If a loved one will be undergoing spine surgery in the near future, you may be wondering what you can do to make the process a little bit easier on them. The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to be helpful during this potentially stressful time in a person’s life. Below, we’ve put together a little checklist to consider if you have a loved one who will be undergoing spine surgery in the coming days or weeks.
How To Help Someone After Spine Surgery
Here’s a look at a number of ways you can be helpful to your loved one both before and after their spinal surgery is complete.
- Be An Extra Set Of Ears – Join them at their preoperative consultations and listen to what the doctor is saying. There may be a lot of information to take in, so two sets of ears are better than one.
- Ask Questions – Be sure to ask questions to the doctor or the care team ahead of surgery. You might have questions about the procedure, preparation or rehabilitation, and it’s helpful to get answers or advice ahead of time so you can better prepare. One helpful question to ask is what can you and the patient do before surgery to give them the best chance at a successful surgery. Odds are the doctor will have some helpful advice for preparing for surgery.
- Educate Yourself – Know exactly what your loved one is dealing with, what procedure they’ll be getting and how the operation is designed to help. Back surgery and recovery can vary significantly based on the type of the corrections being performed, so figure out if they are having a discectomy to address an L5 nerve impingement or a cervical fusion to stabilize a portion of their neck. Do some research into the specific operation and rehabilitation guidelines for said procedure.
- Provide Emotional Support – You know your loved one better than anyone, so be an emotional support system for them as surgery approaches. If they want to vent about their frustrations, air out what’s making them anxious or talk about literally anything other than their spine, be there for them emotionally. Spine surgery can take a big physical, mental and emotional toll on a person, so ask them how they are feeling and if there’s anything you can do to help.
- Be A Driver – Odds are they are going to need a ride to and from the surgery center, and they may need help getting around town or running errands for a while after their procedure. Help them get around when necessary by offering to drive them places or run errands for them.
- Cook Healthy Meals – It may not be easy for your loved one to prepare meals while they are recovering from surgery, but that doesn’t mean they should rely on delivery or freezer meals to get by. Help by cooking them some healthy options that will provide them with fuel and avoid weight gain at a time when they are likely less mobile than normal. Weight gain will only put more stress on a recovering spine, so create some healthy meals for your loved one while they recover.
- Help Them Return Home – Finally, make sure their home is ready for them upon their return. If stairs are going to be an issue, set up a sleeping space on a main floor, pick up any tripping hazards or do some laundry so they don’t fall behind on household chores while they recover. Make sure their home environment is conducive to a healthy recovery. If you have questions about preparing a space for their return, ask their care team.
For more ways to help a loved one who is about to undergo spine surgery, or to talk to someone about your back discomfort, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today at (651) 430-3800.
