Getting proper rest is important at any time. It's even more beneficial as patients recover from back surgery procedures, since sufficient rest helps the body recover while also easing stress on the healing spine. If you'll be having a microdiscectomy to resolve disc-related pain, there are some ways you can safely and comfortably lie down post-surgery. This article offers suggestions for how to lie after a microdiscectomy.
Sleep on Your Back or Side
Lying on your back may not seem wise if your discectomy was performed on a disc in your lower back, but there's a reason it's recommended. If you sleep on your stomach, your spine's alignment could be thrown off, putting extra pressure on the affected area. Make sleeping on your back as comfortable and supportive as possible after a microdiscectomy by:
• Sleeping on a comfortable and supportive mattress—medium firm is usually recommended
• Using supportive pillows under your knees
• Adjusting your mattress, if possible, so your spine's natural alignment is maintained
Side sleeping is also generally fine after a microdiscectomy. The only sleep position that's discouraged when lying down is stomach sleeping.
Strategically Use Pillows
In addition to putting a pillow under your knees, there are some other strategic ways this type of support can be helpful. If you prefer to sleep on your side, a pillow placed between your knees maintains the alignment of your spine around the affected area. You may also prefer to put a pillow behind you or in front of you as you lie down to discourage excess movement.
If you really prefer to sleep on your stomach during your microdiscectomy recovery period, pillows can help in this case as well. Put a pillow under your hip/pelvic area and around your chest or stomach to keep your spine from bending too much and putting pressure on discs.
Get In & Out of Bed Safely
Further avoid reinjuring or overstressing the affected area after a microdiscectomy by being careful with how you get in and out bed. The "log roll" method is often recommended, which you can do by taking the following steps:
• Sitting on the side of the bed with your feet touching the ground
• Lifting your legs slowly as you roll onto your side
• Slowly easing yourself into your preferred position
• Rolling to the edge of the bed and easing your feet down to the floor to get up
Use a Lumbar Support Pillow
For times when you'll be resting for a bit as you recline in a favorite chair or recliner, consider using a lumbar support pillow. These pillows or cushions are designed to provide extra support so you can ease back in your chair without overstressing the healing disc and surgical site. Just make sure the pillow or cushion isn't too firm, since this could be painful if it pushes into your lower back as you lie back or recline.
Even though microdiscectomy surgery is a common and generally quite successful procedure, a hole is frequently left in the outer wall of the disc. In fact, patients with these large holes in their discs are more than twice as likely to reinjure themselves by having what’s known as a reherniation. These reherniations often require additional surgery or even fusions. Fortunately, there’s a new treatment specifically designed to close the large holes that are often left in spinal discs after discectomy surgery. Barricaid is a bone-anchored device proven to reduce reherniations, and 95 percent of Barricaid patients didn’t undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in a 2-year study timeframe. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomy—during the same operation—and doesn’t require any additional incisions or time in the hospital.
If you have any questions about the Barricaid treatment or how to get access to Barricaid, ask your doctor or contact us at 844-288-7474.
For full benefit/risk information, please visit: https://www.barricaid.com/instructions.
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