هذه الصفحة غير متوفرة بالعربية بعد، وهي معروضة بالإنجليزية.
Helping someone you love through spine surgery
Short answer. Recovery from major spine surgery takes months, not days. Family members help most in three ways: getting the home ready before surgery, being there for the first two weeks at home, and knowing which warning signs need a call.
Before surgery
- Come to the pre-op visit if you can, with your questions written down.
- Keep one medication list you both carry, including supplements and blood thinners.
- Plan who is home and when. Most people need someone with them full-time for at least the first several days.
- Help with “prehab”: daily walking and stopping nicotine both make recovery easier. Keep any bone medication on schedule.
The hospital days
After adult deformity surgery a typical stay is about a week; in a large multicenter study the median was 7 days. With me, most patients stay 4 to 6 days. Expect getting up with therapists within the first day or two, a pain plan that moves from IV medicine to pills, and a team decision about going home or to rehab first. Hard days are common and don’t mean things are going badly.
Getting-home checklist
Print this and work through it before discharge day.
Home setup
- A clear walking path: no loose rugs, cords or clutter
- A firm chair with arms, hips at or above the knees
- Bed at a comfortable height; sleep on the first floor if stairs are hard
- Shower chair or tub bench, and a handheld shower head if possible
- Raised toilet seat or toilet safety frame
- Reacher, long-handled sponge, slip-on shoes
- Night lights from bed to bathroom
- Everyday items between waist and shoulder height
Supplies and paperwork
- All prescriptions filled before or on discharge day
- Written discharge instructions, and the practice number saved in both phones
- Follow-up appointment dates (the first visit is at about 3 weeks)
- Walker or other equipment, if prescribed
Ride home
- A car seat that reclines slightly; a pillow helps on bumps
Most patients need no brace; some need a neck brace or a brace that protects the top of the fusion. Showering is allowed from day 7. Blood-thinner injections usually continue for about 6 weeks.
The first 6 weeks at home
- Walking is the main job: short walks several times a day, building up gradually.
- Help with restricted movements. For 3 months: no bending, lifting or twisting, and nothing heavier than 10 lb.
- Stay ahead of pain and watch for constipation.
- Expect ups and downs: tiredness, low mood and poor sleep are common.
- Plan for driving. In one study of fusion to the pelvis, patients returned to driving at about 4 months on average.
When to call
Call the practice the same day
- Fever over 101°F (38.3°C), or wound redness, swelling or drainage
- Pain suddenly much worse, or not controlled
- New numbness or tingling in the legs
- No bowel movement for 4 days
Call 911
- Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath
- New leg weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control
- A fall with severe new pain
- Calf swelling or pain with shortness of breath
Taking care of yourself
Caregiving is tiring. Line up a backup person, accept offers of meals or errands, and keep your own appointments. If you’re struggling, tell the care team.
If your teen is the patient
- Plan a gradual return to school with the nurse and counselor; about three-quarters of adolescents are back within 3 months.
- Arrange a second set of books or a locker near class.
- Worry about appearance or missing activities is common; ask about counseling if it lasts.
More background: Scoliosis Research Society patient information srs.org.