and make them feel better, you can also find gifts that can ease their pre-surgery nerves, as well as aid their post surgery recovery.

And to help you to make a good gift choice, I've come up with the following list of post surgery gifts that can really help anyone who is due to go under the surgeon's knife.

What Can I Buy For Someone Who Is Recovering From Surgery?

When it comes to post surgery gifts there are a few options open to you.

As people recovering at home after surgery will appreciate any gift that makes them more comfortable, makes their home safer for them, keeps them entertained, gives them some pain relief or helps them to sleep soundly.

1. A Book To Help Them Prepare For Their Surgery

One of the most worrying things for anyone getting ready to undergo surgery is that they are walking into the unknown.

As they have no idea of what they are about to go through, how they will feel afterwards, or how long it may take them to recover.

So a really nice gift idea to set their mind at ease is to get them a book that will explain the whole process to them, and how they can do things to make it better.

And one that is great for that is Prepare For Surgery, Heal Faster by Peggy Huddleston, with great tips on how to reduce their anxiety, recover faster, and feel calmer and more in control. 

2. A More Comfortable Hospital Gown

Standard issue hospital gowns are often not very nice to wear, and also leave you feeling a little bit exposed when facing in certain directions!

So getting your loved one a more stylish and comfortable gown to wear in hospital is a top gift idea, as this will help them to feel better and more settled within themselves.

And Gift Gowns have a range of fantastic hospital gowns for both adults and gifts that do the trick nicely, with many different designs and styles to choose from.

With snap buttons on the sleeves and back that will keep them covered up more than a regular hospital gown, but give the nurses and doctors the same easy access when needed.

3. Anti-Skid Hospital Socks To Avoid Any Accidents

Hospital floors can be slippery places, especially for a patient post surgery when they are drowsy from the painkillers and a bit unsteady on their feet.

And they last thing they want to do is to fall over and cause themselves even more damage!

So getting a loved one a few pairs of anti-skid socks to take into hospital with them is a fantastic gift idea, as these have grips on the bottom to keep them safe and upright.

And for ones that won't let them down, check out the Rative non-skid hospital socks.

4. A Sleep Mask For Rest And Recovery

Getting plenty of good quality sleep and rest is vital for someone recovering from surgery, as this gives their body the chance to heal and regain strength.

However, sleeping in a hospital bed can be really challenging, what with the neon lights, beeping and flashing machines, and nurses moving around carrying out their duties throughout the night.

So a gift that can really help a loved one to get the darkness and stillness they need to be able to maintain a decent night's sleep is to get them a blackout sleep mask.

Because wearing one of this will ensure the hospital ward becomes pitch black, with one that I'd recommend being the Manta sleep mask Pro.

As not only does this do a great job of blocking out any light, it's also super comfortable to wear, with soft, contoured eye sockets that won't press on their eyelids.

5. A Back Scratcher For Those Annoying Itches

Depending on which type of surgery your loved one has gone through, they may be restricted in their movement for a little while afterwards.

Which means turning over, stretching, or reaching for things may be painful for them.

And this can cause a really big problem, namely when they have itches in areas they can no longer scratch.

Torture!

So help them to avoid this pain with the gift of a Wovte bear claw back scratcher, which will allow them to scratch any itch as soon as it arises.

6. Reacher Grabber Tools

Another super useful post surgery gift to get them that will help them to reach things without over-extending themselves is a reacher grabber tool.

As this will allow them to pick things up off the floor or from their bedside table without having to get out of bed, and avoiding any nagging aches and pains from doing so.

So a pair of RMS reacher grabber tools will come in handy, to say the least.

7. A Kindle To Pass The Time

Laying up in bed after surgery can be extremely dull and tedious, especially when you're in hospital and away from all your home comforts.

So a lovely gift to get them before they go in is a Kindle Paperwhite, as they can pre-load it with books they've been wanting to read, and use their time in hospital to get through them.

And not only will this keep them occupied and make their time on the ward go faster, it'll also transport them to other places and take their mind off being in hospital.

So if your loved one is an avid reader, you can't go wrong with this one.

8. A Coloring Book To Improve Their Mood

Another great gift to keep a patient occupied post surgery is to get them a coloring book and some coloring pencils.

And while you may think this kind of gift is just for children, it's really not, as this has been shown to be a satisfying and absorbing activity that can keep adults calm and help them to relax.

Which is exactly what they need to take their minds off any worries about the surgery they've just been through.

And for one with more of an adult theme, you could get them the Calm The Fuck Down coloring book, which has some funny content that will make them laugh and lighten their mood a bit.

9. A Laptop Bed Stand

Many people will want to take their laptops into hospital with them so they can watch TV shows and movies while recovering in their hospital bed.

However, balancing the laptop on their chests as they watch is a pain, and it's all too easy to have an accident that sends their expensive gadget crashing to the ground.

So I'm sure they'd really appreciate the gift of the AboveTEK laptop bed table, as this way they have a safe and convenient place to put their laptops, and can just lay back and relax.

And they can also use this table for meals, drinks, writing letters, drawing, or coloring in, so they'll find it really useful, both in hospital and once they come home too.

10. A Bed Assist Rail For Their Home

Getting in and out of bed can be a challenge in the early stages after undergoing certain types of surgery.

And while you have nurses and loved ones to help you while in the hospital, when you are discharged you have to rely on yourself.

So getting a loved one a bed assist rail for their bed, such as the one above by Vive, is a really helpful thing to do.

As this will make it much easier and safer for them to get up when they need to without hurting themselves.

11. A Grippy Shower Mat

Another gift that can make your loved ones home safer for them post surgery is to get them a grippy shower mat.

As this will help them avoid any slips or falls in the shower, which are dangerous at the best of times, but even more so when their body is recovering from surgery.

So check out the Gorilla Grip shower mat for a gift that can turn the floor of their shower or bath tub from a slippery surface to a safe one.

12. A Toilet Seat Riser

While we're going through gifts that can make life easier for a loved one when returning home post surgery, we have to include our least sexy option, which is a toilet seat riser.

But while this may seem like an awful idea for a gift, it can really help them to use the toilet more safely and comfortably.

As raising the height of the seat by a few inches takes away the need for so much bending down and twisting, which can be painful after surgery.

And one such as the Vive toilet seat riser also has bars on the sides too, which makes it easier for them to get up again once they've finished.

So this is a gift they'll really appreciate while they're getting back on their feet again.

13. A Set Of Bed Wedge Pillows

After certain types of surgery, you may be restricted in your movement and have to spend more time laying in bed than you'd like as you recover.

So a great gift to get someone like this is a set of wedge pillows to use while in bed.

As these pillows will give them a comfortable way to support themselves as they sit up to watch TV or read, as well as allowing them to elevate their knees and legs to relieve pressure and pain.

And a great set to go for is the Lunix orthopedic bed wedge pillow set, which has every type of pillow they need.

14. A Weighted Blanket To Comfort Them

Recovering from surgery can be a really worrying and anxious time for the person going through it, as they work to regain their strength and hope that their problem has been fixed.

So a gift that can really help to comfort them is to get them a weighted blanket.

As the pressure they get from the weight of these blankets feels like a warm hug, immediately soothing them and helping to take away any anxiety.

With the Baloo weighted blanket being a good choice as a gift.

15. A Bedside Tray To Keep All Their Stuff At Hand

Keeping things close to hand is important when you're laid up in bed after surgery and find it painful to move around and get up.

So a bedside shelf or caddy makes for a really useful gift for them, as this gives them a place to place their food and drinks on, as well as keep their books, magazines, and gadgets.

And for one that is ideal for this, check out the BedShelfie. 

16. Compression Socks To Guard Against Blood Clots

When your movement is restricted after surgery, and you have to spend most of the day in bed, it can be dangerous to your legs if you're not careful.

As it leaves you at risk of developing blood clots, varicose veins, and general lower limb muscle fatigue.

So to guard against this, you need to wear a pair of compression socks while in bed that can increase circulation, while reducing any inflammation and blood pooling from forming in your legs.

So getting a loved one a few pairs of compression socks such as the ones above to see them through until they can get back on their feet again is a really useful gift idea.

17. Comfy Robe And Loungewear

After surgery your loved one will most likely have to spend some time at home recovering before they can get back to their normal life.

