If you’ve been diagnosed by a physician with a lower back condition that requires you to have spine surgery in Plano, TX, you’re probably more than a little concerned about the procedure and the recovery from it. Gathering as much information as possible is the best thing that you can do to ease your anxiety. Talk to your surgeon about the results you can expect from surgery and any complications that might occur and ask how to prepare yourself for surgery and for the post-surgical recovery period. Here are some things she may tell you:
▸ Before Surgery
Your surgeon may ask you to have a medical checkup by your primary care physician to ensure that you’re in good enough health for surgery. She will likely tell you to stop taking certain medications, like aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, as these can cause excess blood loss during and after surgery and they may also interfere with the effects of anesthesia. She may also advise you to stop smoking as it can put you at a high risk of serious post-surgical complications. Because you’ll have difficulty moving comfortably after surgery, you should make sure that someone can come to your home to help you with activities like housecleaning, laundry and shopping.
▸ After Surgery
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To keep your spine in proper alignment during the healing process, you’ll be taught how to move, sit, bend, stand and walk and how to reposition yourself in bed without twisting your back. Upon discharge, you may be sent home with a back brace or cast. Though the likelihood of complications after back surgery is low, you are still at risk in the days or even weeks after surgery. You’ll be given a list of warning signs to watch for that could indicate you’re having a serious complication like a blood clot, heart attack, stroke or