Precautions after transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy

The precautions after intervertebral space surgery are related to the patient's physical recovery after surgery and also affect the success rate of the surgery. Therefore, we should follow the doctor's advice on the precautions after intervertebral space surgery. After the intervertebral space surgery, you should pay attention to eating a light diet, avoid eating raw, cold, and spicy foods, and pay more attention to rest. It is best to rest in bed after the operation, and you need to wear a waist belt to reduce the pressure on the lumbar spine.

1. Diet after surgery. You can eat after surgery. There are no special dietary taboos, but drinking alcohol is prohibited within 3 weeks after surgery. It is best not to eat fish, shrimp, crab, spicy and irritating foods, etc. Diabetic patients should continue with the diabetic diet after surgery to effectively control blood sugar.

2. Postoperative recovery. The patient should stay in bed for 3 days after the operation and try not to sit up, stand or walk. If necessary, he should wear a waist belt for activities. You can lean on the bed when eating and should wear a waist belt. While in bed, you should do the toes-curling and leg-lifting movements appropriately, 20-30 times each time, 2-3 times a day. If the elderly have difficulty doing this, family members or caregivers can assist in completing it, or they can help the patient massage the lower limbs or waist appropriately. You can do some activities 3 days after the operation, such as going to the toilet, eating while sitting on the bed, walking, etc., but you must wear a waist belt. From 3 days to 7 days after the operation, you should stay in bed more and do functional exercises in bed. Do toe curling and straight leg raising exercises as before, and gradually increase the number and frequency compared with before. On the 3rd day after surgery, blood can be drawn to check routine blood test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein. If the results are normal, the patient will usually be discharged from the hospital 5-7 days after surgery. Within 3 weeks after discharge, the patient should exercise appropriately and stay in bed more often, and gradually increase the amount of activity after 3 weeks. Wear a waist belt for 3 months after the operation, and then wear a waist belt when riding in a car or working after 3 months.

3. Regarding the “postoperative recurrence period”. For some patients, the original symptoms will reappear or even worsen about 3-4 weeks after the operation. The possible reasons are generally: increased activity after the operation; failure to wear a waist belt as prescribed by the doctor; failure to take blood circulation and blood stasis removal, analgesic drugs, etc. After the symptoms of "postoperative recurrence" appear, patients should communicate with their doctor in time or go to the hospital for treatment. Depending on the patient's condition, the doctor can give anti-inflammatory, analgesic, blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing drugs, most of which can relieve or recover. If necessary, sacral canal closure or intravenous drip of dehydration, swelling reduction, analgesia, and hormone drugs can be performed.

4. Take medication after discharge. It is recommended to use anti-inflammatory analgesics, blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing drugs, and neurotrophic drugs for 3 months after the operation to help smoothly overcome the recurrence period and reduce postoperative symptoms. If convenient, have a follow-up checkup at the outpatient clinic every 2 weeks within 3 months after surgery, or communicate with the doctor by phone.

5. Rehabilitation training after discharge. It should be done step by step and according to the doctor's advice: insist on doing the "Flying Swallow" movement of tilting your head back and straightening your waist every day (slow and gentle), 20-30 times each time, 2-3 times a day; lower your head and bend over less, do not sit or stand for long periods of time, and do not bend over to lift heavy objects. You are not allowed to engage in work or activities that require bending over or squatting for long periods of time, such as surfing the Internet for long periods of time, playing cards for long periods of time, holding long meetings, pulling weeds, etc. After being discharged from the hospital, you should not stay in bed without any exercise. You should keep in touch with your doctor within 3 months after surgery to receive guidance on medication and rehabilitation exercises.

6. Review and follow-up. You should come to the hospital for review and follow-up at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after the operation. Bring preoperative imaging data with you when you come to the hospital. If it is inconvenient, you can communicate with the doctor by phone.