A doctor typically provides specific guidance after a patient has a discectomy. However, there are certain pieces of advice that can benefit anyone recovering from spine-related surgery. This applies to sleeping following a microdiscectomy. Here's what you need to know about catching some sleep safely and effectively as you recover and get back to your regular routine post-surgery.
Avoid Sleeping on Your Stomach
Most sleep positions can be modified to allow for safe sleeping after a microdiscectomy. However, the one position to avoid is sleeping on your stomach. This position puts too much stress on your healing spine and its discs. If you can't avoid this position altogether, place a pillow under your stomach to retain your spine's alignment and ease pressure on your spinal discs. Also, if you haven’t had spine surgery yet, try to avoid this position, as it could make your symptoms worse.
Use Recommended Post-Discectomy Sleep Positions
Back and side sleeping are two positions that tend to be safe and comfortable during discectomy recovery. With these sleep positions, reduce the risk of discomfort by:
• Keeping your arms tucked beneath your neck if sleeping on your back
• Putting a pillow beneath your legs to ease direct stress on the spine
• Alternating between sides if side sleeping
• Bending your knees when side sleeping to keep your spine naturally aligned
Make Sure Your Mattress Is Supportive
Preferably, this is something you should do prior to having a microdiscectomy. What you want to aim for is a mattress that's supportive, meaning one in the medium-firm range. This way, you're not sinking or sleeping on a surface that’s too hard for a healing spine.
Limit Daytime Napping
While rest is good after you first return home following a discectomy, naps should be limited. Limiting naps during the day makes it easier to fall asleep and sleep throughout the night, which helps your spine heal and recover after herniated disc surgery. You’ll also be more likely to stick to your normal sleep pattern by minimizing napping.
Set Up a Comfortable Sleeping Space
This is also something to do before your microdiscectomy. The goal is to have a safe, easily accessible place where you can sleep. For instance, if your bedroom is upstairs, set up an area downstairs where you can temporarily sleep until you can safely climb steps again. If your bedroom is already on the first floor, make sure it's set up in a way that's comfortable for you. This also means removing potential hazards like awkwardly placed furniture and loose rugs. Also, make sure the bed itself is easy to get in and out of so you're not straining your healing spine.
Try the Roll, Sit, & Rise Method
If it's still a bit painful to get out of bed after your discectomy, consider using this method, which involves rolling slowly to the side of the bed, sitting up, and then getting up. You can also do the same thing in reverse when getting into bed and finding your preferred sleeping position.
Even though discectomy 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 microdiscectomy 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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