[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/07\/spine-surgery\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/07\/spine-surgery\/","headline":"Getting Healthy Before Your Spine Surgery","name":"Getting Healthy Before Your Spine Surgery","description":"

Learn how to prepare your body for back or spine surgery with diet, exercise, and relaxation tips to improve recovery and reduce complications.<\/p>","datePublished":"2024-07-26","dateModified":"2024-07-25","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery-regions","name":"Neurosurgery","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/neurosurgery-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/neurosurgery\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GettyImages-1176334519.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GettyImages-1176334519.jpg","height":867,"width":1999},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/07\/spine-surgery\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Spine Health"],"wordCount":1159,"articleBody":"Back or spine surgery can improve your physical function and quality of life, but it\u2019s a major procedure. Preparing for surgery can improve your outcome and help you recover faster.Fadi Sweiss, MD, neurosurgeon, outlines how to get healthy before surgery and what to eat to strengthen your body and improve your chances of surgical success.Back and Spine Surgery\u00a0ConsiderationsYour surgeon may recommend spine surgery to treat problems with your spinal vertebrae (backbones),\u00a0discs (cushions between your spinal vertebrae), or nerves.As with any surgery, there are risks of complications during or after the operation. Certain health conditions, like diabetes or obesity, increases your risk. But preparing and strengthening your body before your operation may reduce your chance of:Blood clots.Infections.Loss of strength and flexibility.Problems with wound healing.How to Get Healthy Before SurgeryWith an elective surgery that you can plan in advance, you may have plenty of time to get your body healthy. These are great places to focus:Aim for a healthy body weight by eating well and exercising most days. Obesity, which is when a person has a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, increases the risk of serious or life-threatening complications. These can include blood clots and infections. It also makes your surgery more challenging to perform, especially if your surgeon must access your spine through your abdomen. Being underweight (a BMI under 18.5) can also increase your risk of infections and delay healing if you have poor nutrition.Manage any underlying health conditions by taking your medication and eating a healthy diet. Having uncontrolled diabetes or metabolic syndrome increases your risk of complications like infections, blood clots, heart problems, or delayed wound healing. Surgery complications increase the length of your hospital stay and make recovery more challenging.Quit smoking. Smoking weakens blood vessels, raises blood pressure and stroke risk, and makes healing after an operation harder. Ask your doctor for help if you\u2019re having difficulty quitting.Support your immune system with a healthy diet, plenty of rest, and preventive care. Stay current on immunizations, wash your hands frequently, and wear a mask if you come in contact with sick individuals.\u00a0A strong immune system is critical before and after spine surgery because it helps fight infection and speed healing.Work with a gym trainer or a physical therapist to strengthen your body. You\u2019ll have limited mobility and will likely lose some muscle mass while you recover from surgery. Building strong core and leg muscles before surgery will help you regain strength and mobility faster.What to Eat When Preparing for SurgeryEating a nutritious diet is one of the best ways to prepare for back or spine surgery. But don\u2019t wait until the day before \u2014 start as far in advance of your surgery as possible.A healthy, balanced diet helps:Boost immune health.Improve blood sugar and blood pressure.Maintain a healthy weight.Promote faster healing.Reduce your risk of surgical complications.A nutritionist can assess your nutrition status and design a personalized nutrition plan to manage any health conditions.In general, aim to eat:Five to seven servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Low in calories and high in fiber and nutrients, they support a healthy weight and blood sugar. Colorful fruits and vegetables also provide vitamin C and antioxidants for your immune system. All fruits and vegetables are good for you, so choose a variety for each meal and snack.Healthy fats from nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, and oily fish like salmon or sardines. These foods reduce inflammation, which promotes faster and easier healing after surgery.A palm-of-your-hand-sized serving of protein foods like eggs, tofu, Greek yogurt, legumes (beans), poultry, meat, or fish at meals and snacks. Protein is vital for wound healing after surgery. It also helps build and maintain muscle to strengthen your body before surgery.Several daily servings of healthy, complex carbohydrates. Foods like whole wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice, peas, sweet potatoes, and beans provide long-lasting carbohydrates to fuel your body. They help stabilize your blood sugar and keep you full for longer, making it easier to manage your weight.Try to limit highly processed foods before surgery. These include:Fast foods like burgers, fries, hot dogs, and pizza.Frozen, packaged, or canned meals.Packaged salty and sweet snacks like chips and cookies.Sugar-sweetened soft drinks like soda, juice drinks, and sweet tea.Sweetened cereals.The large amounts of added sugar, refined carbohydrates, and unhealthy fats in these foods increase inflammation. High levels of inflammation can impair your immune function, surgical healing, and recovery.Recommendations Before Surgery“Nerves and anxiety are normal before any surgery. You\u2019ll feel better knowing you\u2019ve done everything possible to prepare your body,” assures Dr. Sweiss.Meeting with your doctor and learning what to expect before, during, and after surgery is also helpful. Learn as much as possible, ask questions, and discuss your fears.Try these tips to reduce your anxiety:Distract yourself with a few good books or movies.Exercise daily.Meditate or do tai chi.Participate in a support group with people who have undergone spinal surgery.You\u2019ll also feel calmer if you prepare your home environment in advance. As your surgery date approaches, stock up on food and any essentials you may need for recovery.You\u2019ll appreciate not having to cook, so prepare and freeze lots of meals. Stock foods that are:Easy to prepare, store, and reheat, like soups, stews, and casseroles.High in calcium and vitamin D to support bone and cartilage repair. Milk or yogurt-based smoothies are healthy and easy for a meal or snack.High in fiber to prevent constipation. Stock fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, and shredded wheat cereal.High in protein to promote wound healing, like scrambled eggs or tuna salad.A few days before spine surgery, it\u2019s critical to follow your doctor’s orders regarding medications, food, beverages, and alcohol. It\u2019s generally a good idea to avoid alcohol at least a few days before surgery because it can increase bleeding risk.Because you\u2019ll have anesthesia and medicine that makes you sleep, you\u2019ll have to stop eating at least eight hours before surgery. Your doctor may allow water or clear liquids like apple juice or gelatin until two hours before surgery.If you take medication, ask your doctor if it\u2019s safe to take before surgery. Depending on the medication, you may have to skip a dose the morning of your procedure.“There’s much to consider before spine surgery. The right preparation will make you healthy and strong and allow for a faster recovery,” says Dr. Sweiss.SourcesJournal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Body Mass Index and Risk of Complications After Posterior Lumbar Spine Fusion: A Matched Cohort Analysis Investigating Underweight and Obese Patients. LinkCurrent Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. The Effect of Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome on Spine Surgery Outcomes. Link"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2024","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"07","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/\/07\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Getting Healthy Before Your Spine Surgery","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2024\/07\/spine-surgery\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]