• You will have a hard collar to wear after surgery.  Wear this at all times except when eating or showering.
• You will be discharged the day after surgery.  Plan to have someone drive you home.
• A prescription for pain medications will be given for you to go home with.  If you need a refill, please call your pharmacy or our office.
• It will be determined at your follow-up visits when you are allowed to resume driving. Driving is not permitted while wearing a hard collard or within 24 hrs of pain medication. You may ride in a car, but do not ride for more than one hour continuously without getting our and walking for the first two months.  If you need a temporary handicap parking permit, one can be arranged for you.
• Keep your waterproof dressing on and change every other day. KEEP WOUND DRY. Do not apply any lotion or ointment. You may shower with the waterproof dressing on.
• Do not submerge your incision in water such as hot tubs, bathtubs, pools, etc…for 6 weeks.
• Do not take ibuprofen, Motrin, Aleve or other NSAIDs because these medications affect your fusion.
• Do not lift anything greater than 5lbs.
• Be sure to get up and take short walks 4 times per day to help avoid developing a blood clot in your legs.
• Be sure to maintain a healthy bowel regimen while on pain medications.  Opioids tend to cause constipations.  Use stool softeners and gentle laxatives to maintain regular bowel habits.
• Call the office to report any fever >101.5, progressively worsening pain that is not controlled with oral pain medications, drainage from your incision, new bowel/bladder incontinence.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, please call the office for further instructions: 757-827-2317 from 8am until 5pm Monday through Friday. After hours or on weekends for emergency call: 220-4493