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| Back Pain |
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| Surgery
For Back Pain |
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Most people do not
need surgery for back pain. |
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If surgery is needed,
your doctor will explain the benefits and risks to you. |
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The purpose for
you to go for spinal surgery is to relieve your symptoms like
pain and numbness. |
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During surgery,
your doctor may remove all or part of the "problems"
that is causing the pain. |
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| Back Care After Surgery |
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| Your doctor and nurse will go through the following
information with you. These information will help you to take care
of yourself after surgery |
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Activity: |
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Do not twist
your waist and back. Instead, turn around with your entire
body and feet. |
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Do not bend
at your waist. Keep your back straight and bend your knees.
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Do not lift
heavy loads of more than 5kg or 10-15 pounds. |
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Do not sit
or stand in one position for more than 30 minutes. |
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As you recover,
you can slowly increase your activity level. You can climb
stairs if able. Take a few short walks each day, increase
your walking time as you recover. |
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If you feel
more pain than usual after an activity, you may have overdone
it. Take it easy for a few hours. |
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If a corset
is prescribed, always put it on when you are up and about.
You can remove it when sleeping. |
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Wound care: |
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Keep your wound dressing
clean and dry. You can continue to shower as a waterproof
dressing will protect your wound. |
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Diet and Medications: |
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There are no
special diet restrictions unless instructed by your doctor. |
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Take medications as prescribed
by your doctor. |
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Home environment: |
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You should
sleep on a bed with a firm base. |
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You should also sit on
chair with firm base and back support. Dining chairs with
armrests are recommended. |
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Please see your doctor if you
have any of the following symptoms: |
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Increased swelling,
redness or drainage at the wound. |
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High fever (more than 38°C). |
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A sudden increase in pain. |
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Increased numbness or weakness
in your arms and legs. |
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Recovery at Home |
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You will be able to resume
your daily activities with minimal help at home. |
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Avoid doing anything that
may injure your back. |
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Do not drive, lift heavy
objects or return to work without your doctor’s approval. |
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You may need to wear your
brace or lumbar corset for 1 to 2 months. |
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Always maintain a good
posture when you walk and sit to reduce stress on your
back. |
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| It is important to understand that you will always
be prone to develop back pain if excessive loads are placed on the
spine. Thus, whether you have surgery or not, it is good to continue
to take good care of your posture in all activities and perform regular
exercises to strengthen your back muscles |
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