Before Surgery - Nebraska Spine Hospital (2023)

FAQs

What should I do before spinal surgery? ›

One Month Before Surgery

Get plenty of exercise so that you are in good shape for surgery. The better physical shape you are in prior to surgery, the smoother the recovery process will be. If you smoke, you may need to stop smoking because of the risks related to anesthesia and the healing process.

Do not eat or drink anything for at least eight hours before your scheduled surgery. Do not chew gum or use any tobacco products. Leave jewelry and other valuables at home. Take out removable teeth prior to transfer to the operating room and do not wear glasses or contact lenses in the OR.

Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center has been awarded:

America's 100 Best Spine Surgery™ For the years (2023, 2022, 2021) America's 50 Best Hospitals Award™ For the years (2023, 2022, 2021)

As with all types of surgery, there's a risk of dying during or after lumbar decompression surgery, although this is rare. A blood clot, a bad reaction to the anaesthetic and blood loss can all be life-threatening.

It relieves pressure on the nerves and decreases symptoms such as numbness, tingling, pain and weakness. Surgery will last approximately 2 to 3 hours.

Spinal fusion

This process connects two or more vertebrae to stop them moving against each other. Sometimes, surgery will involve a bone graft. This is when bone is taken from the hip and put into the spine to help the vertebrae fuse together. Bone grafts may cause significant and even chronic pain following surgery.

You'll be encouraged to walk and move around the day after surgery and it's likely you'll be discharged 1 to 4 days afterwards. It will take about 4 to 6 weeks for you to reach your expected level of mobility and function (this will depend on the severity of your condition and symptoms before the operation).

Awake spine surgery is an alternative for people who can't tolerate or don't want general anesthesia. With perks that include a shorter hospital stay and an easier recovery, awake spine surgery means more people can get the spine surgery they need.

Please stop taking all herbal remedies, aspirin, and anti-inflammatory medications (Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Naproxen, etc.) seven days prior to surgery unless otherwise instructed. However, it is okay to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) if something is needed for pain.

What should you not do a week before surgery? ›

Do not take herbal supplements, including vitamin E and Fish Oil, one week before surgery. Do not take anti-inflammatories (such as ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Daypro, Aleve, Naprosyn, naproxen, etc.) for five days prior to surgery, or as instructed by your surgeon. Do not shave the operative site for 48 hours prior.

A traditional spinal fusion surgery with general anesthesia takes about four hours and requires a hospital stay of three to four days as well as IV painkillers. The awake spine surgery takes half the time and typically has patients out of the hospital within 24 hours.

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) is a type of surgery on the bones of your spine (backbone). This type of surgery uses smaller incisions than standard surgery. This often causes less harm to nearby muscles and other tissues. It can lead to less pain and faster recovery after surgery.

No, there is no hard and fast age limit for spinal surgery. Because both elderly patients and young people can be afflicted with spinal issues, age is not the primary deciding factor in whether or not spinal surgery is an option.

Myth #3: Recovery from spine surgery is unbearably painful.

In general, pain is usually the worst during the first one to three days after the surgery. After that, it should begin to subside. You may feel some mild to moderate pain for up to six weeks after the surgery, but you should not feel severe pain.

Operating on the spine involves performing surgery near the spinal cord and nerve roots. Potentially, damage could occur to these structures, even damage severe enough as to lead to paralysis. However, severe side effects paralysis after back surgery is exceedingly rare, to the tune of 1 in tens of thousands.

Depending on the condition the surgery is treating, spinal fusion has a 70 to 90% success rate.

You don't need to fear being bed-ridden for weeks after spinal surgery, since it's of the utmost importance to your post-surgical recovery to get up very soon. Movement is critical to proper healing after spinal surgery, so you can expect to get out of bed the same day or the very next day after surgery.

The qualified answer to this question is yes, a person can walk again after suffering a spinal cord injury. This is possible because the spinal cord is capable of reorganizing itself and making adaptive changes through a process known as neuroplasticity.

How do you wipe after back surgery? ›

While wiping, bend from the knees rather than at the hips. A long- handled device may help to reach all areas. 4. The use of pre-moistened, flushable wipes is strongly recommended.

You might need to see a physical therapist for a few weeks to help you recover from surgery. They can show you some exercises that speed your healing and help prevent injuries. Walking is good, but go slow at first. Gradually pick up the pace and go a longer distance each time out.

A combination of narcotic medications, muscle relaxers, and anti-inflammation medications can provide better pain control. Anti-inflammatory medications are not used for any type of fusion surgery, however, such as an ACDF or lumbar fusion. Ice and cool therapies can reduce the postoperative pain and swelling.

What is Spinal Fusion Surgery? Spinal fusion is a major surgery and medical procedure used to treat back injuries. The surgery includes using rods and screws, and bone grafts to stabilize the spine. This surgery is usually a last resort after other treatments have been tried and failed.

The right way to sleep after back surgery

The best position to sleep in after spine surgery is lying flat on your back, placing a pillow below your knees or lying sideways with a pillow between your bent knees.

You will need an assistance device such as a walker or cane for the first week; however, you should strive to limit the use of this device after the first two to three weeks when you are on stable ground. By the end of the first month, you should be able to walk one mile without your assistance device.

Doctors recommend sleeping on your back or your side as you heal from spine surgery. Sleeping on your belly is generally not recommended because your spine is not in a neutral position for a prolonged period. Consider wearing satin pajamas to bed to help it make it easier for you to adjust your sleeping position.

