Trouble breathing, chest pain, or significant new weakness? Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Improving the outcome of surgery
After spine surgery, your metabolism increases with the need to heal, so your body needs extra calories (about twice as many as usual) for proper recovery.
It is important to start this 2 WEEKS BEFORE SURGERY and continue it for 4 WEEKS AFTER.
More calories and extra protein
Try to eat more of the following:
- Lean meats (chicken, fish, turkey), beans, tofu, egg whites and protein smoothies.
- Low-fat dairy products (milk, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese).
- Calcium: 1,500 mg of calcium a day. Cow’s milk (275 mg in 8 oz) and almond milk (450 mg in 8 oz) are high in calcium, as well as green leafy vegetables. If you don’t drink milk, take 500 mg of calcium 3 times daily (not all at once).
- Vitamin D3: 1,000 IU daily. It often comes in the calcium supplement, but you will need to take a separate supplement to get enough while you are healing.
- Zinc: take 25 mg daily. Please take it with food, as it can cause nausea on an empty stomach.
- Vitamin C: take 500 mg, four times a day, for wound healing.
- Diabetic patients should continue good blood sugar control to optimize wound healing and decrease the risk of wound infection.
- If you have kidney disease, please work with your nephrologist for appropriate nutritional goals.
Small meals, more often
Instead of three big meals, eat four to six smaller, well-balanced “mini meals,” spaced throughout the day. That will be easier on your digestive system, especially when you are increasing your calorie intake.
Supplemental shakes
Smoothies and shakes are a good way to boost both calories and protein in your post-op diet. You can make them yourself with milk, soymilk, yogurt, or another high-protein food or beverage as the base, or you can buy prepared shakes in the supermarket or drugstore.
Try to drink 2 protein shakes per day IN ADDITION to your regular diet, starting 2 weeks before surgery and continuing for 4 weeks after.
If you have trouble drinking a thicker shake, wound-healing powder can be used instead.