Post-Operative Recovery Guidelines
The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. It is designed to give you an overview of the typical post-operative recovery process following spine fusion surgery. It is essential to consult your surgeon regarding your specific recovery plan, as they will provide detailed instructions based on your individual medical history and surgical procedure.
Recovery Guidelines
Once surgery is completed Dr. Sharan will contact the patient daily.
The patient can take a shower 48 hours following surgery.
The patient will leave the dressing that the hospital staff puts on for the initial shower. Once out of the shower a family member will remove the clear dressing, the gauze pad and leave the steri-strips over the surgical incision.
Pat the incision dry with a towel and place a new 4x4 gauze pad over the incision. Secure the gauze with surgical tape.
The patient can then resume showering daily and continue to change the gauze over the incision..
Monitor incision daily to make sure there is no increase in swelling, irritation or discharge from the wound. If any of these issues arise, call the office immediately.
Swelling and bruising following surgery are normal, but if swelling increases, contact our office immediately.
The patient will follow up for the initial post-surgical visit 8 days after surgery. At that visit the bandages will be removed completely.
Further post-operative instructions will be given at the initial post-operative visit.
Dressings
Follow your surgeon’s instructions regarding dressings and wound care to ensure proper healing.
Adhere to guidelines on bathing and dressing changes as advised by your doctor.
Activity & Mobility
We encourage walking daily to tolerance following surgery to stimulate blood flow. Patients can go up and down stairs as needed.
Following the initial post-operative visit patients will be provided further instructions regarding activity.
Medications
Take all prescribed medications exactly as directed by your doctor.
Avoid alcohol while taking pain medications.
Pain medications should be taken with food to minimize nausea.
Your surgeon will advise when it is safe to resume your regular medications after surgery. If you take blood thinners like aspirin or Coumadin, consult your doctor before resuming them.
When to Contact Our Office
A fever exceeding 101°F
Persistent vomiting
Excessive bleeding that saturates the dressing
Sudden increase in drainage, pain, or swelling at the incision site
Any concerns regarding your post-operative care, medications, or instructions
Preparing for Surgery
The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. It is designed to give you an overview of the typical post-operative recovery process following spine fusion surgery. It is essential to consult your surgeon regarding your specific recovery plan, as they will provide detailed instructions based on your individual medical history and surgical procedure.
Preparing for Surgery
The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. It is designed to give you an overview of the typical post-operative recovery process following spine fusion surgery. It is essential to consult your surgeon regarding your specific recovery plan, as they will provide detailed instructions based on your individual medical history and surgical procedure.
Preparing Guidelines
Once the patient is indicated for surgery with Dr. Sharan, the patient will pick a date for surgery. Dr. Sharan operates on Wednesdays of each week of the month.
Once a date is chosen the office staff will submit all patient records to include previous physical therapy, pain management, imaging reports and Dr. Sharan’s office visit notes to your insurance company for surgical approval.
The patient will have to obtain preoperative tests and medical clearances prior to surgery from doctors discussed with the patient by the office staff. Prescriptions for those tests will be provided by Dr. Sharan’s office staff. Those preoperative tests are good for 30 days prior to surgery.
The office staff will discuss when to stop specific medications during office visit when the date of surgery is discussed.
1 week prior to surgery our surgical patients receive an IV infusion of Glutathione and Amino Acids to decrease pain and inflammation prior to surgery. This is not covered by insurance and is a separate fee. This is not mandatory service, that is required. This is a service that the patient can decide that they want to have.
1 day prior to surgery the patient will receive a call from the hospital, Dr. Sharan and transportation:
The hospital will discuss arrival time, where to go upon entering and what to bring.
Dr. Sharan will discuss the surgical process on the day of as well as what medications you will be prescribed. He will also send the prescriptions to your pharmacy so the medications can be picked up prior to surgery.
If the patient wishes to have transportation to and from their home to the hospital the day of surgery, transportation will contact the patient the day prior to surgery to discuss pick up time.
