Friends and Family Best Medicine for Surgery?

It’s long been known that having a wide circle of caring friends and family is an important part of both physical and psychological well-being. Now it seems that the same “medicine” is just what the doctor ordered for surgery.

According to research reported in the February 2008 issue of The Journal of the American College of Surgeons, a healthy social network may help you experience less pain and anxiety prior to surgery, and may also help speed your recovery afterward.

The study involved approximately 600 people who had chest or abdominal surgery scheduled, and looked at how many close friends and family members they had as well as how many social functions they participated in. Then patients used scientifically-validated scales to rate their levels of pain and anxiety before and after surgery. The results suggest that those with the smallest social networks had the most pre- and post-op pain and anxiety. Those with the strongest social networks not only had the pain and anxiety, they also had the shortest post-surgery hospital stays.

This is yet another good reason for finding ways to stay connected with your friends and family, and reaching out to create new sustaining relationships. Sharing stories, exchanging ideas, and reaching out to others who may benefit from your “lessons learned” may not just make life more enjoyable, it may also be the best way to keep you healthy when you’re facing that upcoming surgery.