After spinal surgery, the patient may have to change some daily habits in order to speed recovery and avoid risks. How will it affect the way you sleep? Instituto Clavel wants you to know.
When a patient receives a medical diagnosis indicating that surgery is the most effective solution for their herniated disc, they usually have many questions. Most of the questions are about the surgery itself, but there are also many others about what happens after, in the postoperative period: questions about when the patient can expect to return to work, or sports activities, and also about other basic life habits like sleeping posture. It’s this last question that we want to talk about in this article.
The first thing to bear in mind is that, at Instituto Clavel, we give each patient personalized recommendations for their individual case, taking into account the following aspects:
- Location of the herniated disc that has been operated on: whether in the cervical or lumber portion of the spine.
- The patient’s condition after surgery: symptoms, mobility, etc.
- The type of surgery that has been performed: arthroplasty or disc replacement, arthrodesis or fusion, microdiscectomy, etc.
However, although the ideal situation is to know all the details of the case in order to make specific guidelines, here we can give you some general information that applies according to which area of the spine has been operated on. Even so, to avoid risk, our advice is that you discuss all the details of your specific case with your doctor, and follow their recommendations.
Advice on how to sleep after cervical disc surgery
The first things to consider with regards to getting a good night’s sleep after the operation are your pillow and mattress. In the case of a cervical disc hernia, the height of the pillow is of vital importance. It should not be too high or too low, it has to be at a level that keeps the cervical joints from curving and allows your spine to lie straight. This is important to avoid pain.
Regarding sleeping posture, it’s best to sleep on your back, especially the first weeks after surgery, and avoid changing your position during the night. You can also sleep on your side, as long as there is no back pain or pain in any other area.
More information about cervical disc hernias
Advice on how to sleep after lumbar disc surgery
If your surgery is for a herniated disc in the lumbar area, you will have to pay close attention to the quality of your mattress. The goal is to keep your back straight, so it is important that the mattress has the right firmness, neither too soft nor too hard. The mattress should adapt to the curves of your body while supporting it without sagging. This will help you avoid bad posture and make it easier to sleep comfortably.
As for sleeping position, the same as in the case of cervical disc herniation, it is best to sleep on your back. However, in addition, it is also advisable to place a pillow under your knees to avoid putting pressure on the lumbar spine and to help it relax.
You may also sleep on your side, as long as you keep your legs bent. Sleeping on your stomach is not recommended until it can be done without any discomfort, something that usually happens 2 or 3 months after the surgical intervention.
More information about lumbar disc hernias
We hope you have found this information useful, and especially, we hope that you can rest properly after disc hernia surgery. Good sleep is fundamental to good health, especially during a recovery process. Therefore, if you find you have problems sleeping, please talk to the professionals who are handling your case so they can help you.
At Instituto Clavel, of course, we are available to answer any questions you may have regarding spinal pathologies. You can count on us for everything from an initial assessment or a second opinion, to making an accurate diagnosis with our recommendation of surgical or non-surgical treatments, and a personalized recovery plan.
Categories: Spine treatments, Wellness, Rehabilitation