1. FOLLOW-UP: As soon as possible, please call the staff at SGOS at (435) 652-6024 to schedule a follow-up appointment. This first appointment should be ten days to 2 weeks after surgery.
2. INCISION CARE: You may shower 4 days after surgery, however, do not soak the incision or allow the water to beat upon it. You may take your collar off to shower.  Please contact us immediately if your wound weeps or if you have a fever of 101.3⁰ or higher.  It is not unusual to notice “swelling” at the top of your incision.  As long as your incision is not red or inflamed, this is a common occurrence and will resolve over the next few weeks.  Change your dressings daily with clean, dry, sterile dressings until there are 2 consecutive days of clean dressings with no spotting or weeping.
3. ACTIVITY: You need to be wearing your collar at all times for 6-12 weeks after your operation. Walking is the best form of activity for the recovery period.  Walk 100 yards or more at least 2-3 times a day.  While you may walk as much as you like, do not go to the point of exhaustion or to the point where you are getting too uncomfortable.  Increasing the distance you walk every few days is a good way to get back into shape.  Remember: NO heavy lifting, twisting, bending, or straining anything over 10 pounds!    Avoid all overhead activity and do not look up and down or side to side excessively. You may recline, be upright, or lying down all other times.  You should not drive while taking pain medications. You should not drive
4. DIET: You should eat a balanced and nutritious diet during the recovery period.  If you need to lose weight, increase how much you walk and decrease fats and sweets, however, maintain proper nutrition.  Remember, your body needs nutrients to heal.  You may have a sore throat from the anesthesia, but this will go away within a week.  Lozenges may relieve discomfort.
5. PAIN CONTROL: You will be discharged on the pain medication and muscle relaxer.  These post-op medications should last until your 2 week follow-up visit.  For muscle spasms, use ice packs for 20 minutes at a time.  You may take Tylenol for mild to moderate pain.  Take one 325 mg Aspirin per day which may help prevent blood clots in your legs.  Take Senokot as directed.  Please take any other medications you were on prior to surgery for other conditions.
6. You may always call our office at (435) 652-6024 with any questions. For emergencies, please call the same number and/or go to the emergency room.
7. OTHER INSTRUCTIONS/QUESTIONS:

1. FOLLOW-UP: As soon as possible, please call the staff at SGOS at (435) 652-6024 to schedule a follow-up appointment. This first appointment should be one week after surgery to evaluate your incisions and to activate the Spinal Cord Stimulator.
2. INCISION CARE: You may shower 3 days after surgery, however, do not soak the incision or allow the water to beat upon it. Please contact us immediately if your wound weeps or if you have a fever of 101.3 or higher. It is not unusual to notice “swelling” at the top of your incision. As long as your incision is not red or inflamed, this is a common occurrence and will resolve over the next few weeks. You may remove your dressing 3 days after surgery.
3. ACTIVITY: Walking is the best form of activity for the recovery period. Walk 100 yards or more at least 2-3 times a day. While you may walk as much as you like, do not go to the point of exhaustion or to the point where you are getting too uncomfortable. Increasing the distance you walk every few days is a good way to get back into shape. Remember: NO heavy lifting, twisting, bending or straining! You may recline, be upright, or lying down all other times. You should not drive while taking pain medications. Once you are no longer taking narcotics, you may resume driving with the same limitations as stated above.
4. DIET: You should eat a balanced and nutritious diet during the recovery period. If you need to lose weight, increase how much you walk and decrease fats and sweets, however, maintain proper nutrition. Remember, your body needs nutrients to heal. You may have a sore throat from the anesthesia, but this will go away within a week. Lozenges may relieve discomfort.
5. PAIN CONTROL: You will be discharged on pain medication. These post-op medications should last until your 1-2 week follow up visit. For muscle spasms, use ice packs for 20 minutes at a time. You may take Tylenol for mild to moderate pain. Take one 325mg Aspirin per day which may help prevent blood clots in your legs. Take Senokot as directed. Please take any other medications you were on prior to surgery for other conditions.
6. You may always call our office at (435) 652-6024 with any questions. For emergencies, please call the same number and/or go to the emergency room.
7. OTHER INSTRUCTIONS/QUESTIONS:

1. FOLLOW-UP: As soon as possible, please call the staff at SGOS at (435) 652-6024 to schedule a follow-up appointment. This first appointment should be 2 weeks after surgery.
2. INCISION CARE: You may shower 3 days after surgery, however, do not soak the incision or allow the water to beat upon it. You may take your brace off to shower. Please contact us immediately if your wound weeps or if you have a fever of 101.3 or higher. It is not unusual to notice “swelling” at the top of your incision. As long as your incision is not red or inflamed, this is a common occurrence and will resolve over the next few weeks. You may remove your dressing 3 days after surgery.
3. ACTIVITY: You need to be wearing your brace whenever you are not in bed for 6 weeks after your operation. Walking is the best form of activity for the recovery period. Walk 100 yards or more at least 2-3 times a day. While you may walk as much as you like, do not go to the point of exhaustion or to the point where you are getting too uncomfortable. Increasing the distance you walk every few days is a good way to get back into shape. Remember: NO heavy lifting, twisting, bending or straining! You may recline, be upright, or lying down all other times. You should not drive while taking pain medications. Once you are no longer taking narcotics, you may resume driving with the same limitations as stated above.
4. DIET: You should eat a balanced and nutritious diet during the recovery period. If you need to lose weight, increase how much you walk and decrease fats and sweets, however, maintain proper nutrition. Remember, your body needs nutrients to heal. You may have a sore throat from the anesthesia, but this will go away within a week. Lozenges may relieve discomfort.
5. PAIN CONTROL: You will be discharged on the pain medication. These post-op medications should last until your 2 week follow up visit. For muscle spasms, use ice packs for 20 minutes at a time. You may take Tylenol for mild to moderate pain. Take one 325mg Aspirin per day which may help prevent blood clots in your legs. Take Senokot as directed. Please take any other medications you were on prior to surgery for other conditions.
6. You may always call our office at (435) 652-6024 with any questions. For emergencies, please call the same number and/or go to the emergency room.
7. OTHER INSTRUCTIONS/QUESTIONS: