Even if you are only in need of a minimally invasive spinal procedure, there’s a good chance that you will need weeks or even months to get back to full strength after the operation. This process will be worth it in the end, but we understand that it can be hard to remain motivated throughout an extended rehab. With that in mind, we wanted to use today’s blog to pass on some advice for staying motivated throughout the course of your spine surgery rehabilitation period.
Maintaining Motivation After Spine Surgery
If you have weeks or months of rehab ahead of you, the whole process can seem a little daunting or overwhelming, and this can make it harder for you to follow through with your recovery exercises if you lose your motivation. You need to find ways to self-motivate during your rehab period, and you can do that by keeping these tips in mind.
- This Recovery Stage Is Crucial – Now is a very vital period of time for your recovering spine. If you don’t take advantage of this unique time, a time where your body is working to become stronger and more stable after the trauma of surgery, it may never be able to get back to full strength. You may notice permanent restrictions or even nerve irritation if scar tissue isn’t properly managed, and it’s not easy to break up if you don’t attack it while it’s forming during recovery. You can’t just “eventually” get to your rehab exercises – You need to do them now because this is when they will be more beneficial.
- You Get Out What You Put In – We stress this to all of our patients who will be pursuing rehab for surgical or non-surgical treatments. You’re only going to get out what you are willing to put in. Rest or painkillers can provide a modicum of relief, but they won’t help you get back to a pre-injury level of fitness. You’re going to need to put in the effort during the proactive treatment sessions like physical therapy if you want to experience the best results. Know that your recovery results will be impacted by your effort, so challenge yourself to stay motivated.
- You Only Get One Body – You only get one body, so don’t just settle for good enough when it comes to your rehab. You owe it to yourself to push to make the best recovery possible for your health now and in the future. If you’re not motivated to become the healthiest version of yourself, nobody is going to do it for you.
- What Else Are You Doing? – Odds are you’re a little physically limited during your recovery period, so it’s not like you don’t have the time to dedicate 30-45 minutes each day to your rehab exercises. Although 6-12 weeks of regular physical therapy sessions may seem daunting, that time is going to pass anyways, so you might as well do your therapy exercises as time marches on.
- One Day At A Time – Finally, try not to look at your rehab schedule as a whole. Instead, look at it day by day or week by week. Focus on stacking up little wins each day so that you can acheive slow and steady progress. Long-term goals are great, but also have some short-term goals so that you can reach these goals more regularly, which should help to keep you motivated. Try to focus on getting better each day, and it should be easier to maintain motivation.
If you need help maintaining motivation or keeping your recovery on track after a spinal procedure, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
