Undergoing spine surgery marks a potentially transformative experience, aiming to alleviate pain and enhance one's quality of life. The path to recovery post-surgery is a gradual process that demands patience, commitment, and diligence. Empowering yourself with knowledge about the recovery journey significantly enhances the prospects for a successful outcome and expedites a return to regular activities.
Discover essential strategies for recovery and rehabilitation post-spinal surgery:
- Manage Your Pain: Immediately following the surgery, you will be given pain medication to help ease your pain. Once you return home, you will be prescribed pain medication. For your own sake, take this as often as your surgeon recommends to keep you as comfortable as possible.
- Rest Up: Resting is especially important in the first few days following surgery, as certain movements or maneuvers may compromise your recovering spine. Make sure to maintain a good posture when resting, and use back supports as needed.
- Incorporate Walking into Your Routine: Although rest is important following surgery, it must be balanced with adequate physical activity. Walking is the best type of activity to do following spine surgery, with low impact on your back, while still encouraging blood circulation and muscle stimulation.
- Don’t Skip Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is crucial to your rehabilitation following spine surgery. Work with your surgeon and physical therapist to formulate a personalized exercise plan that is right for you. Physical therapy will drastically improve your surgical outcome, so don’t skip it!
- Eat Clean and Drink Right: As your body recovers from major surgery, it is important to eat a nutritious and balanced diet. Consumer foods with vitamins C, D, and K, along with proper levels of magnesium, zinc and calcium to help the healing process. Drink lots of water during your recovery to encourage better blood flow.
- Seek Out a Support System: During your recovery, everyday tasks will be more difficult, which can lower your morale. Ask your loved ones to help out during your recovery to make life easier. Having a solid support system is key to staying positive and productive. If your mental health is suffering after surgery, a therapist can help you cope during this process.
Embracing life after spine surgery brings immense possibilities, but it demands dedication to reach that point. By adhering to these recovery suggestions and seeking guidance from your surgeon, the journey to reclaiming normalcy can be swifter than you anticipate.
AUTHOR: Dr. Payam Moazzaz is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon in California specializing in robotic-assisted minimally invasive spine surgery.