Spine Surgery What to Expect

[Music] hello i'm dr david stockwell a neurosurgeon at iu health when we plan a spine surgery our goal is to improve your mobility and pain control while helping you get back to a lifestyle you will enjoy we provide many different types of spine surgery from simple procedures to complex fusions in this video i will explain what to expect from spine surgery at iu health two weeks prior to your surgery your doctor will have you complete pre-admission testing to make sure you are medically cleared for surgery you will also be advised on how to make your home a clutter-free environment to avoid the risk of falls when you return following surgery the day before your procedure you will receive a call from your doctor's office to go over your pre-surgery instructions do not eat or drink anything 12 hours prior to surgery including water coffee gum or mints only take medications your doctor has approved and take them with small sips of water follow your doctor's instructions for sterile bathing on the day of your surgery please arrive two hours prior to the procedure once you check in you will be sent to the surgical assessment area to change into your hospital gown and begin preparations for the surgery this includes having an iv placed signing consent forms meeting your anesthesiologist drawing any pre-op labs and discussing any last-minute questions with your surgeon your incision site will also be marked and you will be placed under anesthesia for your procedure once your surgery is complete your surgeon will visit your family in the waiting area to update them on how your procedure went if you are having an outpatient surgery you will return home once you have recovered from the anesthetic if you are having an inpatient procedure you will stay in your hospital room three to five days and possibly up to a week patients with longer or more complex surgeries will go directly from the operating room to the neurocritical care unit after surgery you will be assessed by the physical and occupational therapist to work on mobilization together you will determine safe discharge plans whether that is to your home a rehabilitation facility or nursing facility our case managers and social workers will help arrange any home needs or facility referrals you will receive instructions on medications to help with pain and prevent blood clots while it's reasonable to expect some pain after undergoing spine surgery we have methods for keeping your pain under control and managing any side effects from pain medications such as nausea and constipation it's important that you communicate your pain levels and needs honestly and accurately so we can help you manage your pain during recovery your doctor will explain your rehabilitation plan and activity restrictions following surgery after care instructions will include information on how to move when to take medication how to care for your incision and how to bathe if you do not need to be transferred to a rehabilitation facility we recommend that you return home to recover from your spine surgery most people heal better at home sleeping in their own beds eating their own food and planning a walking routine for exercise we hope your recovery goes smoothly but if you have medical concerns you may need to call us contact your surgeon immediately if you're having pain swelling or redness in your arm or leg it could indicate something serious such as a blood clot if your pain increases or isn't helped with pain medicine if your incision opens cover it with a clean dressing and call the doctor if you experience worsening nausea or vomiting if you have a fever over 101.5 degrees it's rare but if your symptoms include chest pain trouble breathing a racing heartbeat or you feel like you may faint go to the emergency room or call 911. please contact your doctor's office with any questions we hope that your spine surgery helps you get back to activities you enjoy and we look forward to serving you

Channel: IU Health

Views: 99,815

Keywords: neck surgery, scoliosis, iu health, microdiscectomy, spine surgery, spinal stenosis, neurosurgery, laminectomy, iuh_youtube, herniated disc, spinal fusion

Id: kt7HfElEHuk

Length: 4min 7sec (247 seconds)

Published: Mon Aug 10 2020