The first and most important thing to know about recovery from spinal surgery is to carefully follow all the instructions of your orthopedic surgeon or spine orthopedic specialist. He or she has tailored this information to fit your individual situation.
Keep an Eye on Your Wound
Don’t remove your bandages until your orthopedic surgeon says it’s okay. Keep a careful watch on your wound and let your doctor know immediately if your wound:
- Swells and starts to drain fluid
- Is very warm to the touch
- Opens up
- Becomes redder
Be sure to keep your wound dry for at least the first five to seven days. If you’re going to shower, cover the incision with plastic wrap. The first time you take a shower, you should have someone help you. Do not let water spray into the incision.
Make Sure Your Home Is Safe
This means eliminating all tripping hazards, such as area rugs, before you come home from the hospital. Bathtubs and showers should have non-skid mats. Consider raising the toilet seat and installing safety bars if you haven’t already.
Don’t Smoke
We know you’ve heard it before, and we know you’re aware that smoking increases your risk of getting lung cancer. However, did you know that tobacco products actually slow your healing process? Avoiding tobacco is a must after spinal surgery, according to the National Institute of Health.
Modify Your Movements
Recovery means you’ll have to find another way to do your everyday activities until your doctor gives the green light to go ahead and resume your normal routine. Often, this means wearing a back brace or corset for support.
Perhaps one of the most important items to consider is that you should not bend at your waist. If you need to pick something off the floor, get it by using your knees and squatting.
You should not carry anything heavier than a gallon of milk, and lifting anything above your head is off-limits.
Depending upon the type of procedure and the instructions from your orthopedic spine specialist, you may only be allowed to take short walks, gradually increasing your distance. You’ll also be limited in the number of stairs you climb for the first weeks after surgery.
Most likely, you’ll be involved in physical therapy to help you recover.
Activities to Avoid
You should avoid all strenuous motions until your orthopedic surgeon clears you to return to these activities. This means no golfing, running, vigorous exercise or even vacuuming and intense house cleaning. You should not drive for the first two weeks after surgery. Afterward, your orthopedic surgeon may approve taking short trips. Even as a passenger, you should avoid long trips. If a long trip is unavoidable, you should stop every 30 minutes to stretch.