The number of days you spend in the hospital will depend on many things. If your surgery is completed in one day, you will go home in about five days. If your surgery is done in two stages over two days, then you will be in the hospital about 14 days. (These are estimates only — each case is very individualized.)
After surgery and time in the recovery area, you will be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for close observation and care. You’ll be attached to a variety of equipment, including IVs for fluids and medications, and a pulse oximeter to measure the oxygen level in your blood. You’ll have a catheter connected to your bladder, and your legs will be in wrapped in compression sleeves that squeeze and release to help prevent blood clots.
You’ll also experience significant pain — both muscle pain and pain at the incision site. To help you manage your pain, you will have:
Post surgical pain typically peaks 2–3 days after surgery, but you’ll experience significant pain for the next two or three weeks as well. You will be provided with a quantity of pain pills that should get you through the first two to three weeks. After that, your pain should continue to decrease.
While in the hospital, your vital signs, blood work and pain levels will be closely monitored. It is important to function and participate in your own care so you can sit in a chair, stand and walk.
If you have a one-day surgery, your physical therapy team will probably get you up and into a chair the day after surgery. If you have two days of surgery, you will be expected and encouraged to get up as soon as you are physically able — typically a day or two after the second stage of surgery.
At first, the focus will be on sitting at the end of the bed. Eventually you’ll be walking with supervision several times a day. Whenever possible, your caregiver should be present during physical therapy sessions to learn how to help you after you go home.
You’ll be discharged from the hospital when your vital signs are stable, you can take several walks each day, and your IVs have been removed.
Before you leave, your health care team will make sure you have a follow-up plan in place and that you understand all your medications and instructions.
While most patients go home after discharge, a few will need extra time to recover before going home. If you need to go from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility, a social worker will help to make the arrangements.
If you have questions about your hospital stay after complex spine surgery, call us at (206) 223-7525.