Over 50? Keeping Up With Your Healthcare Needs

What To Expect As You Recover From Vertebroplasty Surgery

16 December 2016

Nellie Ryan

If you have a compression fracture in your spine, there are three different surgical procedures that can be done to repair and stabilize the fracture. They are vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, and spinal fusion surgery. Each is consider spinal compression surgery, though the recovery for each is slightly different. As such, if you are preparing to have one of these surgeries, you will want to research what your recovery will be like based on the surgery type you are having. Here are a few of the things you can expect as you recover from vertebloplasty surgery.

Bedrest for 24 Hours

Vertebroplasty involves injecting an acrylic bone cement into the fractured vertebra. This helps stabilize the fracture and relieve any pain that the patient is having. Typically, this outpatient surgical procedure takes about an hour to complete, and then you will have to wait another couple of hours before the sedation wears off and the cement hardens before you can head home. But after heading home, the staff will likely tell you to remain on bedrest for 24 hours after the procedure. While the cement is fairly hard, it does take some time to fully cure. Staying still helps this process, while also helping you to heal. After 24 hours, you can slowly begin to resume activity. Most patients feel a 90 percent pain reduction 24 to 48 hours after the procedure, which is great, but be sure not to overdo it because you feel so much better.

Activities You Can't Engage In

While you can slowly resume your normal activities 24 hours after the procedure, there are certain activities you should not engage in until you are given the go ahead by your doctor. Some of the activities that you cannot engage in until your doctor examines you post-op and gives you the go ahead include driving, having sex, lifting more than 10 pounds, or lifting above waist level. Additionally, you can climb stairs after 24 hours but should only do so as needed.

Pain at the Puncture Site For a Few Days

While you will feel much better following the surgery, one area where you may still have pain is at the puncture site. A large needle was inserted into your back during the procedure. Many people feel soreness or intermittent pain for a few days following the procedure at the puncture site. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, or prescription ones if they were given to you, and icing the injection site as needed can help ease the pain. If the pain persists for a week or longer, be sure to speak with your doctor or surgeon. This may indicate that an infection is present.

Vertebroplasty can help to repair your spinal compression fractures. Following the surgery, you can expect to be on bedrest for 24 hours, have a list of activities that you cannot engage in, and feel some pain at the puncture site. Your doctor or surgeon will also let you know what to expect following the surgery. If you have any questions, be sure to ask them so you can best understand what to expect and what is normal after this surgery.

For more information, check out a clinic like Southwest Florida Neurosurgical & Rehab Associates.

Share

Search