If you have a friend or family member who’s contemplating minimally invasive spine surgery, you are likely to have some questions and concerns. You want to support your loved one the best you can, but you may also be worried about all that surgery entails.
To help you with this, we’ve created a checklist of things you can do. Follow these steps—not only to assist your loved one through this process, but to ease your mind as well.
One of the best things to do for a loved one is also one of the simplest: Listen to them. How are they feeling? Are symptoms interfering with their day-to-day life? What do they hope for an outcome? Do they have particular fears or worries regarding surgery?
Having an emotional outlet can be very cathartic for your loved one, especially if they have been living in pain for an extended time. It can also provide you with great insight into what your loved one has been experiencing. This knowledge will be very useful as you embark together on the path toward recovery.
It’s also helpful to have a basic understanding of your loved one’s condition and the type of minimally invasive spine surgery they are considering. Be sure to use reliable sources when doing your research. Check out some of the following websites:
Doctor’s appointments, especially when discussing serious matters such as surgery, can sometimes feel overwhelming. A lot of information is shared in a short period of time, and it’s easy to miss or forget everything that’s been said.
But if you join your loved one at appointments, you can help listen to—or, even better, write down—the important details. This allows your loved one to really engage during the appointment without fearing that they will not remember crucial details later on.
Just as it’s possible to forget something the surgeon says during an appointment, it’s common to forget to ask a question you intended to. Here, too, you can help your loved one. Prior to an appointment with the surgeon, make a list of the questions your loved one would like to ask. Refer to the list during the appointment to make sure you’ve covered all your bases. Typical questions include:
From both a practical and an emotional standpoint, your loved one would most likely prefer help the day of surgery. You can be a calming presence the morning of surgery, while also making sure your loved one has everything they need. Many minimally invasive spine surgeries are done in outpatient centers, so your loved one will also need a driver to and from the facility.
Be sure to find out the surgical center’s policy on visitors. In some cases, you may be able to stay with your loved one until right before they go into the operating room and rejoin them shortly after the surgery is completed.
Most minimally invasive spine surgeries will require at least a week’s rest at home, with a gradual progression in activity from there. Think about what you can do to ensure your loved one has all they need during those early stages of recovery. Ideas include:
These are just a few of our suggestions, but we recognize that every situation is unique. Don’t hesitate to contact our team at DISC Sports & Spine Center if you have further questions about how you can help your loved ones through minimally invasive spine surgery.