POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE HAD SPINE SURGERY

Dressing: Please keep your dressing as clean as possible. If you have had your coccyx removed, it will be necessary to wipe from back to front after urinating and bowel movements. This is necessary to avoid possible contamination of your dressing.

Wounds: The wound is closed using stitches. Also, there may be tape strips across your incision. These strips and dressing are changed as needed at your postoperative visit.

Activity: Limit your activities over the first 2-3 days following your surgery. You may walk for short periods the first day post op. Slowly increase both distance and duration of the walk. Do not drive until instructed by your physician. Avoid heavy lifting, straining or strenuous activities. Avoid any activity that involves stooping, bending or twisting. Avoid sitting in a straight back chair for more than 15 minutes at a time. Wear your TED stockings for 10 days or until you resume your pre op normal level of activity. Your TED's may be removed for brief periods while up. Use lumbar sacral support for all out of bed activities (does not apply to coccyx surgery).

Resting and Sleeping Position: The best position for sleeping or resting is on your side, knees bent, and small pillow between your knees. Lie on the most comfortable side, or the unaffected side. If you sleep on your back, make sure your knees remain bent with a pillow under your knees. Avoid sleeping on your stomach.

Exercises: Use proper body mechanics when engaged in any activity. For example, keep your spine straight and use your legs when getting up and down from a chair. Proper body mechanics include these three basic rules for all activities:

• Stomach in
• Knees bent
• Back straight

Bathing: You may shower after 2 days with your dressing on. Apply a new dressing after showering. Keep a dressing on your incision until your follow up visit. You will need to change the dressing every 2 - 3 days.

Pain: Upon discharge from the Orthopedic Surgery Center you should have a prescription for pain medication. Please take the pain medication with food. Follow the guidelines in the pain management protocol for using your medication or as directed by your physician. Do not drink alcoholic beverages or drive if your are using pain medications. It is not uncommon to experience muscle spasm and soreness at the affected spinal level and at the incision site. This should diminish within the first two weeks. Leg pain and/or numbness will decrease with time, but the nerve root may be irritated from prolonged pressure so it will take time for the inflammation/irritation to subside. You can apply ice for 20 minutes at a time, up to 3 times a day, especially for the first 24 hours. After the first 48 hours, a heating pad may be comfort to you.

Diet: Start off with light meals and progress as tolerated. Carbohydrates will generally have a lower incidence of nausea and vomiting.

Precautions: If you develop a fever (temperature greater than 101 F or 38.3 C) or chills, or any undue symptoms such as unexpected pain, redness, swelling in your legs, rash, blisters, numbness, tingling, itching, hives or shortness of breath, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Problems following this type of surgery have been minimal; however, if you have a problem or questions, do not hesitate to call the office. The answering service will handle your call to the office after hours or on the weekend, and one of the Orthopedic Associates physicians will return your call.