Following are some recommendations
that you may find useful after your surgery. It is important that you follow
your doctor's recommendations after back surgery.
Sleeping:
-
Use a mattress of high density
foam rubber or polyfoam, with a thick plywood board, or an innerspring,
extra-firm, or firm mattress with a good box spring to match.
-
Please do not sleep on a waterbed.
-
When you lie on your back, place
a pillow under your knees to slightly flex your knees and hips. This decreases
the tension on your nerve roots. Likewise, when you lie on your side, place
a pillow between your legs.
Sitting:
-
Please try to sit in straight-back
chairs. You may also want to place a 4-6 inch lumbar roll in the
small of your back to maintain a small curve. You may use a rolled-up
towel, or you may purchase a lumbar support
.
-
During the postoperative period,
your corset or brace should suffice in maintaining the posture of your
lower back.
-
Try not to sit longer than you
are comfortable. Begin by sitting for approximately 30 minutes and increase
this as your tolerance allows.
Activity: Light
-
Walking. Please begin by walking
up to 2 or 3 times daily. Start gradually, perhaps 1/8 to 1/4 mile.
Increase your mileage to 1-5 miles 2-3 times a week as endurance
improves.
-
Lifting. Do not lift over 10-15
pounds. Lift with your legs and not from your waist; remember to
keep the object close to your body to decrease stress. Never lift with
your legs straight and back bent forward.
-
Bending and twisting are dangerous.
These activities significantly increase the stress on your back and may
cause damage.
-
Avoid strenuous pushing and/or
pulling.
Driving
-
You cannot drive for quite some
time after your operation. Your doctor will talk with you about driving
a vehicle.
-
Limit riding in a car the first
two weeks following surgery, after that time, you may ride in a car as
tolerated. Please avoid long trips. If it is necessary, you may travel,
but get out and stretch 5-10 minutes every 30-45 minutes.
Need For Support
-
Your doctor will prescribe either
a brace or a corset depending on your particular operation.
-
Please make every effort to
apply your brace or corset prior to sitting up.
Work
-
Many variables affect when you
will be able to return to work. You and your doctor share in that decision.
Showers
-
You will need someone to assist
you during your shower.
-
Step into the shower. Remove
the brace and hand it to someone standing just outside the shower. Do not
twist or bend your back. Wash as far as you can reach without bending.
Have someone else wash the rest of your body. When you are finished, dry
yourself off as far as you can reach, put your brace back on, sit down
and then finish drying yourself.
If you have just had a fusion
operation
-
The purpose of the brace in
fusion cases is to eliminate the amount of motion that is transmitted to
the spine in daily activities in order to improve the chances of the fusion
taking. You also have an internal brace, which is made of rods and screws.
-
Smoking adversely affects the
likelihood of your fusion healing. It is important to stop smoking.
Please ask your doctor for assistance as necessary.
-
Immobilization and reduction
of stress are very important to increase the probability of your fusion
healing.
Medications
-
You will be given a prescription
for narcotic pain medication when you are discharged. It is important to
discontinue these medications as soon as possible. Other non-narcotic medications
are available that are quite effective.
-
Muscle relaxants are important
to diminish muscle spasms, which may contribute to postoperative pain.
Your doctor will prescribe the one that is best for you.
-
Should it be necessary to refill
your medications, please call the office Monday through Friday from
8:300 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This will enable us to review your chart and
call in your prescription as necessary. As a reminder, when calling for
medication, please have your prescription bottle and pharmacy phone number
available.
If you need to discuss your
medication or change your medication, please call the office. Please be
sure to call before you run out of medication. We may not be able to refill
your medication the same day you call. We do not refill medications
after hours or on weekends.
Thigh High TED Hose
-
Your doctor may prescribe these supportive stockings that assist
in decreasing the pooling of blood in your leg veins and help diminish
the chances of blood clots and pulmonary embolism. As you increase your
activities (toe lifts and walking) then you may discontinue the use of
the supportive hose. You may remove them if you are walking well, usually
4-5 days after surgery.
Sexual Activity
-
Sexual activity may put increased
stress on your back. Please talk with your doctor prior to resuming
sexual activity.
Your Personal Recovery Period
There are many factors that
can influence the speed of recovery following back surgery. It is extremely
difficult to compare your back surgery to a relative's or friend's back
surgery. Second- and third-hand information may be very misleading.
Although these people mean well, their recollections may not always be
correct.
It is common to experience
some back and leg pain even after recovering from surgery and this may
occasionally increase with certain activities. Depending on the complexity
of your problem and other risk factors, some pain, hopefully mild in nature,
may continue.
For further clarification,
please discuss this with your physician.
Trouble Sleeping
Many people have difficulty
sleeping due to a change in their activity levels and discomfort.
If you have trouble sleeping, try not to take naps during the day, wake
up early every day, go to bed at the same time every night, read before
sleeping, reduce the amount of caffeine you eat and drink, such as coffee,
tea, and chocolate. Manage your pain medication and muscle relaxers so
that you take them 30 minutes before going to bed. Your doctor may prescribe
a muscle relaxer or sleep agent that can cause you to be sleepy.
Also, increasing your activity by walking will help your body feel tired.
Return Appointment
You will need to see your doctor 10 to 14 days after your surgery. Please call the office as soon as possible to
make an appointment. If you have any questions or require additional information, please call our office.
Select from the list below for information from Central States Orthopedic physicians.
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