Conservative treatments, including medication and physical therapy, are usually enough to relieve back pain. However, if symptoms don’t improve with non-surgical treatments, you may discuss the possibility of surgery with your doctor. Spinal fusion is one of the common back surgeries that can help relieve pain and restore limb function. Your surgeon can perform spinal fusion anywhere along the spine, but the most common fusion surgeries include lumbar fusion Bethlehem and cervical fusion. Lumbar fusion is surgery in the lower back, while cervical fusion involves the neck.
Preparing for surgery can be nerve-wracking, but you can ensure a seamless recovery by doing the following.
Quit smoking
If you smoke, it is vital to quit well, at least a month before your lumbar fusion surgery. Quitting smoking improves your odds of a successful fusion procedure, and the reverse is also true. When you smoke, you substantially interfere with your bone’s ability to fuse after lumbar fusion, meaning you are likely to experience pain even after surgery. Smoking also elevates your risk of postoperative complications, including infection and poor wound healing. For this reason, quitting smoking before and after surgery is best to ensure a successful surgery and lower your risk of complications.
If you have trouble quitting, you can ask your healthcare provider for resources or connect to your state’s quit line.
Review your medications and supplements
During the appointment with your surgeon near the surgery date, provide a complete list of all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you regularly take. Don’t forget to include minerals, vitamins, and herbal supplements you may be using. Many of these products can cause problems during surgery and interfere with healing after surgery. For example, medications like aspirin have blood thinning properties, increasing your risk of excessive bleeding. Your doctor will review all your medications and advise you on the ones you can safely continue and which ones to stop.
Eat healthy foods
Your body needs enough vitamins and micronutrients to facilitate the healing process after lumbar fusion. Consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables improves your odds of good results after surgery; don’t forget to eat lean proteins and fiber-rich foods. Avoid fatty and processed foods that cause constipation since prescription pain relievers can slow the gut. Your doctor may recommend taking fiber supplements or stool softeners after surgery to keep your bowels regular.
Move your bed downstairs.
You may not be in a position to climb and descend stairs for several days after your surgery. Therefore, consider preparing an area on the ground floor of your home such that you don’t need to use the staircase. The first 24 hours and a few days after surgery are crucial for healing, so you want to involve in minimal movements. Going up and down the stairs exceeds the activity levels your surgeon prescribes for the first weeks after surgery. It also puts you at risk of a fall that could jeopardize your surgical outcome.
Enlist the help of a friend or family members
Your activity level is limited after surgery, so it is best to have someone to help you around the home. Inform your family and friends that you will need help so they can be on call whenever you need them.
Consult your surgeon at Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center to learn more about the preparation tips for lumbar fusion.
