6 Ways to Prepare for a Spinal Surgery

There are different kinds of spinal surgeries that your surgeon can perform anywhere along your spine to relieve back pain and restore the normal function of limbs. The most common spinal fusion surgeries include cervical spine surgery and lower back or lumber spine surgery. As an orthopedic surgeon in Deland, we perform these surgeries each day so that people can live a pain-free lifestyle after trauma, illness, or injury. If you are preparing for spinal surgery, you will want to take a few steps to make the recovery period much easier for you and your caretakers.

Quit Smoking Before Surgery

If you are a smoker, then it is obligatory for you to quit smoking in advance to improve your odds of a successful fusion. Numerous studies and advanced research have demonstrated that smoking inhibits the ability of bones to fuse after spinal surgery. Moreover, smoking also slows down the wound-healing process. Therefore, you must quit smoking before having spinal surgery.

Prepare Medications List

You must ensure you have a complete list of all the supplements and prescriptions from your surgeon when you meet him near the surgery date. Many products, like aspirin, can interfere with your wound healing process. Therefore, you must consult your surgeon about the medication before the surgery date.

Eat Healthy and Fibrous Food

There are many mineral elements like vitamins and micronutrients that you must take to improve the wound healing process. You can improve the odds of good outcomes by having fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and plenty of fiber if you have fusion spinal surgery. Avoid fatty acid-rich food that causes constipation and slows down the healing process. You can also consult a dietician.

Avoid Climbing Up and Descending the Stairs

You must consult your surgeon about whether you should climb up and descend stairs in the days following your surgery. If he does not allow you to climb up and down the stairs, you must avoid it and shift your bed downstairs. This way, you will not have to bother climbing up and down the stairs, your wound-healing process will run faster, and you will be healthy in no time.

Have a Grabber

You must have a grabber when you cannot move easily following surgery. A grabber is a lightweight tool you can hold with its handle and walk easily. You can also use it to pick up dropped items like anything from the ground.

Get a Toilet Riser

Risers are used to lift the existing toilet seat, so you don't have to bend deeply through your hips, knees, and back to use the washroom. You will have convenience very much due to this facility, especially in the first few days of surgery.

Spinal surgery is an important and caring surgery that relieves your back pain. And if you are going for it, you must prepare before things proceed. By taking these steps, you can keep your orthopedic surgeon in Deland and your caretakers happy throughout the recovery process.

Contact Florida Bone and Joint to hear more about our specialties today!