Editor’s Note: This story is Part 2 of a 2-part series on myths about hospital stays. Part 1 focuses on myths to know before your stay.

From always resting after surgery to the need to eliminate all pain, some things you may have heard about hospital stays aren’t true. Dr. Evan Hardesty, a hospitalist with UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, debunks some common myths below.

Myth: The provider always knows best, so I shouldn’t question what he or she says

When patients are active participants in their care, that often results in better care overall – so don’t hesitate to ask questions or voice concerns.

“We want medical care to be collaborative, and we want people to be involved,” Hardesty said. “There are no bad questions here. If you have concerns, we want you to raise them. We want to do anything we can do to make people feel more comfortable and help them understand what’s going on.”

Myth: It’s always best to rest after surgery

For many procedures, such as orthopedic surgeries, research has shown it’s best to get moving soon.

“Ten years ago, if you had hip surgery, you might rest for a week,” Hardesty said. “Now, especially with orthopedic procedures, a lot of the science supports early mobilization. Getting those muscles working and getting everything back into gear quickly has been proven to be more beneficial.”

Myth: Physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) are there to make me suffer

“We know when you’re in pain or uncomfortable, working with a therapist may be the last thing you want to do,” Hardesty said. “But it’s been proven that it’s one of the best things you can do to get better faster.”

Don’t be surprised if you work with both physical and occupational therapists, as PT can help improve movement, build endurance and mitigate pain, while OT can help strengthen skills needed for daily life.

Myth: I shouldn’t let my health care provider put me in observation

When someone is admitted for observation, they are often discharged in the next one to three days.

“A lot of times someone might be able to go home, but we feel more comfortable monitoring labs and watching them closely,” Hardesty said. “You can always have a conversation with your doctor on if it is safe for you to go home and return for labs or follow-up the next day.”

Myth: I feel better after discharge, so I can stop taking medications I was prescribed

“If you were prescribed a course of antibiotics or steroids, you need to complete it,” Hardesty said. “Not completing it means the risking having to go back to the hospital or having your condition return or worsen.”

Medications prescribed on an as-needed basis, such as those used for pain, can be stopped when they’re no longer needed and then disposed of properly.

Myth: I shouldn’t have any pain when I leave the hospital

“There are health conditions that have a degree of chronic pain or conditions that take time to recover, so we never set the expectation that you’re going to be pain free,” Hardesty said. “We do want pain to be well-controlled at a level you can tolerate.”

Susan Cunningham writes for UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center. She can be reached at cunninghamsbc@gmail.com.