Lumbar Laminectomy

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Choices

Risks

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

Before You Go

• Rest as much as possible to reduce your pain. You may get up to go to the bathroom.
• Do not lift heavy objects.
• You may find that sleeping on your side with your knees and hips bent is more comfortable than sleeping on your back or stomach.
• A few days before the operation, your doctor will probably tell you to stop taking over-the-counter pain killers such aspirin or ibuprofen.
• Before the surgery, you may need to talk to the anesthesiologist (AN-is-THEE-see-OL-o-gist) who will put you to sleep during the operation.
• You may be given a sleeping pill the night before surgery.
• You will need to stop eating and drinking sometime before the operation; your doctor will tell you exactly when this is necessary.
• If you take pills, swallow them with only a sip of water on the day of surgery.
• You may need to have the skin on your back cleaned with soap before going to surgery. The soap may make the skin yellow, but the stain will come off easily.

What to Expect While You're There

• Taking Your Vital Signs: These include your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around your arm.
• Oxygen: Your body may need extra oxygen at this time. It is given either by a mask or nasal prongs. Tell your doctor if the oxygen is drying out your nose or if the nasal prongs bother you.
• Pulse Oximeter: You may be hooked up to a pulse oximeter (ox-IM-uh-ter). It is placed on your ear, finger, or toe and is connected to a machine that measures the oxygen in your blood.
• IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing hooked up to it.
• Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your hand or from the bend in your elbow and sent to a laboratory for testing.
• Chest X-ray: This picture of your lungs and heart is used to check for problems before and after surgery.
• ECG: Also called a heart monitor, an EKG, or an electrocardiograph (e-LEC-tro-CAR-dee-o-graf). The pads on your chest are hooked up to a TV-type screen or a small portable box (telemetry unit). This screen shows a tracing of each heartbeat. Your heart will be watched for signs of injury or damage that could be related to the operation.
• ET Tube: This tube is inserted through the mouth or nose and advanced into the windpipe. It is often hooked up to a breathing machine. While the tube is in place, you will not be able to talk.
• Breathing Deeply and Coughing: After surgery, it is important to do this often to prevent a lung infection.
• Blood Transfusion: May be given to you if you need more blood.
• Neuro Signs: After surgery, nurses routinely check your eyes, see how easily you awaken, and test your memory to make sure your nervous system is functioning normally.
• Activity: After surgery, you will be encouraged to turn from side to side while lying in bed. When you turn, keep a pillow between your legs and move your whole body at the same time. Your doctor can show you how to do this. Do not sit except when using the toilet. You may be asked to walk as early as the day after surgery, but do not get out of bed until you are given the go-ahead.
• Pressure Stockings: You may need to wear these special stockings for a while after the operation. They prevent blood from collecting in your legs and causing clots.
• Cold and Heat: Place a cool towel or heating pad (set on low) on the area that hurts to ease the pain. Do not lie on the heating pad; it can burn you if you do.
• Strict Intake and Output: Nurses will carefully watch how much liquid you are getting and how much you are urinating.
• Medicines:
  • Before surgery, you may be given medicine to make you sleepy before you are taken to the operating room.
  • Pain medicine may be given in your IV, as a shot, or by mouth. If the pain does not go away or comes back, tell a doctor right away.
  • Antibiotics may be given by IV, in a shot, or by mouth to fight infection.
  • Anti-nausea medicine will be given if you are troubled with vomiting after the operation. This will help prevent you from losing so much water that your body becomes dehydrated.

After You Leave

• Be sure that you have a firm mattress. When lying on your back, place 2 or 3 pillows under your knees and the lower part of your legs to elevate them. When lying on your side, bend your knees and use a small pillow under your head and neck to keep from straining your shoulders, neck, and arms. DO NOT lie on your stomach.
• Move your legs often when resting in bed to keep from getting clots in your legs.
• You may use an electric heating pad (set on low) or a warm towel to ease the pain at the site of the surgery. Do not lie on the heating pad or use it when you are sleeping; you could burn yourself.
• When you sit down, put your feet on a footstool so your knees are at the level of your hips or higher.
• When you stoop down to pick things up from the floor, bend your knees and keep your back straight. Do not bend from the hips.
• Do not get up and move around too much at first. Limit the number of times you go up and down stairs each day.
• During the first weeks after surgery, ride in a car as little as possible; the motion of the car may cause your back to hurt. Your doctor will tell you how soon you may start driving again.
• Do not carry or lift anything heavier than 5 pounds until your doctor says it is all right to do so.
• Your doctor will tell you when you can resume strenuous physical activity.
• You may resume having sex as soon as it does not cause pain.
• You may shower or bathe after the site of your surgery (incision) has healed. Have a family member check your incision every day for drainage or redness.

Call Your Doctor If...

• Redness or yellow drainage appears at the incision.
• Pain at the incision site increases.
• You develop signs of infection such as headache, muscle aches, dizziness, a generally ill feeling, and fever.
• You feel weakness, numbness, or pain in your back, buttocks, or legs.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• You suddenly have trouble breathing or get a really bad chest pain.
• You cannot control your bladder or bowels.