In order to ease your nerves about the procedure, it’s best to be as prepared as possible. Keep reading to learn more about how to prepare for back surgery.

While these tips will be beneficial for the most common back procedures, please keep in mind that there are many different types of back surgeries, each with a varying degree of severity.

Prepare Your Home

Because your mobility will be limited after the surgery, it’s best to arrange your home in a manner that can be navigated easily. Place items that you’ll need frequently, such as the phone and TV remote, in a place that’s easy to reach. You may even want to set up a bed in an easily accessible area in the home so you don’t have to travel too far to get to your bedroom.

Meals

Be sure to prepare meals before the surgery so you’ll have enough food to eat during your recovery. Make easy-to-eat meals, and remember that a healthy, nutritious diet helps your body to heal. It’s a good idea to remove any items from your kitchen cabinets that you’ll need easy access to. Also, you may want to consider using paper plates and cups during your recovery to make any clean-up as quick and easy as possible.

Contact a Friend

Ask a friend or family member if they would be willing to transport you to and from the surgery. It would also be very helpful if they could be available, and possibly even stay with you for a few days, while you recover in case you need anything.

Exercise Before Surgery

Excess weight can cause stress on your spine and make recovery more difficult. If you are overweight, try to exercise regularly before undergoing surgery. Discuss a fitness plan with your doctor and your overall health will benefit.

Talk to Your Doctor

Make sure you fully understand what you’ll need to do in the days leading up to the surgery. Your doctor may have special instructions for you to follow, and you may need to stop taking certain types of medication. He or she should also explain what will happen during the day of surgery so you can feel comfortable and understand the process.

You may be apprehensive about undergoing back surgery, but you need to remember that it will help you live a better life without pain and suffering. Keep these tips in mind before your procedure and you’ll go into the surgery feeling much more confident and prepared.

If you’re in need of back surgery, click here to download our e-book, The Patient’s Manual to Spine and Back Surgery.

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The three main types of back surgery include spinal fusion, laminectomy, and discectomy. These surgical procedures can be very effective in correcting the problems causing your pain.

If you believe back surgery could be the right choice for you, learn more about your options and discuss them with your physician. He or she will be able to determine the best option for your specific situation.

Spinal Fusion

This is the most common surgery for back pain. When someone is suffering from back pain, it’s typically triggered when the joint is in motion. During a spinal fusion procedure, the surgeon will fuse bones of the spine, or vertebrae, together to stop the motion from occurring. When the vertebrae are fused, the joint can’t move, and the pain is alleviated.

While this method is effective in reducing pain, it can’t be performed on multiple areas of the spine. The spine provides motion to the body, so if there are multiple vertebrae that have been fused together, the limited motion will be a problem and could even lead to additional pain.

Laminectomy

During a laminectomy, the surgeon will remove the lamina, which is a part of the bone that makes up the vertebrae in your spine. Bone spurs or ligaments in the back may also be removed during this procedure. By removing these bones, bone spurs, or ligaments, extra room is created in the spinal column. With this extra room, the pressure that was being placed on the spinal nerve is eliminated, and the patient no longer has to deal with pain or weakness.

In some cases, a large portion of bone must be removed which can cause instability of the spine. When this happens, a spinal fusion may be necessary.

This surgery is ideal for patients who are dealing with severe, chronic pain or loss of function due to bone spurs. Results typically last for years, although it is possible for bone spurs to return.

Discectomy

If you’re dealing with a herniated disc, you may be eligible for a discectomy. These discs in the spine act as shock absorbers and provide cushioning in between the vertebrae. However, when one of these discs slips out of place or bulges and becomes herniated, it can put intense pressure on the spinal nerve and cause back pain. To treat this pain, a surgeon will remove all or part of the disc.

There is little chance that a herniated disc will occur again in this location because most of the disc will have been removed.

For more information on spine and back surgery, download our e-book, The Patient’s Manual to Spine and Back Surgery. This educational guide will answer any questions you have about spinal injuries and surgical procedures to help you be as informed and prepared as possible.

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