Immediate Postoperative Care

• Right after surgery the patient goes into post-op, where he will stay until the anesthesia wears off. Medical personnel will monitor the patient's progress; once awake he is moved to a regular hospital room. Tubes are attached to different parts of the body for various things, including drainage from the site of the operation, an IV for medication and help with going to the bathroom. Special stockings may be placed on the legs to help prevent clots from forming.
  
  

Short-Term Recovery

• Medications are administered in the hospital to prevent pain, and a physical therapist will start helping the patient with activities to improve mobility. Bandages will be changed regularly to keep away infection, and length of stay will depend on the patient's improvement.
  
  

Long-Term Recovery

• Therapy continues at home after the patient is released from the hospital. Tips are given to help with pain such as hot and cold packs, certain ways to sit or lie down, and relaxation techniques. These help get the patient off of pain medications so that they don't become dependent. The surgery location will also need to be cared for once the individual is back home. Help is normally needed with this since it is located on the back. Bandages must be changed and the cut needs to be cleaned daily. It is also a good idea to add safety features to the home to ensure that the patient doesn't fall, such as hand bars to hold onto in the bathroom or removal of rugs that might cause someone to trip.
  
  

Physical Therapy

• Various tasks are prescribed for the patient to do at home to help with physical therapy. This will help speed recovery and improve movement. These will be small movements until the incision is healed well enough to ensure that it will not break back open. Therapy includes such things as lying flat with feet up and lifting the legs one at a time or, after a time, lying on the stomach and lifting the body up by the arms to arch the back. Besides physical therapy, rest is one of the best things for recovery. Finding a place to relax can remove stress and tension, allowing the body to concentrate on healing.