If you’ve been unable to find relief from your neck pain with conservative methods, it may be time to consider a minimally invasive surgical procedure. If a consultation with a specialist suggests that a procedure is the next logical step, you may be wondering what you can do to help prepare yourself for the operation. In today’s blog, we share some ways patients can put themselves in a good position to recover from neck surgery by taking some smart steps to prepare for their operation.
Ways To Prepare For Neck Surgery
Everybody’s experience will be a little different, so while your specific preparation guidelines will likely vary, odds are a number of these tips will be in line with your surgeon’s recommendations. That said, this is just general advice, and you should follow the recommendations of your treating provider.
With that said, some smart ways to prepare for your neck procedure include:
- Education – You may have been told that you have a severely herniated disc in your neck, but what does that really mean? Take some time to educate yourself about your condition and how you can make a strong recovery after surgery. The more you understand about your condition, the easier it will be to stay in line with your recommendations and restrictions after the operation. Your care team and your surgeon will be more than happy to answer any questions or explain your condition in more detail so that you have more than just a surface level understanding of what’s going on in your neck.
- Mind Your Posture – Odds are your posture contributed in some extent to the issue in your neck, but even if that’s not the case, you’ll still want to be vigilant about your neck positioning and overall posture. If you’re hunched over or slouching in your chair, your neck or your lower spine will be bearing extra stress, and that can cause problems for your spine. Be mindful of your posture before surgery, because you’ll certainly want to maintain these good habits after your operation is complete.
- Stay Active – You may think that you should just protect your neck at all costs until the day for surgery arrives, but it’s important that you don’t just sit and do nothing for weeks out of fear of further damaging your neck. While you’ll want to be mindful of strenuous activity, your body and your neck will be healthier and stronger if you stay active, so consider walking or doing some other low-impact activities leading up to your operation.
- Physical Therapy – You don’t need to wait until surgery is complete to begin a physical therapy routine. Jumping into a PT routine will make muscles stronger and the neck more stable, which will only help as you come out of the operation in a weakened state. You’ll also start to develop a therapy routine, which will make it easier to continue pursuing your exercises once surgery is in the rearview mirror.
- Kick The Bad Habits – You want to be as healthy as possible before your surgery, so consider kicking some of those bad habits to the curb. Smoking is the most obvious habit that you should limit to eliminate if possible, but you should also mind your diet and reduce your alcohol intake. Shedding a few extra pounds doesn’t hurt either, because you just want to be as healthy as possible prior to your operation.
- Plan Ahead – Finally, make sure you plan ahead when it comes to certain aspects of your life or the operation itself. Arraign rides to and from the surgical center, do some chores around the house so you’re not trying to do laundry or clean the house while you’re recovering from surgery, and prepare some healthy meals that are easy to reheat so that you have some nutritious meals to choose from once you’re home. Think about what you can do to make your life simple after neck surgery, and take some steps to accomplish them before your operation.
If you follow these steps, we’re confident that you’ll be well prepared for your neck operation. You can also take a smart step in preparing for your operation by trusting your care to Dr. Jackman and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute. Set up an appointment with his office today by calling (651) 430-3800.
