Getting ready for back surgery?

Aching back? You’re not alone—it’s one of the most frequent reasons for a visit to the doctor. 

According to the Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute, almost 65 million Americans report a recent episode of back pain—and 16 million of them have been living with it for a while. That leads to missed work days, fewer opportunities for fun with family and friends, and an increased chance of depression.

Luckily, there are ways to treat back pain, including surgery. Each year, more than 1.2 million spinal surgeries are performed. 

“Back surgery is successful for the vast majority of patients,” says Dr. Justin Park, M.D., an orthopedic spine surgeon at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. “For most patients, there’s a high success rate and most people say they feel better than before.” 

If you have back surgery coming up in the next few weeks or months, your first step: Relax. After all, doctors don’t recommend surgery on a whim. 

“If a surgeon recommends an operation, it’s often because that, despite other treatments, your quality of life is still significantly affected in a negative way,” says Dr. Evan Sheha, M.D., a spine surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. “Back surgery can have profoundly positive effects on your quality of life, but successful outcomes depend, in large part, on the patient’s goals and expectations.” 

If you’ve got back surgery on your calendar, here’s everything you need to know—and do—to make sure all goes well.

Planning for surgery

Your surgeon’s office will call you with the date of your procedure. But before that happens, there are some important things to take care of.

Keep your appointments. Expect to have the following visits leading up to your actual surgery:

• A trip to get your lab work done 
• Your primary care physician, who will ensure you’re healthy enough for surgery 
• A specialist if you have any underlying health conditions, like heart or lung problems
• A meeting with the anesthesiologist prior to surgery
• Physical therapy sessions post-surgery (depending on your surgeon’s preference) 

Eat well. A healthy diet is always important—and that’s especially true prior to surgery. “Eating a balanced diet with adequate fiber and plenty of fruits and vegetables and avoiding processed foods is a good idea,” advises Dr. Sheha. “Fiber helps combat constipation from pain medications.”

Dr. Sheha notes that some doctors may recommend a vitamin D supplement, as low levels have been correlated to poor surgery outcomes.” If you’re diabetic, keep your sugars tightly controlled, and if you’re overweight, try to drop a few pounds before your operation.

Stop smoking. Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of infection and the likelihood of surgery complications. If you’re a smoker, do your best to quit at least for a few weeks or months before your surgery date. Talk to your doctor about ways to kick the habit.

Plan ahead. Recruit family and friends to help you after surgery. If you work, arrange for some time off—even if you work remotely. Talk to your doctor about adaptive devices for the days and weeks following surgery, like grip bars in the bathroom or a cane. And if your bedroom is upstairs, try to arrange to sleep on the first floor for a week or so after you get home.

Keep calm. Back surgery can be super-effective and make your life better in the long run. But going through it is no picnic. “Get a lot of rest and sleep in the weeks before your surgery,” says Dr. Park. “Try to come into the final appointment in good health—after all, your body will be going through a lot. It really helps to take care of yourself and have a positive attitude.”

The day of surgery

Depending on the type of surgery, you’ll either be treated as an outpatient (or in and out on the same day) or as an inpatient (staying in the hospital for a few days). Dr. Park says that for about one-third of the back surgeries he performs, patients are discharged the same day. 

Here’s what you can expect while you’re at the hospital.

Get ready to walk. The nursing staff will have you up and walking shortly after surgery. If you’re having outpatient surgery, you’ll be walking back to your car. If you’re an inpatient, you may even have physical therapy sessions in the hospital. “Walking soon after surgery helps prevent complications like pneumonia or blood clots,” Dr. Sheha explains. 

You won’t be pain-free, but you’ll feel a lot better. But remember—you can also expect relief. “You’ll have pain in the region of the incision, as well as in your back or leg,” Dr. Shea says. But your doctor will control the pain with medications, and it will get better over time. Your team will modify your medications until you’re on a regimen that keeps the pain under control.” 

Back at home

When you return, here’s what you can do to optimize your recovery.

Wear slip-on shoes with a full back and no slippers. These will keep you from bending over to tie your laces. Be sure they have a bottom surface with traction to avoid slips. 

Continue healthy eating. Good nutrition can help your bones and your surgery wound heal more quickly. Eat a diet rich in protein and fiber and drink lots of water. If your doctor gives you a post-op diet or suggests supplements or vitamins, follow their orders for best results. If you’re diabetic, keep your sugars tightly controlled to promote healing.

Get moving. You may feel fatigued when you get home, but your energy levels should improve over the next few weeks. But no matter how tired you may be, don’t stay in bed. Get up every hour or so and take a couple of steps to increase strength and prevent blood clots. And follow your doctor’s orders for exercise or physical therapy.