Recovery tips for Spinal Surgery

The lumbar spinal fusion surgery is quite a major surgery from which the patients need ample time to recover from. The first time you will be going home, you will feel very tired and run down. This is quite common. You should avoid sitting, standing or lying down for long periods of time. Instead you should shift your position pretty frequently. The amount of physical activity should be gradually increased to get accustomed to the normal day to day life. You can start by going on short walks, but remember to cease the extra exertion on your body in case the pain increases dramatically. Some major tips which you can use when you are recovering from spinal fusion surgery are:

During the recovery period the patients must at all costs avoid lifting heavy objects, bending over or twisting the body. The daily chores such as cooking and washing dishes also require a fair amount of lifting and bending over which can put pressure on the operated area. This might cause damage to the back and cause pain. So, it might be a good idea to get a helping hand, which will do these minor jobs for you during this time.

The main motive of the surgery is to remove the cause of the pain. That doesn’t necessarily mean that your pain will instantaneously disappear after the surgery. You will be recommended some pain medication by your doctor. You should not consume any form of alcohol or drive any vehicle in case a narcotic is prescribed.

You should be very careful around the site of surgery. It is necessary to check the site of incision twice a day for any signs of infection. To prevent infection the incision site must be kept clean and dry at l times. Wash it daily to remove dirt and germs.