Kyphoplasty Discharge Instructions

 

What to expect post-operatively:

·    Decrease in energy level. Your body is using a lot of energy to heal after surgery.

·    Get plenty of rest and eat well.

·    Muscle soreness in the buttocks and lower back

·    Mild incision pain

·    Mild stiffness in legs and back

 

Activity Restrictions:

·   No lifting more than 10 lbs. (about the weight of a gallon of milk)

·   No lifting anything overhead until seen in follow-up

·   You may move your back in all directions as comfort allows

·   We will discuss increasing your activities at your follow-up visit

·   No twisting, pulling or pushing

·   No bending at the waist – you can bend at the knees but keep your back straight

 

Sleeping:

·   Use a firm mattress that supports your back

·   Lay on side or back, not stomach

·   Place a pillow between your legs when lying on your side to keep your spine inline. Adding a pillow

    under your arm will increase comfort and further reduce stress on spine

·   To move in and out of bed, "log roll" to prevent bending or twisting of spine

 

Sitting:

·   Sit with your knees at about the same level as your hips; use a footstool if needed

·   Do not sit in soft or overstuffed chairs. Firm chairs with straight backs give better support

·   Recliners are OK but you may need to add pillows in order to not sink into the chair

·   Change position every 45 minutes when sitting (example: after sitting, stand and walk, then you can

    sit again for another 45 minutes)

·   Use a raised toilet seat if needed

·   Perform Nerve Glides exercise while sitting to help to relieve nerve tension and improve pain and

    numbness

 

Driving:

·   No driving until you have been cleared by your surgeon to drive

·   Do not drive while taking narcotics or muscle relaxants

·   Adhere to sitting restrictions

·   You may be a passenger

·   Wear your seatbelt

 

Walking: Walking is your BEST exercise

·   You are encouraged to get out and walk

·   Gradually increase your walking distance each day

·   Listen to your body; allow comfort to be your guide

   

Posture:

·   It is important to keep your body aligned by sitting and standing up straight

·   NO slouching or leaning forward

 

 Stairs:                                                                                                                                                       

·   Climb as needed, but avoid making too many trips up and down stairs

 

 

 

Sex:

·   After 2 weeks and only when comfortable

·   Stop if causing pain

·   Check with your surgeon for more information

 

TED Hose:

·   Wear TED hose (compression stockings) for comfort or leg swelling

·   If you are up and moving around you do not need to wear TED hose

 

Back Brace:

·   If you have been given a brace, it should be snug and worn at all times except when showering,

    in bed or quick trip to the restroom 

 

 Hygiene/Incision Care:

·   Always wash hands prior to touching incision

·   On day of discharge, you will have a new dressing applied. You may shower 48 hours after your

    surgery and get your incision wet. Please apply a new clean dressing over your incision after your

    first shower at home. Each day after, please be sure to wash your incision every day to keep

    incision clean and to prevent infection. Leave incision open to air if there is no drainage.  If drainage

    is present, be sure to wash incision every day with soap and water, pat dry and then apply a new

    dressing daily until drainage stops. Call your surgeon for drainage lasting over a week

·   In the shower allow the water to run over your incision and gently wash with soap and water

·   Avoid scrubbing across the incision when you shower; typically there will be steri-strips and/or

    surgical glue sealing the incision

·   Do not take a bath or soak the incision under water until the incision is completely healed

·   Do not remove steri-strips from incision unless otherwise specified; they will gradually fall off

·   No lotions, ointments or peroxide on the incision unless otherwise specified

·   Wear loose fitting clothes over your incision area to avoid irritation

·   Change bedsheets weekly until incision is completely healed

 

No Smoking:

·   Do not smoke as it softens bone, delays healing and increases the risk of infection 

·   Even one cigarette a day will cause problems

·   Chewing tobacco will also inhibit bone healing 

 

Diet and Constipation:

·   You may return to your regular diet as soon as you feel like it

·   Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. 6-8 glasses of liquid (water, juice) per day

·   Eat a diet high in fiber (bran, vegetables, fruit)

·   Pain medications may make you constipated. Use a stool softener such as Colace 100mg

    2-3 times a day as needed until bowels are regular again. If no bowel movement after 4 days you

    may take a laxative such as Dulcolax, MiraLAX or Magnesium Citrate. If using Magnesium Citrate

    only use ½ bottle. If no bowel movement after 6 hours take remaining ½ bottle of Magnesium Citrate.

    Call your physician if constipation persists.

 

Medications & Pain Control:

·  Resume your regular medications unless otherwise advised

·  May apply ice to lower back for 20 minutes each hour as needed for pain and/or swelling

·  You will be provided with appropriate pain medications. Please follow the prescription instructions  

   the bottle

·  Do not take any other pain relievers other than those prescribed post operatively

·  You may take over the counter Ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil or Motrin.

   (DO NOT COMBINE ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES)

·  If you take an aspirin for your heart, you may resume that as soon as you come home from

   the hospital

·  Do not drink alcohol while on pain medication

 

 

Returning to Work:

       ·   Your surgeon will instruct when you can return to work at your follow-up visit

 

Call your surgeon’s office at ANY time if you have problems such as:

·   Fever over 101.5 degrees that persists over 6 hours

·   A substantial increase in your back pain uncontrolled with pain medication prescribed

·   Sudden weakness in your arms or legs

·   Redness or swelling of the incision

·   Separation of incision

·   If you develop a severe headache when you sit/stand up

·   Any loss of control of your bowel or bladder functions

·   If NO bowel movement for 4 days after taking a laxative, lack of flatulence, abdominal bloating,

    diarrhea, excessive belching, nausea, or vomiting

·   Persistent or increasing drainage from the incision

 

Go directly to the nearest ER or call 911 if you:

      ·   Become short of breath

·   Have chest pain

·   Cough up blood

·   Have unexplained anxiety with breathing

 

Follow-up Appointment:

·   Follow-up with your surgeon in 2-6 weeks. If your follow-up appointment has not already

    been made, please call for appointment

·   Follow-up with your Primary Care Physician if instructed