For a variety of different reasons, a lot of patients experience anxiety before and after their spine surgery. In this post we are going to offer a few tips for avoiding anxiety throughout the surgical process.

Communicate with your Surgeon

Most surgical anxiety comes from a fear of the unknown. Surgery is a scary thing for any patient. A great way to alleviate this type of anxiety is to educate yourself about the procedure – learn about the risks, benefits, and specific steps involved. Your surgeon will be happy to answer all of these questions for you in your pre-surgical appointment. Open communication is absolutely essential.

Have a Post-Op Recovery Plan

Create a post-op recovery plan. Arrange for a family member or friend to drive you home after surgery and tend to your needs while you recover. Go grocery shopping before your operation and stock up on the essentials. Find ways to entertain yourself in the days following surgery. Grab some good books to read or movies to watch. If you are fully prepared, the less you have to worry about.

Talk to other Patients in your Situation

Speaking with other patients who have gone through your procedure before can be a great way to answer your questions and reduce anxiety. If you don’t personally know anyone who has had your particular surgery before, there are a number of great patient forums online (Spine-Health is the one I’d recommend). Here, patients can ask questions and interact with people who have had similar issues.

Stick to your Surgeon’s Recommendations

Always follow your surgeon’s recommendations after surgery. This includes any guidelines about activities, medications, and follow-up appointments. Your surgeon’s goal is to get you back to 100% as efficiently as possible after surgery. They have your best interests at heart, so follow their recommendations to the letter.

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