Spine Surgery - Preparing Yourself Psychologically

Jun 1
07:16

2011

Anna Woodward

Anna Woodward

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Spine surgery often has a longer and more painful recovery period than other types of surgeries, making mental preparation is vital to speeding along the recovery. These tips will help you prepare your mind for your procedure.

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Spine surgery,Spine Surgery - Preparing Yourself Psychologically	 Articles unlike many other less complicated types of surgeries, requires very careful mental preparation. You need to be sure that you are not only prepared for the physical aspects of your recovery period, but also the psychological aspects. 

The best way to prepare psychologically for this sometimes-complex procedure is to gather all of the information you can prior to your procedure about what to expect. The more information you have before your procedure, the better you will do afterwards. Talk to your surgeon, but also do some research on your own to make sure you understand exactly what you are preparing for. Keep in mind that an inability to remember or comprehend what you are learning can lead to dissatisfaction with your operation, so make sure you ask as many questions as possible, get clarification when needed, and get things in writing if you have trouble remembering. 

It can also be helpful to take a trusted friend, your spouse, or an adult child or parent with you for your various doctors appointments in preparation for spine surgery. Having two individuals hearing what the doctor says will help ensure that more of it is retained, and the person who accompanies you to your appointments can be an integral part of your support network post-operation. 

Your psychological health after your operation also depends on getting adequate pain control. Excessive pain can lead to psychological as well as physical distress. Make sure you discuss your pain management options with your surgeon before your operation, to ensure that everything is ready for your upcoming procedure. You also should discuss the level of pain you are going to experience with your doctor. Knowing before your procedure how much pain to expect and how long it will last can help make it more tolerable. 

Another important tool to use in preparing mentally for spine surgery is learning to banish bad thinking habits. For instance, some patients find themselves catastrophizing, which means focusing on the worst possible situation that could occur for their recovery. Others filter only the negative aspects of what they are experiencing, rather than looking on the positive. All-or-nothing thinking, such as saying “This was a complete failure” can also hinder recovery. Learn to identify these kinds of negative thinking patterns before they start, and learn to replace them with coping and positive thoughts. 

Finally, take some time to learn relaxation techniques before your spine surgery. Deep breathing, for instance, can help you take your mind off of the pain and relax any tense muscles that might be contributing to it. Breathe using your diaphragm at a slow, steady pace, aiming to breathe out all of the air you breathe in while counting to 30. Muscle relaxation and visualization techniques can also be beneficial as your body recovers. While these techniques will not completely remove pain, they can help you manage pain as you face it post-operatively. Remember, if your mind is ready for your recovery, your body will be able to recover much faster, so take the time to prepare mentally for your post operative time. 

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