Wound Care & Medication Management After Microdiscectomy Surgery

A microdiscectomy is one of if not the most common elective spinal procedure that is performed in the United States each year, and the goal of the surgery is to decompress a specific area of the spine by removing part or all of an offending spinal disc. With that said, here’s a look at what you may expect at home following your microdiscectomy procedure.

Wound Care

Your surgeon or your medical team will give you some advice for managing your incision site in the early stages of your recovery. Because the skin has not yet sealed back together, you’re going to want to avoid getting the area wet or doing anything that could make it easy for bacteria to enter the area. Change your dressing as recommended and strive to keep the site clean and dry until the wound closes.

Medication Management

Another area where it’s incredibly important to follow the specific instructions of your surgeon is when it comes to managing your opioids or prescription medications. They’ll explain how to take your medications to minimize pain while also avoiding a dangerous level of meds in your body. Take your medications as directed, and if you have reason to believe that your medication regimen needs to be adjusted, talk with your specialist before making any changes.

This is just general advice, and although your specific treatment plan will follow a number of the same steps below, it is always in your best interests to follow the individualized recommendations that you receive from your treating surgeon.

If you are dealing with a disc problem that is not responding to conservative care, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi to learn more about your treatment options.

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