Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Most people understand that spine surgery and the recovery process is pretty physically demanding, but it’s easy to overlook just how mentally taxing the process can be as well. We always say you need to pay just as much attention to your emotional and mental health as your physical health during the recovery process. With that in mind, we want to use today’s blog to discuss some ways to stay mentally strong after spine surgery.

Mental Strength After Spine Surgery

Staying mentally strong and working to improve your mental health after surgery can help speed up your recovery and keep it on track. Here’s what we recommend to our patients who want to stay mentally strong after their spinal procedure.

1. Lean On Your Family And Friends – Nobody wants to feel like a burden, but if the shoe was on the other foot, you wouldn’t think twice about helping out a loved one after their spine surgery, so know that most of your friends and family feel the same way. Don’t be afraid to ask for a ride, to accept a meal train or to just reach out to a friend to talk if you’re having a hard day. Your mental health will flourish if you accept that others are willing to help with aspects of your recovery process. Lean on your loved ones during the early stages of your recovery, and help others if they are ever in a similar boat.
2. Find A Support Group – If leaning on friends or family isn’t easy given your unique situation, or you’re just looking for support from people that really understand what you’re going through, connect with an in-person or an online support group. These are safe spaces to vent about frustrations or ask questions and get answers about anything pertaining to your care and recovery. There are plenty of helpful support groups out there if you perform a simple Google search.
3. Focus On Small Goals – We understand that you want to get back to full health as soon as possible, but it’s going to take time. Instead of just focusing on your end goals and getting frustrated with the slow progress, recognize the smaller goals you’re achieving on a daily or weekly basis. Odds are you’re stronger and more functional than just a few days ago, so celebrate these small steps instead of wishing you were further along in the process. Learning how to set goals and reframe progress in your mind can do wonders for your mental health during your recovery from spine surgery.
4. Understand What’s Controllable And What Isn’t – Oftentimes our mental health can get bogged down by things outside of our control, so focus on what you can do to improve your recovery. Go to your physical therapy appointments, give maximum effort and follow your doctor’s specific recovery instructions. Don’t worry about things out of your control. If you’re doing what you can to keep your recovery on track, you can find peace of mind in the fact that you’re managing the important factors. This is a great tip to keep in mind in many walks of life.
5. Stay Social – Finally, make it a point to stay socially engaged with friends and family. Don’t just hole up in your bedroom watching Netflix for weeks. You may be physically limited, and that’s isolating in and of itself, so try to stay socially engaged with others at a time when it’s not always easy to be physically present. Text your friends, call your loved ones, set up a Zoom call to catch up or schedule activities with friends that you are capable of doing despite your recovery, like a lunch date or a walk around the neighborhood. You’ll be amazed at what a little social connection can do for our mental health.

For more tips on staying mentally strong after your spine surgery, or for assistance with any other aspect of your care, connect with Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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