Experiencing the surgery of Herniated Nucleus Pulposus once does not mean a possibility of getting a disease again is zero, if you are careless about your health, certainly, it will happen again. Thus, postoperative care is essential to heal a condition after, at the same time, it also provides you fast recovery, which helps prevent you from long-term suffering caused by a chronic spinal pain.
Once having a back pain… it’s time to change your behaviors
There are many types of spinal pain, such as, pain on the spine, shoulders, waist and lower back. These are caused by improper behaviors. However, in this article, we have some suggestions for you:
Isometric Exercise
It is an exercise that is suitable for those having spinal pain. A practice is simple; you just have to flex the muscles on any part of the body, hold the flexing for a while, and then release it. A movement is not included, for instance, pushing a wall, squeezing objects intensively or pulling a chair. Moreover, this type of exercise helps strengthening your muscle and preventing you from disc deterioration at the same time.
Sleeping posture
We recommend you to have a pillow under both legs, and before you move out of a bed by stepping out, it should start from a posture of sleeping on a side.
Food
Food consumption should mainly come from high calcium food, such as, milk, green-leaf vegetable, tiny fish and do not forget to drink enough water, at least 6-8 glasses per day. You should avoid smoking, drinking tea soft drinks or coffee including alcohol beverages.
Medicine
Patients should only take pills or medicine under a doctor prescription. In case of any unusual symptoms, visit the doctor immediately.
How to take care yourself after the surgery ?
Patients with severe chronic spinal pain, the time to recuperate from a sickness is important as talking a good care of yourself during this period can reduce a chance of disease occurrence. In addition, the following information presents each stage of self-care process during your recuperation, which could help you prepare for a better improvement:
1-4 weeks after the surgery
Sleeping posture : This is best way to recuperate. One month after the surgery, the patients should take enough rest.
Exercise : Although doing a harsh exercise is not allowed, but a light movement such as, walking is still a good workout by following the process as follows:
· Day 2-7 : 5-10 minutes of slow walk around your house.
· Week 1-2 : 10-15 minutes of longer walk with proper shoes to handle a pressure during the walk
· Week 3-4 : 15-30-minute of walking with proper shoes wearing.
Sitting posture : Wrong sitting posture can affect the spine, for that reason the patients should be careful;
· Day 1-3 : during this period, sitting might not take more than 15 minutes, as soon as you feel the pain, please lay down on your bed slowly.
· Day 4 – First week : Sitting should be not more than 20 minutes, if you feel the pain, slowly lay down the body on bed and also do a bit of walk. Both postures can be done by switching.
· Week 2 : sitting should not be more than 30 minutes, as soon as you feel the pain, slowly lay down on bed.
· First month : please try to not stay in the same posture for a long time. Every 45 minutes, your posture should be changed.
Sitting in car : You should not sit in the car more than 45 – 60 minutes, by the way, allowing yourself to change the posture after a long ride is accepted. Moreover, you can drive at least 2 weeks after the surgery, plus, the body relaxing by taking a break to stretch in every 1 hour driving is essential and should be made. At the same time, you should avoid travelling by motorcycle or 3-wheels car, whereas they can affect the pain.
Others activities : Patients should not take any harsh activities includes twisted postures as well as avoid having sex and lifting a heavy object that weighs more than 1.5 kilograms and also wear L-S support whenever you feel a burning pain, in fact, cold compression can be provided as well. However, if you still feel the pain, visit the doctor immediately.
Week 2-3 after surgery
Exercise : 1 month after the surgery, patients can walk faster around 15-30 minutes with proper walking shoes to protect you from bouncing. At the same time, swimming is also allowed, except, breaststroke and dolphin kick posture in order to avoid the back muscle motion and the twisting of waist. Moreover, soccer, badminton and running are all prohibited.
Sitting on a car : travelling by motorcycle is not allowed including bicycle or tuk-tuk. In fact, if it is necessary, every time patients should wear the L-S support.
Others activities : When you put on your clothes, do it in a sitting position. In addition, it is possible for you to have an intercourse, but, you should avoid any position that requires the back and waist motion. Lastly, lifting object more than 3 kilograms is considered to be forbidden.
4 months after surgery
Patients can still do regular activities, but beware of body posture such as your back, and do a proper posture according to your doctor’s suggestion, at the same time, if there are some unusual symptoms, please go see the doctor as soon as possible.
Following mentioned suggestions can reduce a chance of having second spinal surgery, remember to visit the doctor whenever the spinal pain occurs, even they are just minor symptoms.
