Preventing Infection

Ways of Preventing Infection After Spinal Surgery Treatment

Preventing Infection

Preventing infection after spinal surgery is very important. The information provided here will help answer some of the questions you may have but remember, your doctor is your best resource. Be sure to follow all the instructions you have been given and don't hesitate to ask questions if you don't understand something.

Even the small things can greatly improve your chances of not getting an infection after surgery. Here are some of the simple things you can do:

1. Wash your hands frequently

This is, by far, the most important thing you can do. Good hand washing requires lukewarm water and anti-bacterial soap and washing the hands need to be for about 30 seconds.

Washing hands frequently and properly is the greatest defense against infection, this also goes for anyone in your household that is helping you take care of your incision.

2. Take Your Antibiotics

Your doctor will give you antibiotics after surgery and how often you should take them. Antibiotics can help prevent infection so it's wise to take them as your doctor prescribed.

3. Keep your Incision Clean

The incision after your surgery is like a magnet for infectious agents. Keep your wound dry and clean as much as possible or as advised by your doctor. One of the best ways to keep your wound clean is by taking a shower and cleaning the wound with soap (mildly antibacterial). Make sure that you rinse well. Remember to let your incision dry off completely before covering it with a clean bandage.

4. Wash Hands When Taking Care of the Wound

Again, washing the hands are is the most important step to take to ensure you don't get an infection after a surgery. This also goes for anyone else who's helping you clean your wound.

5. Quit Smoking

Research has proven that smokers are more prone to an infection after getting a surgery, and it has been shown that smokers are up to 6 times at greater risk of ending up with an infection compared to non-smokers. Apart from that, they also heal more slowly and gets more scarring.

Recovering From Spinal Surgery

After surgery, your surgeon will probably provide you with specific instructions about activities, exercises, and therapy. You will also be instructed in taking care of your incisions or wounds and preventing infection after spinal surgery. Depending on your procedure or surgery, you might be encouraged to be up out of bed, standing and walking soon after your operation. You may be provided with an assistive device such as a cane, walker or crutches. Your physician may also order physical therapy to help you with a specific program of therapeutic exercises.

The success rate for spinal surgery is very high, but, as with any surgical procedure, there is a possibility of complications developing. One potential complication is the development of an infection in the wound or incision, or in the tissues around the prosthetic device (implant). An infection can develop after you go home or while you're still a patient in the hospital so preventing infection after spinal surgery is critical to your successful recovery.

Minor wound infections are often successfully treated with antibiotics. More severe infections may cause the implant to dislodge and become very painful. This may lead to the need for additional surgery. It is good to know that preventing infection after spinal surgery is possible most of the time.

Helping to Prevent Infection

Both before and during your spinal procedure, your surgeon will take steps toward preventing infection after spinal surgery. Many times antibiotics are given prior to surgery and also for a short time following the operation as a preventative measure. Your physician will also recommend that before you have any invasive tests or procedures, such as dental work or a colonoscopy, you take an antibiotic as a way of preventing infection after spinal surgery. This is because your implant increases your risk of an infection by providing bacteria a place to hide from your body's natural immune response. Antibiotics are taken before procedures help in preventing infection after spinal surgery.

Treating a Spinal Surgery Infection

When measure taken for preventing infection after spinal surgery are unsuccessful and infections develop within the first several weeks or few months after spinal surgery, intravenous antibiotics are often successful in treating them. Sometimes it is also necessary to surgically irrigate or flush the implant. If an infection develops several months or even years after surgery, treatment is more challenging and requires long-term treatment with IV (intravenous) antibiotics and blood tests to ensure the infection is completely resolved. When the infection is thoroughly cleared, another surgery may be recommended for preventing infection after spinal surgery from reoccurring.

If you have questions or concerns about preventing infection after spinal surgery or about caring for your incision or wound, be sure to talk to your physician.

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Questions & Answers

What is the best way to treat permanent back and neck pain and stiffness?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

The best position to lie to sleep is on your back. If you sleep on your stomach or on your side, make sure your pillow is not too thick. It should raise your head no more than 4 to 6 inches. This will keep your neck and head from turning to either side.

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

While you are working at a computer, sit comfortably in your chair with your computer in front of you. Close your eyes and then open them. When you open your eyes, you should see the middle of the computer screen. If your gaze is not in the middle of the screen, adjust the height of the screen using items like books.

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Use a telephone headset

Never hold a phone between your shoulder and your ear. Use a headset or other hands-free system to talk on the phone and avoid abusing your neck and spine.

Neck Pain Tips: Exercise your neck muscles

One of the best neck pain tips is using the chin tuck. You can do this often throughout the day. In addition to helping strengthen the muscles that hold the head in alignment over the shoulders, it also helps strengthen the scalene and sub-occipital muscles.

Age2B

4 answers

What is the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder Pain?

Age2B

One of the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder pain is exercises:

Neck Pain Exercises: Neck Extension

To begin this neck pain exercise, sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the palm of your hand on the back of your neck, at the base of your head
Apply slight forward pressure with your hand, while resisting the forward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

Neck pain exercises: Side bend

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place your left hand, palm down, on the left side of your head (around your ear)
Slightly push your head to the right side with your hand, while resisting the sideways motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat 5-10 times
Repeat the neck pain exercises with the other side.

Neck pain exercises: Neck flexion

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the tips of your fingers on your forehead
Slightly push your head backward with your fingers, while resisting the backward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

More exercises here: Neck Pain Exercises

Age2B

4 answers

How do I reduce the shoulder and neck pain?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Carry weight evenly

Many people make the mistake of carrying a heavy briefcase or their purse on their shoulder or on one side of their body. Doing this causes strain in the muscles and leads to pain.

Remove non-essentials from your briefcase or purse. Consider using a backpack to evenly distribute the weight across your shoulders. If you choose to carry a purse or backpack, keep your shoulders level while carrying it.

Neck Pain Tips: Maintain a proper posture

The most common posture contributing to neck pain is the “head-and-shoulders-forward” posture. In this position, the neck slopes forward, putting the head in front of the shoulders.

In this position, the head pulls the upper back forward also in a slumped position. This places a strain on the entire spinal column.

More tips here: Neck Pain Tips: Sleeping, Posture, Exercising, Hydration & Prevention

Age2B

4 answers