When your procedure’s finished, you’ll be taken to the recovery area.
Nurses will monitor your breathing and vital signs in the recovery area, or the intensive care unit if you need closer monitoring. Once your signs are stable, they’ll take you to the ward.
Pain relief
You’ll be given the pain relief prescribed by your anaesthetist. By enabling you to move and breathe without too much discomfort, good pain relief can help reduce your risk of complications.
Patient controlled analgesia (PCA) is often used in the first day or so. This is an opioid drug delivered through a cannula into a vein. You can control the amount of pain relief you receive by pressing a button.
Injections of pain-relieving medication can be delivered by cannula or into a muscle.
Pills, tablets or liquids can be given at regular times or when pain starts to bother you.
Getting mobile
For lumbar disc replacement, you’ll probably stay in bed for the first 24 hours, depending on your surgeon’s instructions. After this time, the nurses and physiotherapists will encourage you to stand up and walk around. This is to speed your recovery and reduce your risk of complications, such as blood clots. Your urinary catheter and IV line will be removed once you’re mobile.
For cervical disc replacement, you may be encouraged to stand up and move around the same day and discharged from hospital the next day after clearance by your physiotherapist.
You may experience swelling around the incision, with some minor blood loss. The doctor and/or nursing staff will monitor your wound. If you notice an increase in blood loss or pain, report this to the nursing staff.
For lumbar disc replacement, on the second day following your surgery, the physiotherapist will most likely visit to begin your rehabilitation. They’ll provide advice and treatment to increase your flexibility, increase core strength and safe lifting strategies.
The length of your hospital stay depends on your recovery and can vary from 2–7 days.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Information is provided by HCF in good faith for the convenience of members. It is not an endorsement or recommendation of any form of treatment nor is it a substitute for medical advice, and you should rely on the advice of your treating doctors in relation to all matters concerning your health. Every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information, however HCF takes no responsibility for any injury, loss, damage or other consequences of the use of this information.