You’ve decided that enough is enough, and you want to put an end to your back issues through spine surgery. You're certainly not alone — each year in the United States, about half a million people undergo lumbar spine surgery.
Whether we’re performing a spinal decompression and fusion surgery, revision spine surgery, or any other type of back surgery, some great practices can make your journey smoother.
In this month’s blog post, the team here at Texas Spine Consultants, including Dr. Michael Hennessy, Dr. Chester Donnally, Dr. Heidi Lee, Dr. Andrew Park, and Dr. Robert Viere, highlight a few of these practices so that you can be as prepared as possible for your upcoming spine surgery.
Whether your surgery is days, weeks, or months away, use this time to make smart choices that will boost your health and recovery. For example, take a look at your diet and maybe swap out some junk food for healthier fruits and vegetables. By frontloading your body with key vitamins and nutrients, you’ll have better resources to work with during your recovery.
We also recommend keeping moving as much as possible to maintain your strength before the surgery. We understand that you’re in pain, but please try to exercise as much as possible before your surgery, which will boost your cardiovascular health and help speed your recovery.
Lastly, if you smoke or use tobacco, now is a good time to quit. Studies show that smoking negatively impacts your immune system, which can delay healing and leave you more vulnerable to infection.
Another great practice is to get your house ship-shape for your recovery. You will likely move gingerly, so remove tripping hazards like loose rugs and wires. Accessorizing your bathroom with anti-slip mats, bars, toilet risers, and perhaps a shower chair is also a good idea.
You might also consider preparing some meals in advance and freezing them. For the first few days, at least, standing around and cooking may not be comfortable. And, as long as we’re discussing the kitchen, make sure items you use daily are down low — you don’t want to be reaching up to grab a glass or plate.
You will likely need a hand during your recovery, so we suggest you arrange for this.
For example, chores like mowing your lawn may not be feasible for a few weeks, so perhaps you can hire a local kid to do them while you’re recovering. You should also arrange for rides as you might not be up to driving until after your spine surgery.
You know your schedule and needs best, so try to figure out where you might need some help and go ahead and enlist that help before your spine surgery.
As for the rest, we supply you with detailed aftercare instructions, and we’re also just a phone call away if you have any questions about recovering from your spine surgery. If you’d like some of those questions answered now, we invite you to contact one of our offices in Addison or Plano, Texas.
