Post-Operative Instructions
For all surgeries, call Dr. Ball’s office immediately if any fevers > 101.6 degrees F, chills, nausea, vomiting, headaches when going from laying to standing, yellow or green drainage from incision, excessive bleeding from surgical incision, or if incision opens up. No routine antibiotics are necessary but may be prescribed if signs of early or superficial incisional infection.
- Bracing: Lumbar brace whenever sitting upright in chair or ambulating. May remove while in bed or in reclined sitting position. Remove for showers. Wear for 2-4 weeks for comfort, then remove as tolerated.
- Activity: Rest for first week, then increase activity to walking 2-3 times per day for 10-15 minutes each episode. No bending, twisting, lifting more than 10 lbs.
- Physical Therapy: START AT 6 WEEKS POSTOP. Mobility, transfers, ambulation, home safety evaluation (if needed) only. No range of motion or strengthening exercises to spine until cleared by surgeon or his assistant.
- Diet: Regular diet, take over the counter laxatives as needed (Colace, Senna, Metamucil, Citricel). Recommend high protein and calcium rich diet.
- Bathing: May shower on third day after surgery with brace off. Keep dressing and incision dry. Do not submerge incision in water until cleared by surgeon or his assistant.
- Incision Care/Dressing: Keep dressing dry. May shower with waterproof dressing (Tegaderm). If any foul-odor, purulent drainage (pus), or bright red blood from incision, call MD immediately.
- Follow-up Care: See Dr. Ball 7-14 days after surgery. No radiographs needed for appointments if no implants.
- Bracing:
- Cervical: Soft collar for 2-4 weeks, then remove as tolerated
- Lumbar: Lumbar brace whenever sitting upright in chair or ambulating. May remove while in bed or in reclined sitting position. Remove for showers. Wear for 2-4 weeks for comfort, then remove as tolerated.
- Activity:
- Cervical: Rest for first week then advance as tolerated as long as wearing brace during first 2-4 weeks. Not legal to drive while confined in hard cervical collar. No overhead lifting, no lifting more than 10 lbs., no wearing heavy head gear (helmet, etc.) or bearing weight on head or neck.
- Lumbar: Rest for first week, then increase activity to walking 2-3 times per day for 10-15 minutes each episode. No bending, twisting, lifting more than 10 lbs.
- Physical Therapy: START 6 WEEKS POSTOP. If home PT arranged, mobility, transfers, ambulation, home safety evaluation (if needed) only. No range of motion or strengthening exercises to spine until cleared by surgeon or his assistant.
- Diet: Regular diet, take over the counter laxatives as needed (Colace, Senna, Metamucil, Citricel). Recommend high protein and calcium rich diet.
- For Cervical Surgery, may need to eat soft and moist foods until swallowing returns to normal.
- Bathing: May shower on third day (72 Hours) after surgery with brace off. Keep dressing and incision dry. Do not submerge incision in water until cleared by surgeon or his assistant.
- Incision Care/Dressing: Keep dressing dry. May shower with waterproof dressing (Tegaderm). If any foul-odor, purulent drainage (pus), or bright red blood from incision, call MD immediately.
- Follow-up Care:
- Cervical: See Dr. Ball or assistant 10-14 days after surgery. Need radiographs of neck, 2 views AP and Lateral for follow-up
- Lumbar: See Dr. Ball or assistant 10-14 days after surgery. Need radiographs of the back, 2 views AP and Lateral for follow-up appointment.
- Bracing: Full time hard collar x 6 weeks except may remove for showers
- Activity: As tolerated as long as wearing brace. Not legal to drive while confined in hard cervical collar. No overhead lifting, no lifting more than 10 lbs., no wearing heavy head gear (helmet, etc.) or bearing weight on head or neck.
- Physical Therapy: START AT 6 WEEKS POSTOP. If home PT setup, ONLY mobility, transfers, ambulation, home safety evaluation (if needed) only. No range of motion or strengthening exercises to spine until cleared by surgeon or his assistant.
- Diet: Regular diet, take over the counter laxatives as needed (Colace, Senna, Metamucil, Citricel). Recommend high protein and calcium rich diet. May need to eat soft and moist foods until swallowing returns to normal.
- Bathing: May shower on third day (72 hours) after surgery with brace off. Keep dressing and incision dry. Do not submerge incision in water until cleared by surgeon or his assistant.
- Incision Care/Dressing: Keep dressing dry. May shower with waterproof dressing (Tegaderm). If any foul-odor, purulent drainage (pus), or bright red blood from incision, call MD immediately.
- Follow-up Care: See Dr. Ball or assistant 10-14 days after surgery. Need radiographs of neck, 2 views AP and Lateral for follow-up appointment.
- Bracing: Lumbar brace x 6 weeks whenever sitting upright in chair or ambulating. May remove while in bed or in reclined sitting position. Remove for showers.
- Activity: Rest for first week, then increase activity to walking 2-3 times per day for 10-15 minutes each episode. No bending, twisting, lifting more than 10 lbs.
- Physical Therapy: START AT 6 WEEKS POSTOP. If home PT, ONLY mobility, transfers, ambulation, home safety evaluation (if needed) only. No range of motion or strengthening exercises to spine until cleared by surgeon or his assistant.
- Diet: Regular diet, take over the counter laxatives as needed (Colace, Senna, Metamucil, Citricel). Recommend high protein and calcium rich diet.
- Bathing: May shower on third day (72 hours) after surgery with brace off. Keep dressing and incision dry. Do not submerge incision in water until cleared by surgeon or his assistant.
- Incision Care/Dressing: Keep dressing dry. May shower with waterproof dressing (Tegaderm). If any foul-odor, purulent drainage (pus), or bright red blood from incision, call MD immediately.
- Follow-up Care: See Dr. Ball or assistant 10-14 days after surgery. Need radiographs of back, 2 views AP and Lateral for follow-up appointment.
- Bracing: None.
- Activity: Rest for first week, then increase activity to walking 2-3 times per day for 10-15 minutes each episode. PARTIAL WEIGHTBEARING 50% ON SURGICAL SIDE X 3-4 WEEKS, THEN ADVANCE WEIGHTBEARING AS TOLERATED. No bending, twisting, lifting more than 10 lbs.
- Physical Therapy: START AT 6 WEEKS POSTOP. If home PT, ONLY mobility, transfers, ambulation, home safety evaluation (if needed) only.
- Diet: Regular diet, take over the counter laxatives as needed (Colace, Senna, Metamucil, Citricel). Recommend high protein and calcium rich diet.
- Bathing: May shower on third day (72 hours) after surgery with brace off. Keep dressing and incision dry. Do not submerge incision in water until cleared by surgeon or his assistant.
- Incision Care/Dressing: Keep dressing dry. May shower with waterproof dressing (Tegaderm). If any foul-odor, purulent drainage (pus), or bright red blood from incision, call MD immediately.
- Follow-up Care: See Dr. Ball or assistant 10-14 days after surgery. Need radiographs of PELVIS, 2 views AP and Lateral for follow-up appointment.
At a Glance
Dr. Hieu Ball
- Double fellowship-trained orthopedic
- Orthopedic surgery residency at Harvard Medical School
- Over 20 years of spine surgery experience
- Learn more