The lumbar spine is the hub of human weight-bearing and movement. However, as people age, degenerative changes in the lumbar disc, unhealthy lifestyle habits, excessive stress, and so on, lead to an increasing number of individuals suffering from lumbar spine diseases. So what should patients who have undergone surgery and meet the surgical indications pay attention to after surgery?
Although the nucleus pulposus is removed after minimally invasive surgery for lumbar disc herniation, the fibrous ring rupture caused by the original protrusion still exists, and it takes 1-3 months for this fibrous ring rupture to recover. Therefore, patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery for lumbar disc herniation should pay attention to rest, avoid overexertion, and avoid prolonged standing and sitting. After 1-3 months, the range and amount of activity should gradually increase, and as time goes on, the function of the lumbar muscles will gradually improve. Generally, they can get out of bed and move around appropriately. This can effectively reduce the recurrence rate of lumbar disc herniation.
2. For women who have undergone minimally invasive surgery for lumbar disc herniation, it is also important to avoid wearing high heels, as the main function of the human waist is to exert force and balance. That is to say, the waist not only needs to maintain body balance, but also plays a supporting role. Therefore, wearing fewer high heels can reduce the stress on the waist and facilitate surgical recovery.
Many patients believe that smoking is not directly related to lumbar disc herniation, but in fact, smoking has a significant impact on postoperative recovery of lumbar disc. Because smoking can cause blood vessels to constrict, affecting blood supply and impacting postoperative recovery; On the other hand, the nucleus pulposus in the lumbar disc contains a lot of water, and smoking can accelerate the loss of water, causing the nucleus pulposus to lose elasticity. The inelastic nucleus pulposus will be pushed out by the body, leading to the recurrence of lumbar disc herniation.
4. After one month of bed rest for minimally invasive lumbar surgery, it is necessary to start getting out of bed and exercising, but it is important to fasten the waist belt and protect the waist circumference. The main function of a waistband is to reduce the stress on the spine by 25%, which can effectively help support the stress and reduce the recurrence rate of lumbar disc herniation.
5. Avoid maintaining a constant posture for a long time: Avoid sitting or standing for a long time. Maintain the correct sitting and standing posture, and do not maintain a single posture for a long time.
Due to prolonged exposure to the same posture, it can cause fatigue and tension in the lower back muscles, increase pressure in the lumbar intervertebral disc, stimulate the lumbar nerves, and cause pain symptoms, leading to recurrent lower back and leg pain. This can cause psychological fluctuations during the recovery period for patients and friends, and is not conducive to the recovery of spinal function.
6. Avoid bending over to lift heavy objects: For patients who have undergone lumbar spine surgery, try to avoid bending over to lift heavy objects within 3 months. The posture for lifting objects should be to squat first, lift the object, and avoid relying on bending over to lift the object with legs upright. Many elderly people with lumbar disc herniation after surgery should try not to take care of their children or hold them for a short period of time to avoid recurrence of lumbar disc herniation.
7. The importance of weight control: Overweight or obese individuals must control their diet and lose weight. Overweight can lead to increased lumbar load, while weight loss can reduce the burden on the lumbar muscles and lower the likelihood of recurrence of lumbar disc herniation.
8. Maintain limb balance and avoid external injuries: Do not carry heavy objects with one hand, as it may cause uneven pressure on the waist. When personal cleaning, try to use a shower instead of a bath to avoid slipping on the floor or twisting your waist when entering or exiting the bathtub. According to statistics, the most common place for elderly people to fall is in the bathroom, so it is particularly important to take anti slip measures in advance.
In short, the top ten tips for waist maintenance are not to sit or stand for too long, not to carry heavy loads, not to bend over (acute phase), not to hold children, not to wear high heels, not to drive for too long, not to sit on short benches, not to be tired, and not to catch a cold.