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Lumbar
Microdiscectomy
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| Going
Home From the Hospital |
In
general, hospital stays are becoming shorter, especially
for microsurgical procedures. Even though you may feel
somewhat uncomfortable at the time you are released,
your physician usually will allow you to go home when:
- your
vital signs are stable;
- you
can walk on your own;
- you
can eat without having nausea;
- you
have resumed normal bladder activity; and
- your
wound is healing.
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| Recovering
at Home |
Once
you are at home and you begin to resume your normal
activities, follow the guidelines listed below (and
contact your physician's office if you have any questions):
*
Exercise: Try to do as much as you can. Daily
walking is the best exercise. Set reasonable
goals, but gradually increase the distance you
walk each day. Check
with your physician before starting any exercise
program.
*
Sitting and standing: Do not sit or stand
for long periods of time. If you have muscle
spasms in your back or pain in your leg(s), changing
positions frequently should help.
*
Sleeping: Rest when you feel fatigued, but do
not spend all of your time in bed. Please
note that waking up with a "stiff " back is not
uncommon. For relief, try taking a short walk
or a warm shower. If you do not have a firm mattress,
invest in one - it is important for proper back
support.
*
Caring for your Incision: Wash your incision
gently and pat it dry. If you see any increased
redness, swelling or drainage, notify your physician.
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| Medication |
You
should gradually reduce the amount of pain medication
you take. Begin by increasing the amount of time between
pills, and then reduce the number of pills taken each
time. A certain amount of discomfort can be expected
until the swelling goes down and the nerve sensitivity
decreases. Substitute moist heat, gentle exercise and
short rest periods for pain medication whenever possible. |
| Preventative
Measures |
The
best way to avoid the recurrence of a ruptured disc
is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is important
that you:
- eat
a well-balanced diet in order to aid proper healing
(avoid foods high in calories and fat content);
- continue
to eat a healthy diet in the future to reach and
maintain your proper body weight;
- get
the proper amount of sleep;
- participate
in some form of regular aerobic exercise
(such as walking, swimming or riding a bike);
- take
extra care when lifting, bending or twisting; and
- take
care of other health problems (such as heart disease
or diabetes).
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| A
Patient-Centered Approach |
This
information is provided to help you make an informed
decision about your health care. It is an essential
part of a patient-centered approach to medicine, called collaboration,
in which the health care team (physicians, nurses
and technicians), the health care institutions (hospitals,
insurance companies, etc.) and the patient's family all
work towards achieving the best possible recovery for
the patient.
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| Why
the Patient is at the Center |
Experience
has shown that patients who are given the opportunity
to make decisions about their own health care have
less anxiety before their surgery and recover more
quickly after their surgery. Recognize that you have
a right and a responsibility to participate
in the decisions involving your health care.
The human body is an intricate network
of interrelated systems. Each system functions on its
own but is also influenced by and dependent upon the
others. When illness or injury occurs, it disrupts
the function of one or more of these systems.
Surgery is a human effort
made to correct one system's malfunction, but it
will affect all others. Because of this complex
interrelationship, surgical outcomes cannot be
predicted. When recovery
is possible, it occurs as a combination of the
surgeon's effort, the patient's faith, and a positive
acceptance of the outcome. |
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Related Links:
Lumbar Microdiscectomy - page 1
Lumbar Microdiscectomy - page 2
Lumbar Microdiscectomy - page 3
Back FAQ's
Pre-Surgery FAQ's
Lumbar Herniated Disc
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