What to Expect

You’ve had spine surgery, a step toward the goals of decreasing back and leg pain, improving the ability to stand and walk, and stopping symptoms of nerve compression from getting worse. Now it’s time to focus on healing. By following these tips, you will set yourself up for a successful outcome after surgery.

Top Things to Know

• A moderate or increased amount of back pain is expected after surgery. This will get better over the next four to six weeks.
• Leg pain usually gets better after surgery, but may not be completely gone. Numbness, tingling and weakness take longer to get better after surgery. This is normal.

Pain and Weakness

• Back pain and muscle spasms are normal after surgery. These should get better over the next few weeks.
• Numbness, tingling and weakness that you had before surgery may take time to improve.

Taking Care of Your Incision

• Your incision may bleed, and your dressing may get saturated with blood. This is normal. Change your dressing as often as needed to keep the incision clean and dry.
• If your incision has no bleeding or drainage, you can take your dressing off one to two days after surgery, but always keep the incision area clean and dry.
• If you have skin glue or tape on your incision, try to leave it in place for the first two weeks.

Showering

• You can take a shower three days after surgery, once the incision is closed and doesn’t have drainage. Let gentle soap and water run over the incision. Do not scrub it. Pat dry with a clean towel.
• Avoid taking tub baths, swimming and going in hot tubs until the incision is completely healed (four to six weeks).

Taking Medication

• You may take anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) to help relieve pain. NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), meloxicam (Mobic), Celebrex and diclofenac. If you have kidney or heart disease, stomach ulcers or you take blood thinners, check with your primary care provider before taking NSAIDs.
• If you need refills on your prescriptions, you may make a request through your MyNortonChart account or contact our office at least two days before you are out of pills so we have sufficient time to process your request. Refill requests on Friday afternoons and holidays likely will be addressed on the next business day.
• Start weaning yourself from pain medications as soon as you are able. Remember, pain is a natural part of the healing process. The goal is not to eliminate all pain but to keep you comfortable as you heal. Pain medications should be used only for a short period of time.
• Before taking Tylenol (acetaminophen), be aware that your pain medication probably has acetaminophen in it. Taking additional Tylenol or acetaminophen can put you over the daily recommended 3,000 milligrams, which can harm your liver.
• If you are taking a muscle relaxer, one of the side effects is drowsiness. If you feel too drowsy to safely get up and move around, take the muscle relaxer less often.

Be Active, but No Lifting

• We want you to be active as soon as you get home from the hospital. Get up and walk often.
• If you go up and down stairs, make sure you hold onto the railing and have someone with you.
• Avoid excessive bending and twisting your neck, and do not lift anything over 10 pounds until your surgeon says it’s OK.

And No Driving

• You cannot drive until you are no longer taking narcotic pain medications or muscle relaxers and you can move well enough to be safe behind the wheel.
• Most patients can begin driving after the first postoperative appointment. Your surgeon will let you know when you can start driving.

Eating

• Ice and Popsicles can help relieve a sore throat.
• Eat soft foods that are easy to swallow. Take small bites and chew your food well. You can begin eating other foods gradually as you start to feel better.

Constipation and Bloating

• Constipation is a common side effect of taking narcotic pain medication and a good reason to begin tapering yourself off of pain medication as soon as you can.
• Drink lots of fluids, be active and eat foods high in fiber to help relieve constipation.
• If constipation is bothering you, a stool softener or laxative may help. Try one of the following, and always follow the instructions: Milk of Magnesia, MiraLAX, Dulcolax suppository, Fleet enema, magnesium citrate.

Follow Up With Your Primary Care Provider

• If you have any health concerns, see your primary care provider within one week after surgery, especially if you have any of the following:
  • Heart disease or have had a stroke
  • Lung disease
  • Diabetes
  • Are over age 65
  • Take a blood thinner
  • Take more than 10 prescription medications

When Is It an Emergency?

• If you have any of the following symptoms, call 911 or go to an emergency room right away:
• Trouble breathing
• Chest pain
• Significant new weakness since your surgery

If you have any other concerns, call our office at (502) 584-7525. In most cases we can help you or get you an appointment quickly.

About Norton Leatherman Spine

Norton Leatherman Spine is a combined team of orthopedic spine surgeons, neurosurgeons and pain management specialists who provide care for adults and children from Louisville and Southern Indiana, as well as from across the region, nation and world.

• A multidisciplinary team of 45 specialists offers a comprehensive array of treatment options that include medication, pain management, rehabilitation and surgery, including minimally invasive procedures and neurosurgical therapies.
• Norton Leatherman Spine physicians are widely renowned and exceptionally experienced, performing more than 4,000 surgeries a year.
• Our specialists are internationally recognized leaders in clinical research of spinal disease, injury and deformity, and have served in senior positions in the Scoliosis Research Society, the most prestigious organization for scoliosis surgeons around the world.
• Norton Healthcare is the first health system in the nation to be recognized as an Advanced Orthopedic & Spine Center of Excellence by DNV.
• We use the EOS Imaging system, which collects high-resolution images while exposing the patient to 50% to 85% less radiation than traditional X-rays and 95% less than basic CT scans. The system is especially beneficial to scoliosis patients who often need repeated imaging to monitor their progress.
• We accept Medicare, Medicaid and most major commercial insurance plans.
• Use Norton MyChart to communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions, get alerted if an earlier appointment becomes available and more, anytime from a mobile device or computer