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Important Phone Numbers. When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Child's Recovery Your child has had spinal fusion surgery to treat his or her scoliosis. How can you care for your child at home? Have your child rest when he or she feels tired. Getting enough sleep will help your child recover. Your child may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, if your doctor okays it.
Pat the incision dry. Do not let your child take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay. Have your child try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than he or she did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount your child walks. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation.
Your child should not ride a bike, play running games, or take part in gym class for 6 to 9 months or until your doctor says it is okay. For 6 to 12 months, make sure your child avoids lifting anything that would make him or her strain.
This may include a heavy backpack, heavy grocery bags and milk containers, or bags of cat litter or dog food.
Ask your doctor when your child can do activities that could jar the spine, such as competitive sports, skating, and skiing. Your child can eat his or her normal diet. If your child's stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt. Have your child drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated. You may notice a change in your child's bowel habits right after surgery. This is common. If your child has not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, call your doctor or nurse call line.
Your doctor will tell you if and when your child can restart his or her medicines. The doctor will also give you instructions about your child taking any new medicines. Give pain medicines exactly as directed. Make sure you have a suitable place to stay after your operation or prepare your home. If you can, try to make sure that you have a support network for after the operation.
Talk through any worries you may be having with a friend or parent. If you are feeling very worried or anxious you can speak to your doctor. Your doctor can help you find extra support such as counselling to help you mentally prepare for surgery. Before your operation Most units run a pre-admission clinic at which information and skin scrubs are given.
When you arrive at the hospital the nurses will explain what will happen. You might stay the night before or arrive on the morning of your surgery. When you arrive nurses will carry out some tests such as taking your blood pressure and temperature. At most hospitals you will attend pre-admission a few weeks ahead of the operation. Pre-admission you will usually meet the surgeon and the anaesthetist specialist doctor who makes sure you are asleep during operation. They will talk you through what is going to There will be documents to sign to make sure you understand what is being said.
After your surgery you will be brought to a recovery room and woken up, you will be monitored and given pain medication. As soon as you are ready you will be brought to your hospital room or ward. The nurses will check on you regularly to make sure you are as comfortable as possible.
They will take your blood pressure and you will be given medication to help with pain. After your operation The physiotherapist will teach you breathing exercises and foot and toe exercises to keep the blood going through your body and stop blood clots forming in the legs. You will also be shown how to turn in a special way called log rolling. You will have physiotherapy.
You will be log rolled in bed for the first 2 to 3 days or so, until you can turn over by yourself. About 2 to 3 days after the operation the drips may be removed. The physiotherapist will help you to gradually start to stand up and You may need to wear a brace to protect your spine for 3 to 6 months after the operation Patients are usually able to go home 6 to 9 days after surgery. Staff will make sure that you can manage stairs before going home.
At home It is best to travel home by car with the seat reclined. It is a good idea to have a pillow to help cushion your back when you go over bumps. Ask the driver to go slowly. A follow-up appointment will be arranged for about 8 weeks after the operation.
When lying down or reclining either in bed or on a settee your back should be comfortable. Enguidanos says. It allows me to get to know them better, and to help everyone understand what is involved and address any concerns they may have along the way.
By the time she had her surgery, Amanda was in the ninth grade. Amanda was able to leave the hospital after 4 days, and continued her recovery from home for 5 weeks before returning to school. During that time, Amanda worked with a tutor to keep up with her classmates, and was even able to take her annual school achievement tests on time.
Amanda also realized another benefit of her surgery — she found she'd gained almost 3 inches in height! About the same time she returned to school, Amanda started physical therapy to help stretch and strengthen her back muscles and maintain her overall physical conditioning. Amanda's dancing, tumbling, and other sports activities, however, were temporarily put on hold to give her vertebrae and spinal instrumentation time to stabilize and heal properly.
She wasn't on the sidelines for long, though. Amanda admits she was really concerned her scoliosis correction surgery would decrease her mobility and affect her ability to perform at the competitive level she was used to. Today, Amanda is enjoying her senior year at Freeport High School, and is happy to be "back up to speed" as a varsity cheerleader, dancer and gymnast.
She's able to do what she wants to do and is so gung-ho about it. She's full steam ahead, and nothing's going to stop her. As you read this please keep in mind that all treatment and outcome results are specific to the individual patient. Results may vary. Complications, such as infection, blood loss, or nerve damage are some of the potential adverse risks of spinal surgery.
Please consult your physician for a complete list of indications, warnings, precautions, adverse events, clinical results, and other important medical information.
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