Preparing For Spinal Surgery? 4 Steps That Will Help You During Your Recovery Period

If you're going in for spinal surgery, you're going to be out of commission for a while. You should expect to spend at least a few days in the hospital. Once you come home, you're not going to be able to get back to your normal routine for quite some time. Your doctor will give you a complete list of post-surgical instructions that you should follow. In addition to those instructions, here are some tips that will help you have an easier recovery period.

Find Things to Do While resting

You're going to be spending a good deal of time in bed, or on the couch while you're recovering. Make sure you've planned for the occasional bout of boredom. Before you head to the hospital for surgery, take the time to gather some things you'll be able to do while recuperating. If you like watching movies, stack your favorite DVDs on your nightstand so you can watch them from your computer. If you don't want to deal with DVDs, make sure your computer is set up to stream your favorite movies.

Organize Your Medications

After your surgery, you're probably going to be taking several different medications. If you've never been on a medication regimen, it can get confusing – especially if your medications are all on different schedules. Before your surgery, pick up a pill organizer. Once you get home from the hospital, use your organizer to sort your medications according to each individual schedule. This will ensure that you're getting your medication at the appropriate times.

Eat a High-Fiber Diet

After surgery, you may experience some constipation. Unfortunately, straining to have a bowel movement can increase the pain you're experiencing. While you're recovering from surgery, be sure to increase the amount of fiber you get in your diet. Eating a high-fiber diet and increasing your water consumption will help alleviate the constipation. If constipation becomes a serious problem during your recovery, be sure to talk to your doctor about laxatives, or stool softeners.

Modify the Bathroom

While you're recovering from spinal surgery, the bathroom may be difficult to navigate. This is particularly true when it comes to the toilet and the shower. To make it easier to use the toilet, make sure you place a toilet riser on the seat. This will elevate the seat several inches, which will make it easier for you to sit down on and stand up from the toilet. To make shower time easier, have a shower chair brought in. This will allow you to sit down while you shower.

Don't wait until after your spinal surgery to plan for your recovery. Use the tips provided here to ensure a safe and comfortable recovery period. Be sure to follow the instructions provided by your doctor. To find out more, speak with a business like Town Center Orthopaedic Associates, P.C.