Back pain and lower neck pain is a common problem faced by everyone. However, it varies from one person to another about the severity of the pain. If the pain is severe enough then, a surgery is recommended and required to cure the same.
Spine surgery is a kind of surgery conducted for curing the back or lower neck pain. This type of surgery helps to cure the chronic back or neck pain. Spine surgery is an optional method of treating back and lower neck pain even after excellent traditional and non-surgical care fail to cure the pain.
Reasons for Spine surgery
Spine surgery is generally conducted as a voluntary undertaking. Spine surgery most often is not covered by medical insurance. Following are reasons for undergoing spine surgery:
- To enhance the patient’s ability to function and minimize the back or neck pain
- Failure of traditional treatment, physiotherapy etc to cure the back or neck pain
Risks involved in Spine Surgery
Every surgery whether minor or major involves risks and complications. Likewise, Spine surgery also involves the following risks and complications:
- Allergy to anesthesia
- Hemorrhage
- Scarring in the surgical area
- Probable neural injury
- Problem in normal breathing and infection of lungs
- Inflamed veins
- Pain, infection, spinal cord injury, transitional syndrome etc are other risks involved in spine surgery.
Pre-surgery requirements of Spine surgery
The pre-requirements of Spine surgery include the following:
- Discuss all the risks and benefits of the surgery in detail before the surgery
- Go through the list of instructions provided by your surgeon prior to your surgery to have a clear understanding of the surgical procedure
- Don’t forget to discuss any kind of surgery you had undergone in the past. Also discuss the recovery period of your last surgery. Make sure you mention about any problem you underwent in your last surgery. This will provide a general insight to your surgeon
- If you had been smoking then avoid smoking at least one month before your spine surgery. However, it is advisable to quit smoking pre or post surgery.
- Avoid using alcoholic drinks one week prior to your spine surgery
- You will also need to undergo all the medical examinations and possible tests before the surgery
Post-surgery requirements of Spine surgery
The post-surgery requirements of Spine surgery include the following:
- You will be shifted to the recovery room or either to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- You will be monitored in the ICU for a night. You will be given pain medication to ease away the surgical pain
- Respiratory treatments will also be provided provide pneumonia after the surgery
- You won’t be allowed to eat or drink until your stomach starts working post surgery. IV will supply liquids, medicine and nutrition during this time.
Average hospital stay for Spine surgery
The average hospital stay for spine surgery ranges between 2 and 3 days. However, it may vary from one patient to another depending upon the patient’s situation.
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