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People usually leave the hospital after a week or 10 days of having brain surgery. But that doesn’t mean they feel back to normal. Healing after brain surgery can take many weeks — even many months.

Some people may simply feel more tired after brain surgery. For others, brain surgery can affect mood, eyesight, speaking, ability to focus, memory, balance, coordination, and more.

Your doctor will let you know how your brain surgery is likely to affect you. (The effects will depend on why you’re having surgery, which part of the brain it affects, your other ailments, and more.)

Read on to get tips to improve your brain surgery recovery.

Stock Up on Supplies for Wound Care and Pain

You may need these items on hand in the first few weeks of brain surgery recovery:

• Additional bandages and dressings — Your hospital will supply you with bandages and dressings. They’ll teach you how to wrap the wound and care for it.
• Aids to help with constipation — Some medications you need as you heal from brain surgery can cause constipation. An over-the-counter laxative can help. You can also ask your doctor for a prescription for a stool softener.
• Antibacterial soap — Your doctor may advise you to clean the wound area only with soap and water at first.
  • Don’t put creams, lotions, or hair products (including shampoo and conditioner) on the wound until your doctor says it’s OK.
  • Don’t use harsh chemicals, like hair dye, hair straightening, or perming chemicals, for a month or so after surgery. Your doctor or nurse will let you know when this is OK.
• Clean hand towels — To wrap around the ice or ice pack. (Putting ice or an ice pack directly on the wound can cause injury).
• Clean head coverings — Cotton headscarves, toques, or beanies are ideal for brain surgery recovery. Cotton is breathable and not too hot. Avoid tight-fitting hats or wigs in the month after surgery.
• Extra pillows — Sleeping with your head raised can reduce swelling. The use of pillows may be a subject of concern. Your doctor or nurse will let you know how and when to use pillows.
• Ice or a gel ice pack — To help with pain and swelling at the surgical site.
• Over-the-counter pain medication — Tylenol^® can help with pain and headaches after brain surgery. Ask your doctor if Tylenol is safe for you and how much of it to take. Taking Tylenol and other over-the-counter medications on top of your prescription medications may pose a danger.
  • Some experts advise against ibuprofen due to fears it could increase the risk of bleeding. Though recent studies suggest ibuprofen is safe after brain surgery, consult your doctor for advice.
• A shower cap — This helps you keep the wound clean and dry as you shower.

Think of What Might Help You Physically and Emotionally in Brain Surgery Recovery

Convenience and entertainment items can help make for a better recovery period. Consider stocking up on:

• A charged tablet or other device — You may wish to watch TV, listen to music, play games, or send messages as you recover from brain surgery. Note that some people find screens hard to concentrate on or cause a headache during the brain surgery recovery period.
• Easy-to-digest foods – Medication and the side effects of surgery may affect your appetite or make you feel nauseous. You may prefer foods that are easy to eat and digest, like Jell-O, plain crackers, bananas, and applesauce.
• Healthy snacks, such as fruit, vegetables, and nuts — See our advice on healthy eating to support your recovery here.
• Other items you need on a daily basis — You may find you can’t drive after brain surgery. Make sure you stock up on essentials, like toilet paper and personal hygiene items, even favorite foods and snacks.
• Reading material — You may prefer “light” reading material as you may feel less mentally alert after brain surgery.
• Ready-made meals — Choose meals you can microwave, heat on the stovetop, or bake, like frozen dinners and prepared salads and soups. You may feel tired in the weeks after brain surgery and not have the energy to cook.

Create a Safe Environment

Some people have problems with balance and coordination after brain surgery. Your surgeon will let you know if it’s likely or possible that you may experience such challenges.

If you have these challenges, you can:

• Ensure the daily items you need are easily accessible. You should avoid having to stand on a stool or go up and down stairs often.
• Ensure you have a light beside the bed and a night light in the bathroom.
• Get rid of tripping hazards, such as loose rugs, large furniture, pet items, etc.
• Install grab bars beside the toilet, the bathtub, and the shower. It is best to have these professionally installed, if possible, because the self-adhering ones cannot accommodate the weight of an adult person.

Enlist Friends and Family to Help

You’ll likely need someone at home who can support you for several weeks after your brain surgery. You may feel extra tired and possibly confused in the weeks after brain surgery.

You may need help cleaning, preparing food, and doing laundry. If you have children, you may want them to stay with family during your recovery. Or you could have someone stay with you who can help with child care.

Many people can’t drive for several weeks after brain surgery. Talk to friends and family about who can take you to appointments and pick up supplies. If you believe this will be a problem for you, ask your doctor or nurse for a referral to social services before your procedure. They can help you access outside services to assist you.

Symptoms That May Need Emergency Attention

Call 911 if you experience the following symptoms of a serious complication, such as an infection or blood clot:

• Seizure.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Severe headache.
• Shortness of breath.
• Stiff neck.
• Chest pain.
• Fluid or pus from the surgical site.
• Increasing swelling, redness, or warmth at the site of the wound.
• Nausea or vomiting, especially if severe or worsening.
• Chills.
• Fever above 101 F.
• Redness, swelling, and warmth in the leg. (This could indicate a blood clot that traveled to the leg.)

Your neurology team can tell you if what you’re experiencing is normal or if it requires medical attention. They can also connect you to rehab services to help. You should also call your surgical team if you experience the following changes:

• Balance or coordination problems, including trouble walking.
• Confusion.
• Extreme fatigue.
• Memory problems.
• Mood or personality changes, like angry outbursts or depression.
• Trouble with speaking.
• Vision changes.
• Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg.