How to Prepare for Spine Surgery

If you’ve suffered a serious back injury or experience chronic back pain, it’s possible that you’ll need spine surgery to correct the condition and restore a pain free life. In general, surgery will typically be a last resort that is only recommended if more conservative treatment methods such as spine injections, physical therapy or other minimally invasive techniques have been exhausted. But when these other treatments aren’t successful, spine surgery may be the most effective way to achieve relief from your back pain.

At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, we employ a meticulous process to ensure we’re only recommending surgery when it is truly the best course of action. When you visit our clinic, you’ll first be assessed by our sports medicine physician, Dr. Justin Grant. He may recommend a nonsurgical treatment plan if he believes this is the best approach, but if he believes surgery may be necessary, he’ll have you meet with our spine surgeon, Dr. J. Alex Sielatycki.

If Dr. Sielatycki recommends surgery, he’ll provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare for your procedure. This preparation goes beyond understanding what to expect on the day of surgery. It also includes getting your home ready for your recovery, making any necessary adjustments to your medications, and other actions that will ensure both your surgery and recovery go as smoothly as possible.

The following guide will help you understand the important steps you’ll need to take to prepare for spine surgery.

Preparing Your Home

You’ll have a variety of activity restrictions for the first six weeks after spine surgery. Preparing your home prior to surgery will make it easier for you to maneuver around after your procedure and ensure optimal comfort during the initial phase of recovery. Home preparation steps should include:

• Moving any objects from the floor that you could trip and fall over
• Moving heavy objects, such as dog food bags, to counter height to avoid bending down and lifting after surgery
• Stocking up on extra groceries
• Preparing healthy meals you can reheat while you recover
• Obtaining any necessary devices, such as walkers or canes, that will help you move around the house after surgery

Arrange for Assistance

You should expect to need assistance during the early stages of your recovery. Most importantly, you’ll need to arrange for transportation home after surgery since you won’t be able to drive for several weeks. In addition, you should ask family or friends for assistance with routine daily activities such as cooking, cleaning and laundry. This will help avoid overexerting yourself, which may negatively impact your recovery.

Begin Taking Over-the-Counter Vitamins

You’ll also need to begin taking a variety of over-the-counter vitamins prior to spine surgery to help reduce the risk of post-operative infection. If you’re undergoing a spinal fusion procedure, these vitamins will also help your fusion solidify.

The following vitamin regimen will help optimize your spine surgery outcome:

• Vitamin D – 3,000-5,000 IU’s daily
• Vitamin C – 1,000 mg twice daily
• Calcium – 1,000 mg twice daily

Stop Taking Certain Prescription Medications

Certain prescription medications can potentially lead to postsurgical complications. Blood thinners are particularly problematic since they can increase your risk of bleeding during surgery. Make sure you discuss your medication regimen in detail during your initial appointment with our spine specialist. This will ensure you adhere to the proper timeline for discontinuing them.

The following guidelines will help you understand which medications you’ll need to stop taking.

Two Weeks Prior to Surgery

Herbals and supplements to discontinue:

• Garlic
• Ginko
• Ginseng
• Fish oil
• Flaxseed oil
• Saw palmetto
• Green tea
• Chamomile
• Vitamin K and E

Immunomodulators to discontinue (these may increase your risk of infection):

• Methotrexate
• Plaquenil
• Enbrel
• Remicade
• Humira
• Cellcept

One Week Prior to Surgery

NSAIDs to discontinue:

• Aspirin
• Diclofenac
• Ibuprofen
• Celecoxib
• Naproxen
• Indomethacin
• Ketorolac
• Etedolac
• Sulinac

Platelet inhibitors to discontinue:

• Clopidogrel/Plavix
• Prasugrel
• Ticagrelor
• Ticlopidine
• Warfarin/Coumadin

48 Hours Prior to Surgery

Direct oral anticoagulants to discontinue:

• Diabigatran
• Rivaroxaban/Xarelto
• Apixaban
• Edoxaban

24 Hours Prior to Surgery

• Lovenox

Cleaning the Surgical Area

Prior to spine surgery, you’ll need to clean the surgical area using an antibacterial and antimicrobial soap called Hibiclens. This soap will help prevent post-operative infection around the surgical site.

You’ll start using the Hibiclens soap three days before surgery:

• Complete your normal shower routine
• Before shutting off the water, use one third of the Hibiclens bottle and a new sponge to gently scrub the entire surgical area
• For lumbar fusions, start from below your belt line and wash up to your upper back as best as you can reach (ask for assistance from a family member if necessary)
• For cervical fusions, gently scrub your entire neck, chest and upper back

Repeat this process every day for the three days prior to spine surgery. Don’t apply any lotions, rubs or oils to your skin during this time.

Day of Surgery – Final Preparations

You’ll need to arrive at the hospital a few hours prior to surgery. During this time, you’ll be prepped for surgery and have a chance to speak with your registered nurse, anesthesiologist and spine surgeon if you have any last-minute questions.

Prior to arriving at the hospital, make sure you address the following last-minute preparations:

• Confirm your transportation to and from the hospital with the person handling this duty
• Make sure all at-home preparations for your recovery have been taken care of
• Bring comfortable clothes and any other necessities you may need while you’re at the hospital
• Follow all instructions from your surgeon regarding food and drink intake prior to surgery
• Avoid wearing deodorants, perfumes, powders, makeup, lotions and any other topically applied substances that haven’t been prescribed by your surgeon

Helping You Restore a Pain-Free Life

At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, we work hard to provide the exceptional care you need. Our spine surgeons utilize the latest techniques and most advanced technology to deliver the best possible outcomes for your surgical procedure. We also provide you with very detailed preparation instructions to ensure the procedure goes smoothly and you’re set up for a comfortable recovery.

Dr. J. Alex Sielatycki is our primary spine surgeon. He’s a board-certified surgeon with fellowship training in spine surgery. This background gives our team the ability to treat a wide range of spine conditions while achieving the exceptional outcome you deserve. Dr. Sielatycki’s background and strong track record of success has made CAO the premier spine surgery clinic on the Western Slope. We regularly treat patients from across the region, as well as out-of-town patients seeking to benefit from our exceptional medical care.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment. Colorado Advanced Orthopedics serves patients in Meeker, the White River Valley and throughout the Western Slope.