4 Ways To Help Your Healing Process After Back Surgery

Although there are differences in recommendations depending on whether the surgery is being performed on the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine regions, the advice is meant to serve as a general outline of what you can anticipate learning from your doctor and is not meant to take the place of their counsel.

Even if it's not a posture you're used to, picking the right sleeping position is crucial for aligning your hips, pelvis, and back. As you recover from spine surgery, doctors advise sleeping on your side or back. Because your spine is not in a neutral posture for an extended amount of time when you sleep on your stomach, it is typically not advised. If you want to make it simpler for you to change your sleeping position, think about wearing satin pajamas to bed. Keep reading to discover some other suggestions to keep in mind to ensure that you wake up rested, regardless of how you choose to sleep.

1. General advice for sleeping better after back surgery
Avoid using your phone, computer, or TV for at least 30 minutes before bed. Limit electronic use before night. Your melatonin levels can be disturbed if you use certain electronics right before bed.

Limit your daytime napping. Taking repeated or extended naps during the day can interfere with your regular sleep cycles.
Maintain a regular sleep pattern. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule can enhance your body's circadian rhythm and guarantee that you get adequate sleep each night.

Make sure your room is set up to accommodate your recovery before your surgery by making it a pleasant area. For instance, you might need to rearrange a few items so that everything is conveniently accessible.

Invest in an excellent mattress and pillows since it will be much simpler for you to fall asleep and receive the rest you need when your bed is comfy.

2. Rest on your stomach
While stomach sleeping is typically not permitted or advised for individuals recovering from surgery (revision, thoracic spine surgery, lumbar decompression back surgery, or others), there is regrettably nothing to restrict someone with chronic pain from doing so. If you must do so, take a few things into account: Regardless of what you do to relieve your back pain, 1) you'll need two pillows for additional support, and 2) your neck will become more susceptible to injury. It's crucial for stomach sleepers to lay one pillow under the hips and pelvis and a second, flatter pillow under the chest. Your neck will be raised as a result, relieving some of the strain, and your low back will also experience less stress.

3. Sitting down at a desk following surgery
After surgery, it's best to work while seated in a rotating chair to avoid twisting your body to reach things. If you need to turn, turn your entire body at once. Moving improperly involves having your hips and foot facing opposite directions. When conversing on the phone, avoid holding the receiver with your head tucked behind your shoulders. When using the phone, maintain your neck upright and rest your elbow on the desk or armrest. If you talk on the phone a lot, another better alternative is to use a headset. It's best to keep things close at hand, the keyboard in front of you, and everything else within easy reach.

4. A word on shifting positions
Following back surgery, it can be exceedingly challenging to change positions in bed. The log roll is the best way to protect your back when changing positions while you're sleeping or getting out of bed. Simply roll to your side while keeping your back straight to prevent twisting, lift off the ground with your arms, and then gently swing your legs to the floor to perform a log roll. It is advised to speak with your surgeon as early as possible to discuss the optimal postures for your specific sleep architecture, sleeping preferences, and surgical incision location.