Know Your Own Female Body

Facing spinal surgery of any kind can seem like a major ordeal, but with a little advanced planning and plenty of discussion with your surgeon and care providers, you will feel a lot better about how everything will happen and what you should expect. While many spinal surgeries will require a short stint in a hospital like Town Center Orthopaedic Associates, P.C. or an extended care facility, eventually, when you get home you will also need to be prepared for proper recovery. Here is a quick look at a few things you should do to get yourself ready for spinal surgery recovery when you do return home. 

1. Make sure you have someone at home who can help you. - Enlist the help of your immediate family members to help you out once you get home. In many cases, if you do not have someone at home who can help you through recovery, your doctor will recommend you stay longer in an extended care facility. Because your mobility will be limited, you will need someone there who can help you with your personal care needs, preparing foods, and just getting around. 

2. Stock your fridge with healthy and easy food choices. - Following a good diet after you return home from spinal surgery will be important for your healing process, but also because you do not want to take in a lot of excess calories that you won't be using with little exercise. This is easy to do if you go with convenience foods that are not that healthy. Stock your fridge and pantry with healthy food options that are low-calorie and full of nutritive value. Make sure the foods you choose are also easy to prepare, as you will likely not feel much like cooking and may even have someone getting foods ready for you. 

3. Make alternative arrangements at home for personal needs. - If your bedroom is upstairs, you may want to create a temporary sleeping area downstairs where you can stay in the main part of the home because stairs will be difficult to manage. Likewise, consider your bathroom and bathing needs and arrange for alternatives if necessary. For example, if you only have a bathtub and no walk-in shower, it is a good idea to invest in a shower chair and handheld shower head so you can stay seated while bathing. Likewise, installing hand rails for support around the toilet can help you get up and down without causing strain on the surgical area.