A neck fusion procedure can be just what you need to help alleviate symptoms associated with mobile or shifting discs, but like a lot of surgeries, recovery will take some time. You need to be mindful of how you approach your rehabilitation plan if you want to speed up your recovery and reduce your risk of a setback. With that in mind, we wanted to use today’s blog to share some tips for recovering following your cervical fusion procedure.
Helpful Tips When Recovering From Cervical Fusion
As we always say, it’s in your best interest to connect with your spine surgeon for individualized tips for your specific situation. The following is just general recovering advice, but don’t be surprised if many of the tips you read below fall in line with recommendations made by your treating surgeon. Here are some ways to help improve your recovery following a cervical fusion procedure:
- Rest – We understand that you want to get back to work or resume certain physical activities as soon as possible, but you’ll only do that by giving the area the protection it needs during this vital period in the recovery process. Putting too much stress on the neck when it’s in a weakened state can lead to tissue damage, prolonged inflammation and issues with your newly inserted hardware. Rest is best in the beginning stages of your recovery.
- Do Your PT Exercises – Once you’ve been cleared to begin a physical therapy regimen, make sure that you follow through with your exercise as recommended by your therapy team. This means that you show up to your in-clinic sessions and you do your home-based exercises as scheduled. If you skip your sessions, it’s only going to take longer for the neck area to regain the strength and stability it needs to function optimally.
- Nutrient-Rich Diet – Make sure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs to help fuel the recovery process. Add plenty of nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, fish, fruits, nuts and whole grains, and be mindful of fatty or sugary options that can promote inflammation. Also be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day to aid in circulation, especially if you won’t be as mobile during the initial stages of your recovery.
- Proper Wound Care – Although most cervical fusion procedures can be performed using minimally invasive techniques, you’re still going to have one or more incisions sites that will require your attention until the area fully closes. It’s not always easy to see your incision site depending on how the fusion was performed, so use some hand mirrors and check and clean the area regularly as recommended by your physician. You can also have a friend or family member help clean the area and look for signs of a possible infection.
- Carefully Increase Workload – When you are cleared for certain activities, make sure that you get up and move. Resting and protecting the area is important in the beginning stages, but eventually you’ll do more for your neck by moving and helping to develop strength and stability. Movement also helps to get your heart pumping and improve circulation in your body. Just make sure that you are slowly building up your workload, because taking on too much, too soon is a recipe for re-injury.
- Posture Awareness – Finally, during your recovery and beyond, you’re going to want to be more mindful of your neck and head posture throughout the day. The fusion will result in a loss of mobility at the fusion site, so you’ll probably inherently be more aware of how your neck feels throughout the day, but be mindful to avoid craning your neck forward or leaning back too far when you’re seated. When your head and neck are out of position, your cervical spine has to handle more strain, and that can put even more pressure on the vertebrae nearest the fusion site. Work to have good posture as you recover and long into the future.
If you can do these six things and you trust your operation to an experienced surgeon like Dr. Sinicropi, we’re confident that you’ll have a great recovery from your cervical fusion procedure. For more information, or to reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute, give our team a call today at (651) 430-3800.
