| If you're thinking about spinal decompression | | | | exercises. Don't skip them, because only |
| surgery, you probably have a lot of questions | | | | movement and strengthening will help your back |
| about what you can expect during and after the | | | | to fully heal properly. If you feel like you're in too |
| procedure. During Spinal Decompression - Your | | | | much pain, talk to your doctor. Obviously if there |
| surgery will be scheduled for the morning. You will | | | | is a complication, you don't want to exacerbate it, |
| check into the hospital and sign permits for | | | | but frequently the better you are about doing |
| surgery, anesthesia, blood, and blood products. | | | | your exercises, the less pain you will be in and the |
| Once the surgery begins, an incision will be made | | | | faster you will heal. You'll be able to ride in a car |
| in the lower back, or in the neck if you're having | | | | or a plane immediately after you leave the |
| cervical surgery. Fluoroscopy, a method for | | | | hospital. Physical therapy will probably begin after |
| making images, will be used to determine the | | | | your first doctor visit following surgery. Other |
| correct level or levels on which to operate. | | | | Things to Help You Heal - As mentioned, your |
| Whatever tissue is guilty of the nerve | | | | doctor will have given you instructions, |
| compression, usually bone or ligament, is then | | | | medications, and exercises to do once you leave |
| removed. Sometimes fusion will be performed | | | | the hospital. But if you want to get well |
| subsequent to the decompression in order to | | | | completely and quickly, you don't have to limit |
| stabilize the affected area. The entire surgery will | | | | yourself to just those things. For example, find |
| take one to four hours. After Spinal | | | | out just how much exercise is permissible, |
| Decompression - Once the procedure is complete, | | | | especially once a couple of weeks have elapsed. |
| you will be in the recovery room for an hour to | | | | Don't strain your new back, obviously, but if you |
| an hour and a half. Your family will be contacted | | | | feel able to do more without overdoing it, talk to |
| while you are in recovery. From recovery, you'll | | | | your doctor and physical therapist about other |
| be moved to a room, at which point you'll be | | | | safe forms of exercise. Also look into vitamin and |
| given a PCA pump to administer pain medication. | | | | nutritional supplements and good foods to eat to |
| This machine regulates the amount of medication | | | | aid in the healing process. What feeds healthy |
| you can have. The staff will normally assist you in | | | | muscle and bone tissue? If your doctors can't |
| getting out of bed later on that same day. | | | | give you satisfactory answers, get second |
| Typically, you'll be in the hospital for one to three | | | | opinions or do research on your own. Any doctors |
| days. You may be given a brace or a corset to | | | | worth their salt should appreciate the importance |
| restrict bending, along with any other necessary | | | | of nutrition in healing. If you do all of this to help |
| prescriptions and discharge instructions. You will | | | | yourself, you're well on the road to a new, |
| also be given a set of exercises to do at home. It | | | | pain-free lifestyle. |
| is extremely important that you do these | | | | |