HEALTH
What to Do After Being Injured From Back Surgery
Did you know that more than 500,000 lumbar spine surgeries are conducted each year across the United States of America? Back surgery is a big deal, and it’s important that you take all of the proper steps to work toward making a full recovery. The surgery itself may have caused you stress leading up to the big day, but it’s important to know how to proceed once you get home from the surgery.
Eating the wrong foods and performing the wrong actions could result in further injuries that occur after your surgery. It’s even possible that your back got further injured during surgery.
The good news is that you’ve found the right guide to use if you’re looking to make a full recovery from your back surgery. Keep reading to learn more today!
Use Proper Spine Care
You need to know the right ways to take care of your spine after you get home from your back surgery. Short walks are a great way to ease your body back into normal routines without putting too much stress on it. Look at increasing the distance that you walk each day to continue building up strength and endurance.
It’s a good idea to avoid engaging in activities that require you to bend or twist your spine. You should also avoid lifting anything that weighs more than five pounds for the first few days after your surgery.
If your spinal fusion isn’t healing well then it’s possible that you’re a victim of medical malpractice, and you should consider hiring a malpractice lawyer. You can contact this medical malpractice lawyers to get the help that you need.
Manage Your Pain
Odds are that you will experience some pain after the surgery is over. It’s a good idea to take the medicines that your doctor has prescribed for post-op so that you can manage the pain during the recovery process. Make sure that you stay up-to-date on when you need to refill these pills so that you’re not suffering after the back surgery.
If the pain medications that your doctor prescribed aren’t getting the job done then you should call the doctor and relay that information. Never take more medication than the specified daily dose as this could result in negative effects on your health.
Gentle exercise, gentle massages, and warm compresses are great ways that you can manage the pain without the use of drugs. Avoid placing pressure on any unhealed incisions, but don’t be afraid to put a warm compress on your back after back surgery.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet is important if you want to make a full recovery after your surgery. Try to eat a diet that is low in fat and that includes plenty of fresh vegetables and fish in it. You will need to make the most of the nutrients that you’re providing to your body through the foods that you consume.
You need to remember that you will be more sedentary during the recovery process after surgery. This is especially true if you’re suffering from medical malpractice and you’re getting help from a malpractice lawyer for your settlement. Eating foods that are high in calories and fat could result in weight gain, which will make the recovery process even more difficult.
Lay in Bed the Right Way
Your doctor will give you instructions on the best ways to relax or lay in bed, and you need to stick with those instructions if you want your back to heal the right way. Laying the correct way is essential because getting quality sleep will speed up your recovery process.
It’s a good idea to ask your surgeon for advice on how to get into and out of bed if you want to avoid aggravating the site of the surgery. A good rule of thumb is to sleep on your back with your upper half slightly elevated using pillows.
You should also place a pillow under the back of your knees so that your hips and knees stay slightly bent while you’re asleep. The best way to get out of bed is to keep your knees together and roll out of your sleeping position and to the edge of the bed.
Ask For Help
It’s important that you’re not afraid to ask for help when you get back surgery. The recovery process is lengthy and complex, and you need to be ready to ask friends and loved ones for help for a few weeks after the surgery is complete. If you’re not healing the right way then it also makes sense to ask for help if you decide to sue for injuries that resulted from malpractice.
Make sure that you have a malpractice lawyer ready to go in the event that your life is altered due to mistakes during surgery. It’s also a good idea to make a list of chores ahead of time that you’ll need help with, like taking care of pets and handling the laundry.
Use Physical Therapy
After you’re further along in the healing process, it’s an excellent idea to consider going to physical therapy. PT might begin as soon as you leave the outpatient surgery center. Some patients head straight from the surgery to a physical therapy clinic to get started on the road to recovery.
This is the best route to take if you want to regain the full function of your body. You will build more strength and endurance while also taking the time to stretch your back. Don’t skip this important part of recovering from back surgery.
Stay Prepared for Your Back Surgery Today
Getting back surgery is daunting, and you run the risk of getting injured during the surgery. It’s important that you’re ready to ask for help with certain tasks after the surgery, especially if you need to hire a malpractice lawyer to help you take your case to court. You should also proceed with physical therapy to speed up your recovery process after your back surgery. Check out the rest of our blog page if you’re hoping to find more encouraging and thoughtful articles like this!
Kenneth is a proud native of sydney, born and raised there. However, he pursued his education abroad and studied in Australia. Kenneth has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, making valuable contributions to prominent publications such as Yahoo News and The Verge. Currently, he serves as a journalist for The Hear Up, where he focuses on covering climate and science news. You can reach Kenneth at [email protected].
