Dr. Giovanini & Dr. Capra 850.934.7545

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Speed Up Spinal Surgery Recovery

Speed Up Spinal Surgery Recovery

Surgery, regardless of what kind, is not easy or kind to the human body. For most people, it can take anywhere from several weeks to a few months before they fully recover from their surgical procedure. Having said that, wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a way to speed up the post-operative recovery process? Fortunately, there are many different things patients can do to boost their recovery after surgery. And the best part? These relatively simple lifestyle changes can also improve your overall health and well-being.

This advice will vary for patients depending on their current health and underlying condition, but for the most part, exercising and eating a healthy diet before spine surgery can help speed up the recovery process. Don’t believe us? Think of it this way: you wouldn’t attempt a full marathon without training for it first, right? This same logic applies to most surgical procedures, especially since surgery can be incredibly trying and harsh on the body.

Now, we understand that the reason you’re having spinal surgery in the first place is to either correct an underlying condition and/or reduce back pain, which means working out may not come as easily for you. While it would be beneficial to perform regular bouts of aerobic and anaerobic exercise before surgery, low-impact activities like swimming, using a stationary bike, doing yoga, or something as simple as stretching, can all have a major impact on your post-operative healing.

As we mentioned earlier, your diet plays a huge role in your recovery as well. Eating foods with lots of protein and amino acids can help strengthen the muscles in your back. Eating oily fish, leafy greens, or taking omega-3 supplements daily can also help reduce inflammation and pain in your back. Lastly, it’s imperative you avoid sugary foods and alcoholic beverages several weeks before your surgery. These food items can increase inflammation and increase your risk of certain surgical complications.

After you’ve had your surgery, Dr. Giovanini may encourage you to move every once in a while to promote blow flow to the surgical site. It’s important to do so carefully to avoid re-injury. Once you’ve been cleared to perform certain physical activities, Dr. Giovanini may recommend wellness medicine and physical therapy through iLifestyle, a functional recovery program that helps patients reach total lifestyle enhancement. To learn more about iLifestyle, please visit: https://www.neuromicrospine.com/ilifestyle.

For more information on whether spinal surgery is necessary for your condition, or to make an appointment with the doctors at NeuroMicroSpine, please call (850) 934-7545 or click here to request an appointment. We hope to see you soon!

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician's advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.