Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

The prospect of spine surgery can be nerve-wrecking, but we’ve found that patients can help calm their nerves if they know what to expect and help prepare themselves for the upcoming operation. A while back, we shared some tips for preparing for an outpatient spinal surgery, but in today’s blog, we want to talk about how you can prepare for inpatient or overnight surgery. Below, you’ll find some tips for preparing for inpatient spine surgery.

Preparing for inpatient surgery isn’t all that different from how you’d get ready for outpatient surgery, but there are some additional considerations that should be made. Here’s a look at how you can help prepare yourself for spine surgery if you’re going to be staying overnight.

1. Follow Your Eating And Drinking Restrictions

If you are going to be required to stay over at least one night after the completion of your surgery, it’s likely that you are going to have some eating and drinking restrictions prior to your operation. It’s imperative that you follow your doctor’s instructions to avoid any potential complications with your anesthesia. Failure to follow these instructions could result in the postponement of your surgery.

2. Plan A Ride

It’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to drive home following the completion of your surgery and your overnight stay, so it’s helpful if you have a ride arranged prior to your procedure. In fact, some places will not discharge you unless you have a ride home, so don’t plan on driving if you’ve been told that you’ll be unable to drive after surgery. If your back pain makes it too hard to drive to the hospital or surgery center, arrange to get dropped off as well.

3. Pack Your Overnight Bag Properly

Make sure you pack an overnight bag with all the right essentials. That will include:

• Clothes that are comfortable and easy to put on.
• Entertainment options (books, games, etc.)
• Charging cords
• Toiletries
• Anything else you believe could be useful (headphones, iPad, your own pillow, etc.)

4. Get Your Ducks In A Row Before Surgery

If you’re going to be staying in the surgical center for a few days, you may want to bring your work or schoolwork with you. Anything you can do to stay ahead of the game and help pass the time while you’re recovering will be helpful. If you don’t want to focus on work or schoolwork, find other ways to be productive. Finish some holiday shopping or cross some other items off your to-do list. This can also help take your mind off any discomfort you may be feeling.

5. Expect Activity Before Discharge

Finally, you’re not just going to be discharged after a certain amount of time has passed. Your surgical team needs to have confidence that you’ll be able to perform certain routine daily tasks, so know that you’ll likely have to pass some sort of physical exam before you’re discharged. This could be as simple as walking up and down stairs, getting in and out of a car without problems or being able to get out of bed and stand on your own. Expect to perform some physical tasks before being allowed to leave the hospital.

If you keep these tips in mind and trust your operation to a talented surgical team like the ones you’ll find at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute, we’re confident you’ll be setting yourself up for success. For more information, contact Dr. Sinicropi and his team today.

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