Here are five tips:
1. Dr. Liu said recovery can take a few weeks or a few months, so the most important thing to avoid is becoming impatient. Climbing stairs frequently, bending at the waist and lifting heavy weights are all definite “don’ts” immediately after surgery.
2. Don’t drive for two weeks after the surgery, abstain from smoking, and anything besides simple walking should be off limits for a few weeks. The more patients push their limits, the riskier the healing process.
3. Patients can help along recovery following spine surgery by taking prescribed pain medications, doing consistent physical therapy and wearing a back brace if applicable.
4. Although patients should not be participating in strenuous exercise, gentle and regular movements positively affect the healing process with blood circulating. Uninterrupted sleep is also crucial, so patients should find the most comfortable sleeping position that limits back pain.
5. Above all, Dr. Liu said patients should not hesitate to call their physicians if their conditions are not improving.
“If you run a fever, lose feeling in your arms or legs, have difficulty urinating or controlling bowel movements, or if your back pain begins to worsen…don’t hesitate to be in touch with your doctor,” Dr. Liu said. “We only want the fastest, most optimal recovery for our spine surgery patient, and being in touch is crucial.”
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