Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Spine surgery affects people in all different ways, and while much of the focus during your recovery will be on your physical and mental health, one aspect of your recovery that can be overlooked is how the surgery impacts your appetite. It’s quite common for patients to notice an appetite reduction or appetite loss during the first few days and weeks after their procedure, but it’s important that you pay close attention to your dietary intake, as your recovering body will be in need of essential nutrients to aid in the recovery process.

So why is appetite loss a common side effect of spine surgery, and what can you do to ensure you’re managing your diet appropriately after your operation? We explore that topic and more in today’s blog on appetite loss after spine surgery.

Why Appetite Loss Is Common After Spine Surgery

Appetite loss is a pretty common side effect of more invasive surgical procedures, like a spinal fusion or a discectomy. Some of the factors that contribute to this appetite reduction include:

• Anesthesia Side Effects – Limited appetite can be a side effect of the anesthesia used during the procedure, especially for the first 24-48 hours after surgery.
• Medication Side Effects – Side effects of many pain relieving narcotics include nausea, upset stomach and constipation, all of which can negatively impact your desire to eat.
• Energy Shift – Your body is going to focus much of its energy and resources on healing the surgical trauma, and this shift in resources can slow other processes down. If the digestive process slows, your desire to eat regularly may fade as well.
• Limited Physical Activity – Movement and activity can burn calories and speed up the digestive process, but you’ll likely be physically limited following your surgery. Because you’re moving less, you won’t be burning as many calories, and your brain won’t trigger the release of hormones that signal its time to eat as regularly.

Managing Your Diet After Spine Surgery

Managing your diet after spine surgery will require a delicate balance. You’ll want to ensure you’re helping your body get the nutrients needed to fuel recovery processes, but you don’t want to overeat during a period when your body is burning fewer calories due to your limited physical capacity. To counteract this, we recommend:

• Start Slow – As digestion can be a little slower right after the procedure, consider eating some more digestion-friendly foods, like soups, broths, smoothies or yogurt.
• Gradually Eat More – Slowly start to consume more foods so as not to overeat and overwhelm your digestive tract as it’s starting to shift energy focus back towards the digestive process.
• Nutrient Dense Foods – Make sure the food you are consuming is nutrient dense. Smoothies, cottage cheese, eggs, oatmeal and soups can help you get fiber, calcium, protein and key vitamins in your diet.
• Avoid Empty Calories – Avoid consuming too many empty calories. Junk food can be pro-inflammatory, and they don’t offer much from a nutrient perspective. This can lead to excessive calorie intake and weight gain, all while still depriving your body of the nutrients it craves.
• Eat Slowly And Chew Well – Don’t rush to consume your food. Take your time so that you can tell when you’re getting full, and really chew your food well to make it easier for your body to break food down and absorb nutrients.

Finally, it’s important that you get up and move early and often following your surgical procedure, just be sure to stay within your doctor’s restrictions. Movement will improve circulation and digestion, both of which will help your body pass oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to recovering tissues. Be smart about your eating habits and work to move regularly after your procedure, and any appetite loss should be short-lived.

For more information on making a strong recovery after spine surgery, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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