Caring for Loved Ones After Spinal Surgery

If you will be caring for someone undergoing spinal surgery, it is typically recommended that you attend our educational courses. This will help to guide and prepare you for the level of care the patient will require after surgery. You may need to arrange the home where the person will recover so that they can get around easily. For example, if their bedroom is on the second floor and they need to avoid stairs, you should arrange a bedroom on the ground floor. Fill prescriptions in advance and stock food and drinks for the recovery period.

Not all spinal procedures require general anesthetic or an overnight hospital stay. Nevertheless, the patient should plan for someone to drive them home. You may need to help them in and out of the car and into the home.

When you pick up the patient, speak with the medical team and collect any paperwork or prescriptions, since the patient may not be a good condition to remember instructions. Feel free to ask the medical team any questions to ensure that you feel comfortable assisting your loved one. Get phone numbers you might need in case of an urgent question.

You may need to help the patient with tasks they cannot do, like preparing meals, chores, and getting dressed. If the patient has bandages, you may need to assist with changing these. They may need assistance walking or moving from place to place. Limitations depend upon the specific surgery and the individual patient.

Maintaining adequate hydration is important for the healing process, so make sure the patient drinks 8 cups of water per day. Some degree of pain is normal after surgery. Make sure to follow instructions regarding pain medication. Familiarize yourself with any medications they need and how often they should take them.