Do’s and Dont’s After Spine Surgery [10 useful tips]

June 30th, 2019

Time after the spine surgery

The time after surgery is critical to your recovery. Although the surgical part is over and you can look forward to improved mobility and overall quality of life, the final outcome of your surgery depends, in large, on what you do and don’t do after you get home.

We have prepared some tips for you so that you know what to expect after you go home after your spine surgery.

1. DON’T LIFT OBJECTS UNTIL CLEARED

Unnecessary straining of any sort could not only cause the incision to reopen, but it can also cause infection in areas of broken skin.

2. DON’T SKIP APPOINTMENTS

It is understandable that once you feel better, you want to forget all about the surgery, thinking you don’t need a surgeon anymore. However, your surgical incision needs to be checked, and your condition evaluated. If you have any questions about your follow-up appointment with your physician, contact their office.

3.FOLLOW YOUR DOCTOR’S DIRECTIONS

Choosing which instructions to follow and which not to isn’t up to you. Sometimes, you will not know the reason for a specific recommendation. If you disregard it, the consequences might be severe.

4.USE PAIN MEDICATION AS INSTRUCTED

Take your pain medications as directed by your surgeon. Many procedures involve a regional nerve block that will wear off within 6-18 hours. It is important to stay on schedule with your pain medication as it will decrease the severity of pain when the block wears off. Do not force any motion that causes pain. Do not drive, operate machinery, or sign any legal documents while taking narcotic pain medication.

5.PHYSICAL THERAPY

If your surgeon orders physical therapy sometime after the surgery, take the offer! Furthermore, if the physical therapist prepares a home exercise plan for you to follow on your days off from physical therapy, do it.

6.ASK FOR HELP

If you are having anesthesia, you will need to have someone over the age of 18 remain at the spine surgery center in Boynton Beach, or Delray Beach during your procedure to receive discharge instructions, drive you home, and stay with you for 24 hours after your surgery. Please make arrangements ahead of time.

7. COUGH AND SNEEZE CAREFULLY

If you are left with an incision after surgery, you can do some harm to it if you cough, or sneeze the wrong way. A new incision isn’t very strong and a forceful sneeze can cause it to open.

8. PREPARE YOUR ENVIRONMENT

Make sure you have these items waiting for you at home after the surgery:

hand sanitizer and antibacterial soap
easy-to-make meals
comfortable clothes
filled prescriptions
over-the-counter remedies
emergency contact information
movies, music, or books
incision care supplies
water

9. PAY ATTENTION TO SYMPTOMS

You may feel numbness or pain around your incision, and it may look a little red. Check it every day to see if it:

is more red, swollen, or draining extra fluid
feels warm
begins to open up

If any of these occur, contact your surgeon.

10. AVOID TOBACCO

Do not smoke, or use tobacco products after spine surgery. Avoiding tobacco is even more important if you had a fusion or a graft. Smoking and using tobacco products slows down the healing process.

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon Delray Beach

If you are preparing for spine surgery, you may have a lot of questions concerning your preparation for both before and after the procedure. Contact us to make an appointment with Dr. Matthew Hepler, your best choice for an orthopedic spine surgeon. As a spine surgeon in Boynton Beach and Delray Beach, Dr. Hepler treats a broad variety of conditions affecting the back.

He has a subspecialty interest in complex spine reconstruction. That includes scoliosis, kyphosis, and spondylolisthesis. Dr. Hepler treats all spine conditions, including disc herniations, radiculopathy, discogenic disc disease, lumbar and cervical stenosis, traumatic and osteoporotic fractures. He is also an expert in back surgery and spinal stenosis treatment.