It can take a few hours before the spinal anaesthetic wears off and normal feeling returns. As it wears off, you may feel a tingling sensation in the areas that were previously numb. It is important to ask for help from the ward nurse to help get out of bed when the spinal first wears off.

The prone position is often used for spine and neck surgeries, neurosurgery, colorectal surgeries, vascular surgeries, and tendon repairs.

Loose and comfortable clothes. Consider the type of spine surgery that you are having when choosing clothes to bring to the hospital. If your surgery requires you to wear a lumbar brace, we recommend a cotton T-shirt to wear under your brace and, if you would like, a comfortable shirt to wear over your lumbar brace.

What is the safest day to have surgery? ›

Avoid Weekend Surgeries

According to a British Medical Journal study, patients who underwent surgery on Fridays were 44% more likely to have complications than those who underwent surgery on a Monday.

Can I brush my teeth the morning of surgery? Yes. You may brush your teeth and swish with a small amount of water to rinse.

During the two weeks leading up to surgery, you should avoid eating fish or taking fish oil or omega-3 supplements. Omega-3 fats can interfere with blood clotting and increase bleeding during surgery. You should even avoid some spices for the same reason, including two common ones: garlic and ginger.

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. This includes water, coffee, gum, or mints. If you do, it may be necessary to cancel your surgery. Do not smoke or use chewing tobacco after midnight the night before your surgery.

Before surgery, you can play an important role in your health. Because skin is not sterile, you can reduce the number of germs on your skin by carefully washing before surgery. Please follow these instructions. IMPORTANT: You will need to shower with a special soap called chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG).

Pain and swelling: Incision pain and swelling are often worst on day 2 and 3 after surgery. The pain should slowly get better during the next 1 to 2 weeks. Mild itching is common as the incision heals.

The process of waking up from anesthesia is known as emergence. During emergence, the anesthesiologist will slowly reduce the amount of anesthetic drugs in the body. This helps to reduce the intensity of the effects of anesthesia and allows the patient to regain consciousness.

For your comfort, you will want to bring your own toiletries to the hospital. Also pack underwear and comfortable, loose pajamas or nightgowns. You will also need a robe (not floor length), and slippers or soft, low-heeled shoes with closed backs, such as sneakers, walking shoes, or loafers.

How do you know when it's time for spine surgery? ›

Some signs that indicate it's time to consider spine surgery can include: Pain that is persistent and progressive. If the pain caused by a back condition lingers beyond a few months and/or appears to be getting progressively worse. Numbness, tingling, weakness.

You may not be able to have minimally invasive spine surgery if you have extensive epidural scarring, an active infection, or severe osteoporosis.

Spinal decompression and fusion: It is the most common spine surgery performed in the U.S., and it's performed to take pressure off of “pinched” nerves and/or the spinal cord and to stabilize the spine.

Orthopedic Surgeons

Orthopedists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of almost all bone and joint disorders, such as: Spinal disorders.

One of the primary reasons why back surgery should be avoided is the risk. All surgeries carry the risk of infection, excessive bleeding, and nerve injury. Not to mention many people don't like being put under general anesthesia or that they may have to use potentially addictive pills to manage the pain after surgery.

Recovery time for spinal fusion surgery varies significantly from patient to patient, but the average spans between three and six months before the patient is back to their daily routine; working, traveling, and even exercising with more freedom and less pain than they could before the surgery.

DON'T takenonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This includes ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. “You should stop taking them a week before surgery,” Girardi says. They can thin your blood, which raises your risk of problems during surgery.

In preparing for back surgery, a patient can be taught to identify negative thinking and develop challenging or coping thoughts to counteract it (a method called "Stop-Challenge-Reframe"): Quickly identify the negative automatic thoughts when they occur. Challenge them through a self-questioning process.

You'll be encouraged to walk and move around the day after surgery and it's likely you'll be discharged 1 to 4 days afterwards. It will take about 4 to 6 weeks for you to reach your expected level of mobility and function (this will depend on the severity of your condition and symptoms before the operation).

What do I need at home after spinal surgery? ›

Spinal fusion surgery usually takes four to six hours, but the time varies according to the individual patient. The surgeons will take as long as they need to do the job well.

After surgery, pain and stiffness are common. Most patients experience a decrease in back pain immediately after the operation, but in some cases it may take longer. Numbness and tingling may be the slowest to resolve. Improvement in back pain and function can continue up to two years after spine fusion surgery.

If you are having outpatient surgery, you will remain in the recovery room for one to two hours. When you are ready to go home, you will be given discharge instructions and prescriptions. You MUST have someone to drive you home.

Do not do strenuous activities, like jogging or golfing; do not due household duties that put a strain on the back, like gardening and vacuuming. Attend all physical therapy sessions prescribed by the physician. Do not drive for the first two weeks after surgery, and then slowly build up driving time as necessary.

Spine surgery is a major undertaking, and rehabilitation is an important part of helping patients get the most possible benefit from their surgery. Essentially, rehabilitation (physical therapy, exercise) can help patients recover from spine surgery as quickly and completely as possible.

Arrange For Someone To Care For You

It's dangerous to try to heal on your own after surgery, and quite frankly, we strongly advise against it. If you live alone, please have a family member or friend take care of you during the first few days and weeks into your recovery. If no one is available, talk to Dr.

It's best to avoid lifting anything over ten pounds following surgery. In addition, avoid bending over at the waist and instead bend at the knees or squat when picking up light objects.