Spine Surgery Under Insurance 100% Cashless

Foods To Avoid During Recovery

Some foods that you should avoid after spine surgery include the following:

1. Full-Fat Dairy Products- You should add some dairy products to your diet after spine surgery. However, cut back on full-fat dairy products like sour cream and ice cream because they cause constipation, especially when you mix them with painkillers.
2. Dehydrated or Dried Foods- Your stomach will be sensitive after surgery, and you may not be able to digest dried or dehydrated foods as much as you usually can. Therefore, avoid eating dried fruits, beef jerky, and some potato chip varieties. 
3. Red Meat- After surgery, avoid red meat as it is high in saturated fat. Saturated fats can activate digestive issues and constipation, and this can make your recovery process miserable. Red meat includes beef, lamb, and pork.

Exercises To Do After Spine Surgery

Regular exercise to restore the strength of your back and gradually return to everyday activities is essential for full recovery after spine surgery. Your orthopedic surgeon may suggest you exercise for 20 to 30 minutes, 1 to 3 times daily, during your early recovery. In addition, they may suggest some of the exercises shown below.

• Seated hamstring stretch- It is essential to stretch the hamstring muscles ( muscles innervated by the sciatic nerve that descends from the lumbar spine) to prevent the formation of adhesions or nerve scarring after spine surgery. 
• Knee-to-chest stretch- Knee-to-chest stretches are important as they help elongate your spine and reduce lower back pain after your spine surgery.
• Pelvic tilt- A pelvic tilt involves lying on your back on the floor with your knees bent and pulling the belly in towards the spine. This position is the basis for keeping the lumbar spine stable.
• Rotational stretch- Rotational stretches are gentle spinal twists that strengthen the core muscles and reduce tension in your spine.
• Bridge- Bridge exercises strengthen your back, buttocks, and hamstring muscles to support your spine after surgery.
• Chin-to-chest stretch- The chin-to-chest stretch can be performed while sitting at a desk. It releases tension in the upper back, and it is great for anyone who works at a computer. 
• Bird-dog- The bird-dog exercises the back extensor muscles, allowing a person to bend, stand, and lift objects after surgery.
• Plank- The plank exercise primarily engages the abdominals, arms, shoulders, hip flexors, and feet, making it a perfect full-body stability exercise. Plank may also activate the back extensor muscles and the quadratus lumborum, the deepest back muscle. It extends from the lowest rib to the pelvic bone.
• Abdominal drawing-in maneuver- Strong abdominal muscles help support the spine and keep the hips properly aligned. Conversely, weak abdominal muscles can lead to poor core strength, which can cause lower back pain. The transversus abdominis (TA) is an abdominal muscle that helps stabilize the spine. The abdominal drawing-in maneuver is an exercise that can help strengthen the TA.
• Abdominal crunches- Abdominal crunches help develop a strong core that provides better hip alignment and spinal support.

Medications To Take During Recovery

Intravenous medications are often used during and immediately after spine surgery to relieve pain. While the specific combination of medications varies based on the type of spine surgery involved, there are commonly prescribed medications advised for any patient following spine surgery. It includes:

• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs are often advised for pain relief following spine surgery as they help reduce swelling and soreness. For major spine procedures, like fusion surgery, NSAIDs like Motrin IB are often combined with opioid pain relievers. NSAIDs alone aren’t effective for moderate-to-severe pain.

• Opioid Analgesics

Oral opioids are effective for severe pain, with side effects including nausea and drowsiness. Due to the chance of developing an addiction from prolonged use, patients are suggested to stop taking opioids as soon as their pain improves.

• Tramadol

Technically considered an opioid, Tramadol is unique because it helps manage post-surgery pain differently. It works by modifying how the body senses pain signals sent from the spine’s nerves to the brain. While effective on its own in treating pain after spine surgery, it is often combined with acetaminophen or NSAIDs.

• Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen helps the body absorb opioids, reducing the risk of dependency on opioid painkillers. However, precautions should be taken to avoid certain OTC pain medications, like sleep aids and cold medications, containing acetaminophen to avoid an acetaminophen overdose.

• Corticosteroid Injections

If NSAIDs don’t relieve pain after spine surgery, your doctor may advise an injection of corticosteroids, which reduce swelling, and a local anesthetic, which relieves pain, into the spinal canal. In some people, the injection can relieve pain for weeks, months, or even years. 

You may feel tenderness at the injection site for a day or two. Doctors generally recommend limiting spinal injections to no more than three per year.

• Neuroleptics

Neuroleptic medicines stabilize overactive cells in the spinal cord called neurons to reduce back pain associated with nerve compression. Your doctor decides how long you take these medications based on the severity of your back pain and their effectiveness in relieving your symptoms.

• Muscle Relaxants

Your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants to help ease pain and reduce muscle spasms, which can happen when muscles are bruised, moved, or cut during spine surgery.