Post-surgery care and rehabilitation

A nurse will check your circulation (blood flow) and movement of your legs and feet. You may be given a spirometer (a tool to help measure breathing) to expand your lungs (breathing organs) and to help stop pneumonia, a serious lung illness.  

Surgical tape, sutures or tape may be used to close your incision (where the doctor made cuts during surgery). Bandages may be removed and changed. An ice pack or cooling pad may be used to help lessen swelling. You may have IV fluids the first day or two.

You may be given antibiotics through your IV to help stop infection. Pain medication may also be given to help lessen any discomfort. Tell your nurse if you're uncomfortable due to pain. It's important to closely watch your pain levels to help with healing. 

Everyone responds differently to the medicine given during and after surgery. Your doctor will decide what you should be eating or drinking after surgery. Usually, you will start with clear fluids before you're given more solid food. 

Your physical therapist (PT) will work with you to begin moving safely. Usually we will start slowly with you moving in bed and then sitting. If that goes well, soon you'll try standing and walking.

At first, you may need to use a walking aid for support. Your PT may suggest movement to help with soreness and to help with circulation. 

You may need to have your blood checked if you doctor has you taking blood thinner medications. These tests are needed to closely watch how the medications are working in your blood. 

Your IV line may be removed. If you have a urinary catheter (a tube used for getting fluids out of the body), that may also be removed. You'll probably keep on using the spirometer to help stop pneumonia. Your wound bandage may be changed or removed. 

It's natural to feel some pain the first few days after surgery. Pain can usually be treated with medication, so be sure to say something to your nurse or doctor. At this stage, you may be switched to medications taken by mouth, rather than IV.

It's important to keep doing the activities that your doctor or PT asked you to do. This will help improve how well you move and keep your muscles from getting sore and tight. 

Ice packs may be used before and after your treatments to lessen swelling and pain. With help from your PT, you'll slowly be able to walk more to help you prepare for going home. 

Your wound bandage will be changed or removed. 

We'll ask you to focus on safety while moving. The goal is for you to be independent. It's important to keep doing your deep breathing and physical movement. This will help you heal faster.

You'll be able to return home when your doctor thinks you're stable. You may be asked to limit how much you do every day while your body heals. It's important to do everything your PT and doctor have asked of you.

People often report feeling better shortly after spine surgery. To keep on feeling better and healing, it's important to take part in a rehabilitation program. When you leave the hospital to go home, you may be asked to do some or all of the following:

Ice and heat

Cold treatments in the first few days after surgery are helpful. Cold makes the blood vessels get smaller and slows blood flow. This helps lessen swelling, muscle spasms or tightening and pain. 

Heat may be suggested to improve blood flow. Increased blood flow helps with healing and flushing away chemicals that cause pain in the body.

Relax

Pain after surgery can be tiring physically and emotionally. You may be given guidelines for breathing exercises to help you with pain and stress. These breathing exercises will help you get more air deep into your lungs and will help you heal.

Slower breathing helps muscles relax by bringing oxygen to sore tissues. It’s also important to rest so your body can heal faster. Your PT and doctor will also give you guidelines for the best ways to move your body safely while you heal. 

Outpatient therapy

Your doctor may prescribe outpatient rehabilitation once you have stabilized. Your recovery from spine surgery can be improved by learning new ways to strengthen your spine and stop future problems.

Your PT will teach you ways to reduce your pain and learn new habits to keep your spine healthy.