So getting them something comfortable to wear around the house, such as a robe, dressing gown, pyjamas, or sweat pants makes for a nice gift.

As this will help them to feel better in themselves, and make them more relaxed, which will help them to heal and get back on their feet again.

18. A Recliner Chair To Ease The Pressure

When you've just undergone certain surgeries, sitting upright can be a painful thing to do.

So a great gift for someone that is struggling to do this is to get them a Lay-Z-Boy type recliner chair.

As by reclining back in these chairs they can relieve the pressure on their spine and body, which will help them to feel much more comfortable.

And while you have a wealth of options here with the choice of chair, if you want to treat them them check out the Signature Design power lift recliner chair.

As this is a supportive and super comfortable chair which gives them somewhere to relax in while their body heals.

19. Ice Packs To Reduce Swelling And Inflammation

In the first few weeks after surgery, you may experience swelling and inflammation that is really painful and frustrating to deal with.

So getting a loved one a set of gel ice packs is a top idea, as this gives them a chance to gain some much needed relief when this pain rears it's ugly head.

As by icing the affected areas, they can reduce this swelling and inflammation, making them feel more comfortable and content.

And the iReliev cold therapy gel packs are a good option, as they come in 3 sizes which can fit and cover most areas of their body nicely.

20. A TENS Unit To Zap Away Pain

Another gift that can help them to manage their pain post surgery is to get them a TENS unit.

As these handheld machines can give them pain relief by transmitting electric stimulation to the nerves around their area of pain, which works to block pain signals from reaching their brain.

And these greatly reduces the intensity of the pain they feel.

So getting them one of these machines, such as the iReliev wireless TENS unit, is a gift that will give them the power to zap their pain when needed, and stay on top of things.

21. Epsom Bath Salts For Their Rejuvenating Soaks In The Tub

Having a nice long soak in a hot bath is a great way of easing the pain and tension in your body post surgery, as well as reducing the mental anguish and worry that comes with it.

As the moist heat from the bath penetrates deep into tired muscles, while also stimulating blood flow around the body, which helps it to heal and repair.

So how about getting them a few packs of epsom bath salts, such as the ones above by Epsoak.

As these salts contain magnesium sulfate, which absorbs into the skin to magnify the impact and health benefits of their bath even further.

22. A Heated Cuddly Toy

Getting someone a cuddly toy is a lovely gift idea to make them smile and comfort them as they recover post surgery.

However, you could make this gift even better by getting them a cuddly toy that can be warmed up, such as those in the Warmies range.

As these toys can be put in the microwave for 30 seconds to heat up, and once warm they work in a similar way to a hot water bottle.

So they'll have the best of both worlds, a cuddly toy to snuggle up with, and soothing heat to take their aches pains away.

23. Pay For A Food Delivery Or Home Cleaning Service

In the first few days or weeks post surgery, it can be hard for a person to be able to get out of the house and carry out their regular chores.

So being there for them and doing their errands until they're able to do them themselves is a lovely thing to do, and something that will be greatly appreciated.

However, if you live too far away and can't get around to your friends house, then how about paying for a professional cleaner to take care of their house cleaning for a few weeks?

Or pay for a food delivery service that can provide ready made meals for them to eat, so they don't need to worry about cooking or popping to the supermarket for food?

As anything that removes pressure from them and gives them the time to focus fully on getting better is a great gift to give.

24. A Yoga Mat For Post Surgery Recovery Exercises

At some stage in their post surgery recovery process, your loved one will have to stretch and do their rehabilitative exercises to build up their strength again.

And this isn't just on visits to the physios and health clinics, but every day in their homes too.

So a gift that can  help them on their way is to get them an exercise mat to do their stretches and exercises on.

And the Gaiam yoga for beginners kit works well for this, as along with the mat they also get a block and strap to assist them if they're not too flexible.

Rounding Up

Going through surgery is a worrying and stressful time for both the patient and their friends and family.

So if you have a loved one that is preparing to go under the knife, why not get them a little gift that will make them feel better about it?

As there are plenty of post surgery gifts that will help them to both prepare for surgery, and heal and recover faster afterwards.

And I hope you've managed to find something among the gift ideas in this list that your loved one will appreciate and find useful.