Do's and Don'ts for a Successful Back Surgery Recovery

SUMMARY:  Know what to expect after your surgery. From hiring a spine surgeon in Adelaide to exercising, you need to know what can help you achieve a successful recovery.

Do's and Don'ts for a Successful Back Surgery Recovery

Recovery time depends on the type of surgery. Healing from a discectomy, for instance, takes six to eight weeks. For fusion surgery, though, a patient might take up to 12 weeks before they fully bounce back. Some procedures that are more involved might mean a recovery time of 12 weeks before the patient can fully heal. If you are getting ready for surgery, then here are some of the things you need to know for a successful recovery.

Choose the Right Doctor

An experienced spine surgeon in Adelaide will know what to do to ensure there are little to no complications from the surgery. Skills and expertise also mean that the surgeon can take extra measures to minimize the discomfort for the patient like trying to make the incisions as small as possible. That’s also a factor in reducing your recovery time.

Move Around

Recovering from the surgery doesn't mean that you’ll stay in bed or on the couch for weeks or months. You need to move around, too. One of the recommendations that your spine surgeon in Adelaide will make is to start moving around. By keeping your joints moving, you’ll keep your muscles from getting stiff and weak.

Take It Easy

Move around but don’t overdo it. You know your strength levels. You can exercise and still take it easy, for instance. Try low-impact exercises for that. Go slow and steady. That will contribute to a faster recovery.

Talk to Your Doctor

Ask questions before the surgery. If you have any worries or concerns, be sure to approach your surgeon about them. A competent and compassionate surgeon will take the time to go over those concerns and discuss them with you, so you move forward with the surgery with little to no worries. Learn more about how the procedure will go and what you need to do or what you can do to work on your post-op recovery.

Know the Cons

Your doctor should discuss both the pros and cons of the procedure. If the surgeon only focuses on the pros and seems to dismiss your questions or concerns, that’s a red flag. Keep looking for a surgeon until you find one that you can wholly trust.

Talk to a Therapist

You might need a physical therapist to help you with rehab after the surgery. That’s an important step. Delay in getting rehab can affect your long-term recovery. Make sure you think this far ahead. Once you start recovering from the recovery, you should already have plans in place to help you get started on your rehab.

Fix Your Home

Before the surgery, make arrangements so that you’ll be comfortable once you get home from the hospital. Your bedroom should be clean and if you need to minimize your movements, set aside a space in your room where you can put everything you need within easy reach. You’ll also need to have someone to stay with you while you recuperate, so you’ll have someone to assist you and keep you from getting into an accident.

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