In-depth information on how to receive optimal post-operative care and have a successful recovery from spine surgery through pain management, back exercise and physical therapy.
Preventing constipation after back surgery
April 25, 2007
Recovering from back surgery is enough to focus on without having to deal with the negative side effects of post operative constipation. A number of simple steps can significantly reduce the risk of unpleasant and often painful side effects of constipation after back surgery. Read more...
By:
Pamela Verkuilen, APNP
Rehabilitation
and exercise following spine surgery
September 3, 2002
Rehabilitation or physical therapy can help patients recover from spine surgery
as quickly and completely as possible. It is important in helping the body heal
from the original injury and the surgery, and in preventing future episodes of
pain. Read
more...
By: Carol M. McFarland, MS, PT, OCS
Pain management for chronic back pain
October 24, 2001
Pain used to be something many patients simply had to learn to "live" with.
Recently, researchers have learned a great deal about pain and its physiological
and psychological basis, leading to treatments that can provide complete or
partial chronic pain, neck pain and back pain relief. Read
more...
By: John Revord, MD
Guidelines
for a successful recovery from low back pain
June 25, 2001
In addition to stretching,
strengthening and aerobic exercises, there are
several basic guidelines that can help you in your
healing and rehabilitation process. These guidelines
include managing anxiety, maintaining proper diet
and nutrition, sleeping well, controlling use of
medications, and doing back exercises. Read
more...
By: Vert Mooney, MD
Scar
tissue and postoperative pain
March 26, 2001
Scar tissue is a common occurrence after back surgery and is not always a cause
of pain. In fact, scar tissue is part of the normal healing process after surgery.
This article addresses scar tissue and Failed Back Surgery. Read
more...
By: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
Postoperative
care for spinal fusion surgery
October 22, 2000
The management of activities and needs after a spinal surgery evolve with time.
This article explores the typical recommendations patients can expect from
a doctor during different phases of recovery from back surgery. Read
more...
By: John E. Sherman, MD
Postoperative
care for lumbar microdiscectomy
July 31, 2000
Follow-up care for a lumbar microdiscectomy usually includes a combination
of pain management, stretching, back strengthening with back exercise, and
an early return to activity. Read
more...
By: Theodore B. Goldstein, MD
How
a physical therapist can help with exercise
June 16, 2000
Back pain sufferers are often referred to a physical therapist, whose role
is to provide pain relief, rehabilitate with back exercises, and educate patients. Read
more...
By: Carol M. McFarland, MS, PT, OCS
Back-to-Back: Using back exercise for back pain relief
Read other patients’ helpful advice about using back exercise (such as walking, an exercise bike, water therapy, physical therapy and yoga) for back pain relief or post-operative recovery from back surgery. Then, submit your own response! Read more...
Exercise for back surgery – The doctor is in!
April 19, 2005
This section addresses patients’ questions about how exercise can facilitate healing and reduce pain after back surgery. Answers are provided by Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., M.D., an orthopedic spine surgeon and Medical Director for Spine-health.com. Patients’ inquiries on gentle exercise and post-operative care were submitted by e-mail, and we’ve posted some common questions and responses here. Read more…
Back Pain Radio transcript: exercise balls, home exercise equipment and the Graston Technique
April 19, 2005
Exercises for a healthy back don’t have to be performed solely in a gym or with a physical therapist - they can also be done inexpensively and conveniently in the home, using fitness equipment such as an exercise ball. Thomas Hyde, D.C., a chiropractor in Florida and a medical advisor and contributing author for Spine-health.com, and Grant Cooper, M.D., host of Back Pain Radio, discuss proper use of exercise balls for fitness, home exercise equipment and the Graston Technique on the April 4, 2005 show. Read transcript…
Back Pain Radio transcript: Is lumbar fusion surgery a reliable procedure?
Modern lumbar fusion surgery is a very reliable procedure, provided it is done by an appropriately skilled surgeon for the right patients. Spine-health.com’s Medical Director and an orthopedic surgeon, Peter Ullrich, Jr., M.D., and Grant Cooper, M.D., host of Back Pain Radio discuss lumbar fusion surgery on the March 21, 2005 show. Read transcript…
Back Pain Radio transcript: Improving patient outcomes in spine medicine
In addition to improved technology and techniques, patient education and integration of care are substantially improving patient care and outcomes in spine medicine. Read what Peter Ullrich, Jr., M.D., an orthopedic spine surgeon and Medical Director of Spine-health.com, and Grant Cooper, M.D., host of Back Pain Radio, had to say on the March 14, 2005 show. Read transcript…
The importance of back exercise and rehabilitation - Spine-health.com Newsletter
Information about how and why rehabilitation and exercise are so important for your post-operative care and recovery from back surgery, as well as for maintaining future spinal health. Read these helpful guidelines on developing a new exercise program to include stretching, strengthening and aerobic exercises for your back. Read more…
Please note that these additional patient resources(such asThe Back-to-Back Forum and Newsletters)on Spine-health.com are not peer-reviewed by the Spine-health.com Medical Advisory Board. They are provided as additional resources for patients to learn from the experiences of others and to gain information from our popular newsletters.
