Spinal fusion surgery

[bonjoduea]

I am going to have spinal fusion done on L4-5 with disc removal and bone graft from my hip. I have not been in the surgical arena for a long time and need to know what I am going to expect post-op. I am worried about pain and what kind of medication I can expect. I appreciate any input you can give me.. Thanks!

[NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN]

Our pt's usually can get morophine IVP every 1-2 hours PRN. That order is good for the first 24 hours. Once they can keep some PO fluids down they usually either get Lorcet or Lorcet 10 q4-6 hours PRN. You'll probably have a PRN for nausea, we usually do Zofran. IV antibiotics for 1-2 days. Will you be fitted for a brace? If you need one you will probably have a foley in until you're cleared to use it so you aren't rolling around too much or standing. Most of my patients feel less pain than they did pre-op. They have incisional pain, but their pre-op pain and numbness is gone very soon after surgery. Of course, everyone is different, but those are some generalizations from my Neuro floor.

[grannynurse FNP student]

Our pt's usually can get morophine IVP every 1-2 hours PRN. That order is good for the first 24 hours. Once they can keep some PO fluids down they usually either get Lorcet or Lorcet 10 q4-6 hours PRN. You'll probably have a PRN for nausea, we usually do Zofran. IV antibiotics for 1-2 days. Will you be fitted for a brace? If you need one you will probably have a foley in until you're cleared to use it so you aren't rolling around too much or standing. Most of my patients feel less pain than they did pre-op. They have incisional pain, but their pre-op pain and numbness is gone very soon after surgery. Of course, everyone is different, but those are some generalizations from my Neuro floor.

Funny, patients I have taken care of, complained of severe on going pain from their hip donor site. I had a three level cervical graft done, using brain coral. Only pain I had was at my op site.

Grannynurse :balloons:

[bonjoduea]

I have had IV morphine after a cystoretrocycle repair and it did not last more than 10 minutes..Is this different? I am taking Lorcet 10 now for the pain and it sometimes only lasts 3 hours..Am I in for a very unconfortable time?

Also do I have to lie flat? I usually sleep with 2 pillows. I know I am sounding like a whimp. But I don't like pain and I hate not sleeping in my own bed..You know...Thanks for the input

Our pt's usually can get morophine IVP every 1-2 hours PRN. That order is good for the first 24 hours. Once they can keep some PO fluids down they usually either get Lorcet or Lorcet 10 q4-6 hours PRN. You'll probably have a PRN for nausea, we usually do Zofran. IV antibiotics for 1-2 days. Will you be fitted for a brace? If you need one you will probably have a foley in until you're cleared to use it so you aren't rolling around too much or standing. Most of my patients feel less pain than they did pre-op. They have incisional pain, but their pre-op pain and numbness is gone very soon after surgery. Of course, everyone is different, but those are some generalizations from my Neuro floor.

[NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN]

I asked someone more "seasoned" on my floor about the graft sites and she likened it to graft sites on burn patients. The donor site usually hurts worse than the repair site. However, most pts claim to have less severe pain than the pain that originally sent them to the OR. As for the IV morophine, we generally only give it for the first few hours until the pt can tolerate po meds without vomitng them back up. You never know how someone will be coming off anesthesia. It really doesn't last very long and that's why we try to get the pts on po meds ASAP. I think our only pts that have to lie flat are the ones with lumbar drains in. Our spinal patients can have the HOB up or down without any big problem. The big concern is logrolling and not twisting from side to side. If you require a brace, we want you in bed until you're cleared. If not we want you OOB ASAP.