The Minnesota Spine Institute staff works together to bring each patient a personalized experience in a way that leads to less pain, faster recovery times, and better outcomes.
From initial consultation to recovery, you can expect excellent health services, highly coordinated care, and personalized follow-up.
Before surgery
Preparing for Surgery
- Once your surgery date and location have been scheduled, you should contact your primary care physician and schedule a pre-operative history & physical. This must be done within 30 days of the surgery date. The appointment will entail a review of your past medical history, current medications, lab work, and an EKG if necessary. Once you have completed this appointment, please have the clinic fax the clinic summary and results to us at 612-404-2580.
- If you are taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, warfarin, or any other blood-thinning medication, you will need to stop taking them 7 days before surgery to minimize the risk of bleeding.
- If you smoke, you should stop or cut down to reduce your surgery risks and improve your recovery.
- Eat a well-balanced diet, supplemented by a daily multivitamin with iron.
- Arrange transportation to and from your scheduled surgery appointment, as you will be unable to drive for at least 24 hours. You may be required to have a responsible adult stay with you during your procedure. Our staff will direct you accordingly depending on your surgery location.
- A nurse from the surgery facility will contact you before your surgery date to go over your scheduled surgery details, including arrival time, current medications, and any eating or drinking restrictions. Do not eat or drink anything 8 hours before your surgery start time.
Day of Surgery
- Do not eat or drink anything 8 hours before your scheduled surgery time. If you do forget to follow this rule, your surgery could be rescheduled.
- Leave your valued belongings at home, except for your photo ID and insurance cards.
- Wear comfortable clothing and slip-on shoes if available.
- Please notify us immediately of any unpredicted illness or fever by calling 612-670-4971.
After surgery
After Surgery
After surgery, you will be brought to the post-operative recovery area for a short period. Depending on the surgery that was performed, you may be discharged home or you may be admitted for an overnight stay. When you are ready to go home you will be given discharge instructions along with any prescriptions. After you arrive home, get up and walk every 2-3 hours and increase the distance and time that you are walking. You may shower the next day after surgery. Remove the dressing and allow the water to wash over the incision but do not apply soap directly to the incision area. You may experience some incisional discomfort after surgery. Between days 2- 3 of recovery, post-operational inflammation may start to increase. The use of cold packs, anti-inflammatories, or steroids can be used to help decrease the discomfort. Avoid using heating pads.If you experience any of the following, please contact us right away:
- You experience a fall
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Inability to urinate or incontinence.
- Increased redness, swelling, or increased blood around the incision site
- Fever of 100.3
- Pain not relieved by medication, ice, or repositioning or if your pain continues to worsen.