Postoperative Care

Ultram Pain Reliever

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:12 -0800

More Pain Medication Info

Back/Neck Pain Medication

Muscle Relaxants

NSAIDs

Narcotic Pain Medication

Pain Killer Addition

Postoperative Care for Decompression/Fusion Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:10 -0800

Immediately after the surgery, patients will experience some difficulty swallowing or a sore throat due to manipulation of the esophagus. This usually resolves within several days, but symptoms may persist to a troublesome degree.

The pain associated with the procedure is relatively minimal, as most of the exposure is obtained by dissecting tissue, not dividing it. Pain at the graft site (where bone graft is obtained from the hip) is more of a concern if iliac crest graft is utilized.

Three Months and After

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:08 -0800

As the fusion matures, it is necessary to begin a reconditioning program. It is well established that people with spinal problems fair best when they get in better shape.

After Discharge (three to six days)

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:08 -0800

Following discharge from the hospital, the patient will likely still have pain. This is managed with pain medication. If a narcotic is prescribed, the patient should not drink alcohol or operate a car, because this type of medication may cause drowsiness and/or impaired judgment.

Some surgeons also recommend application of an ice pack to manage postoperative pain. Ask your doctor if this is appropriate for you and for instructions on how to apply the ice.

One to Four Weeks After Spine Fusion Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:08 -0800

One of the risks of any surgery is infection. This occurs about 1% of the time. Some people, (e.g., diabetics), are more prone to infections.

Wound infections usually present at about 10 days after surgery. Some symptoms to look for include:

Fever (101 degrees or higher)
Expanding redness at the incision site
Increasing pain
Change in the amount, appearance or odor of drainage

If these signs develop it is important to contact your surgeon immediately.

Postoperative Care for Spinal Fusion Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:08 -0800

Spine fusion surgery recovery

More Spinal Fusion Info:

Cervical Spinal Fusion

Lumbar Spinal Fusion

Fusion Surgery Recovery

Bone Grafts

Arrange for Assistance at Home and Work

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:08 -0800

Following a spine fusion your ability to do many activities will be limited. This can include normal daily activities and occupational duties. It is best to make arrangements before surgery to have these needs met.

The extent of the assistance you may need depends on many things:

Specific type of fusion surgery to be completed
Your age
Nerve function
read more

At the Hospital (one to two days) After Spine Fusion Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:08 -0800

Pain medication after spine fusion

Immediately after spine fusion surgery there is a need for pain medication. This is often given in the vein or by “hypo” (injection of medication into the muscle of the arm or leg). Within a couple of days, as the pain decreases, this can be changed to oral medication.

One to Three Months Post-Op After a Fusion Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:08 -0800

During the initial few months following a spine fusion, it is best to avoid excess motion and stress at the fused segments. It is during this time that the fusion bone mass is becoming established. Certain types of movement to avoid include:

Excess lifting (anything over 10 to 15 pounds)
Bending
Twisting
read more

Spine Fusion Post-Operative Care

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:21:07 -0800

Attention to appropriate post-operative treatment is critical in leading to a successful spine fusion outcome. After a spine fusion surgery, it takes approximately three months for the fusion to successfully set up and achieve its initial maturity. During these first three months, it is necessary to avoid activities that may place the bone graft at risk. Therefore, surgeons will usually restrict activities that involve lifting, twisting or bending the lower back, or vigorous activities, such as running and other sports.

Post-Operative Care

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:07:11 -0800

More Chiropractic Info

Chiropractic Back Treatment

Spine Decompression

Selecting a Chiropractor

Chiropractic Manipulation

Treatment Options for Pain After Back Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:17 -0800

It must be kept in mind that postoperative imaging studies will almost always show scar tissue involving the nerve root and surrounding structures, a phenomenon known as the post-laminectomy membrane. Much clinical and animal research has been done on the nature and significance of this scar tissue, but it has not been conclusively shown that scar tissue is a major cause of back pain or leg pain after spine surgery.

Preventing Constipation After Back Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:16 -0800

Constipation is a common problem for many people recovering from back surgery, and frequently causes considerable discomfort and/or pain. While it is often not mentioned to patients as part of the recovery process, constipation and its adverse side effects can be a significant challenge following back surgery.

Pain Management After Microdiscectomy Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:15 -0800

Immediate post-operative pain can be managed with a combination of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) and a mild pain pill (e.g. Darvocet, Vicodin). The narcotic pain medications (Vicodin) are addictive and should only be used for a short period of time (less than two weeks).

As the discomfort from back surgery subsides (usually about 1 to 2 weeks) the patient can move towards substituting Tylenol for the narcotic pain medications.

Stretching Exercise after Microdiscectomy Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:15 -0800

Since any surgical site will heal with scar tissue, some surgeons feel that to minimize scarring of the nerve root, gentle stretching exercises should be done in the early postoperative period.

The stretching exercises should be done about 5 to 6 times a day for 6 to12 weeks, since this is the time period in which the scarring occurs.

The safest way to stretch is to lie down and maximally flex the hips and gradually extend the knee. This maneuver will also stretch the hamstring muscles, which is important for rehabilitation of the back.

Postoperative Care for Lumbar Microdiscectomy Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:15 -0800

Recovering from lumbar microdiscectomy surgery

The lumbar microdiscectomy surgery—to alleviate sciatica, or pain along the sciatic nerve, caused by a disc herniation—has significantly improved in recent years (e.g. a shorter recovery period, less pain, and higher success rates). While different spine surgeons will recommend somewhat different approaches to postoperative care after this type of back surgery, there are several general facets of postoperative recovery that can be expected.

Practical Advice for Recovering from Back Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:12 -0800

Back surgery postoperative care

For patients who have decided to have back surgery, taking time to prepare for the post-surgical recovery period is a good idea and will usually improve their experience when they get home.

Getting Adequate Pain Control After Back Surgery

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:12 -0800

Effective pain control after surgery can help the overall success of the back surgery. Almost all surgical procedures cause mild to severe postoperative pain, and this is one of the greatest worries of many back surgery patients. Even so, patients are rarely prepared for the type of pain they will experience after the operation, and a systematic pain control approach is rarely used.

Physical Therapy After Minimally Invasive Back Surgery

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:04:47 -0800

When a surgery is minimally invasive, many people – especially those who experience a great deal of pain relief – may think that physical therapy is unnecessary. It is very important that muscle function is at its best after any spine procedure in order to maximize recovery and to minimize potential future problems.