Spine surgery is so often viewed as a significant physical undertaking, and while it certainly is physically challenging on your health, it also takes a large toll on your mental health. Having a positive and healthy mindset throughout your spinal rehabilitation can actually benefit your physical recovery, but that’s easier said than done. In today’s blog, we take a look at five tips for how you can stay positive during your recovery following spine surgery.
Embracing A Positive Mindset After Back Surgery
Some of these tips may be easier said than done, but at the same time, if you work hard to try to to keep a positive attitude, good things will come. Here’s what you can do to develop and maintain a healthy mindset after spine surgery.
- Celebrate Small Successes – It’s important to celebrate your progress and your small gains as you work towards your ultimate goal. Progress fuels progress, so if you take the time to celebrate small successes, it will become easier to keep working towards more sustained success. On the flip side, if you only measure your recovery success in terms of your final outcome, it can actually be detrimental to your mindset if you’re not recovering as fast as you had hoped. Celebrate success along the way to full recovery.
- Challenge Your Mind – You’re probably challenging your body with physical therapy, but it’s also important to challenge your mind along the way. It needs to stay sharp and be put to the test, and everyday opportunities to do this may not be as frequent if you’re not at work or you’re stuck at home during your recovery. Do some puzzles or crosswords, test your knowledge by watching Jeopardy or read a new book. Engage your mind and it will help your mindset while you recover.
- Ask Questions – One of the things that can derail your mindset is the fear of the unknown, and since most people are unfamiliar with the recovery aspects of a major spinal operation, there can be plenty of unknowns along the way. Calm your fears and foster a positive mindset by asking questions or sharing any concerns you have with your treating surgeon. Odds are they can help put your mind at ease and reduce anxiety or stress, which will be helpful for your mental makeup.
- Know That You’re Doing All You Can – Your recovery isn’t totally within your control. However, if you do everything you can to help fuel your recovery, you’ll be better off mentally because you know that you are doing all you can. On the other hand, if you skip physical therapy sessions or you go against your doctor’s recommendations, you may find an increasing sense of anxiety because you know you’re not acting in your own best interests. If you work hard to control what you can control, you’ll find yourself in a better headspace.
- Lean On Others – You’d be there for friends and family if they were dealing with a medical issue, so lean on your support group during your recovery. You wouldn’t feel like someone you loved was a burden if you were helping them, so don’t be afraid to reach out to others during your recovery. If you need a ride to the clinic or just someone to vent to about your frustrations, find someone close to you that you can lean on during your recovery. This support system can do wonders for your mental health.
If you can do all of the above things, we’re confident you’ll give yourself a good chance to have a positive mindset throughout your spine surgery recovery. For more tips, or for help with your back pain, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today.
