Attention ortho nurses!!

I was told by someone who had back surgery that they are on bed rest for 3 months. Is that a little extreme? I think it was a spinal fusion. Will provide more details later...

I'm not an ortho nurse, but I am a surgical nurse. My mother in law had a spinal fusion last July and she was up walking around in 3-4 days. She used a walker for a few weeks and a cane for a couple months, and she had to wear a back brace for several hours a day, but she certainly wasn't on bedrest for 3 months!

would seem unlikely, unless they shattered their spine, say an auto accident or bad fall....

i would have to see the docs orders to believe it.

I cant remember if she had a laminectomy or spinal fusion...

I could see 3 months of bedrest if the patient had complications and more complications that led to a prolonged ICU stay with sepsis and ARDS.

Most (repeat: MOST) back surgery post-ops are on bedrest for maybe 48 hours.

This would be so called bed rest at home... with no physical therapy... 3 MONTHS?!

Unlikely these days. As for the sepsis w/ARDS that isn't exactly bedrest if you are lying in an ICU w/ tubes up the ying yang -- they'd be unconscious. I know I am splitting hairs.

Never seen it.

I actually wish I had not posted. On reflection it seems you have some angle. This is a question for the healthcare team of the patient. Even if you provide more "details" it is not for us to second guess.

I think you are second guessing something someone claims to have been told post-surgery. If that is so, and you came here for ammunition to contest that, you are really in the wrong place.

Sorry.

Edited May 26, 2009 by 2BSure
punctuation

[APBT mom, LPN, RN]

Just to address the PT yes they aren't suppose to have it for at least three months because that's how long it takes the fusion to heal enough to not wear the brace. It would be the same for a lami but usually no brace.

I actually wish I had not posted. On reflection it seems you have some angle. This is a question for the healthcare team of the patient. Even if you provide more "details" it is not for us to second guess.

I think you are second guessing something someone claims to have been told post-surgery. If that is so, and you came here for ammunition to contest that, you are really in the wrong place.

Sorry.

No I am not trying to tell the patient to go against orders or question medical orders. I think that the person is feeding someone I care about a line of BS so they can continue to take advantage of a situation and the persons kindness. So maybe you can understand my position. I am not an idiot when it comes to med/surge nor do I claim to know everything, so I was hoping for some education. If you don't want to help me understand this, I will respect that.

[HonestRN]

Providing there were no complications with the surgery the patient would be up and in a chair the day after surgery on my unit even if it was a laminectomy with a fusion. PT will not begin or resume until at least 3 months however the patient is usually mobile. Driving will be limited for at least 3 weeks post-op as will heavy lifting, torso twisting, etc.

3 months of bedrest could lead to further complications such as DVT and pneumonia. I can't imagine this being ordered unless there is a specific underlying condition you have not mentioned.

[newohiorn, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I worked on a spinal surgery for over a year and never had any patient on bedrest for 3 months. Our fusion patients were dangled at bedside night of surgery and up walking the next day. A fusion without some other complications or extenuating circumstances would not require bedrest and, as others have said, would simply lead to other complications like skin issues, pneumonia, etc.

I was told by someone who had back surgery that they are on bed rest for 3 months. Is that a little extreme? I think it was a spinal fusion. Will provide more details later...

I dunno, there are a lot of variables including things that can impair bone strength & healing.

I do know that I've had 9 back surgeries the longest I've ever been down was 2 days and that was following one that had me on the table for 15 hours. I'm fused at 9 levels (S1-T10), my last few surgeries were very complex and well outside the norm. The 'most restricted' I have been is a full year in a rigid brace, 6 months post op until PT and not allowed to lift more than a cup of coffee for the first year.

I also know that 20-ish years ago we did keep fusions in the hospital, on bed rest and log rolling for 3-6 weeks.

Edited May 27, 2009 by kids

[diane227, LPN, RN]

I am an ortho nurse and no patients stays on bedrest. Any one who did that would be a great risk for a PE. They get up with PT the day of or the day after surgery. The only time they have to lay flat is when the dura is nicked and they are having CSF drainage. They have to be flat for 3 days when this occurs. They are discharged on day three with post operative outpatients PT.