Things I Could Not or Should Not Do After Surgery

After I had my spinal fusion surgery, there was a list of activities that I could not do or should avoid for the time being. As my recovery progressed the list of restraints got shorter; however, I was also given guidance on activities to avoid in accordance with my personal spinal fusion. I thought I'd write a blog post on these activities or 'things' that I was advised not to do or things that I should reconsider, as I don't think the parameters of post spinal fusion life are discussed that often.

Restraint #1: No piercings or tattoos.

This restraint was advised by my doctor and nurses, and it was something I have never considered before when going into surgery. Since there is already a threat of getting an infection in or around the incision before it's healed, I thought that once I had a scar and my incision was closed that I was no longer at a risk for infection. I was wrong. My medical practitioners advised me to not get any piercings or tattoos (basically anything that penetrates through skin) until a year after my spinal fusion surgery. This was due to the risk of getting an infection from a piercing or tattoo, and that the infection could spread to the 'hardware' in my spine. My surgeon said that since my spinal fusion would take about a year to 'heal,' an infection could still harm the healing process, and a severe infection could even cause me to undergo surgery all over again.

Restraint #2: No dental work or dental cleanings.

Similar to the previous restraint, the main concern with getting any dental work or dental cleanings is the risk of infection. When your mouth is being cleaned or any work is being done, there is often bleeding of the gums. Although it may seem like a low likelihood of happening, an infection could be caused if germs or bacteria get into the bloodstream - even in your mouth! This restraint was 'in place' for around six months! If you are in need of dental surgery then the dentist would need to be aware and provide antibiotics!

Restraint #3: Running.

I was not allowed to have any 'impact' for up to a year after my surgery. This meant no jumping, running, skiing (or snowboarding), and avoiding falling down at all costs! I used to run all the time on a treadmill; however, even after my one-year post operation appointment I was advised that running could cause issues. For example, if I were to feel any pain at all in my back while running, I should stop. This is due to my spinal fusion including my lumbar vertebrae. The doctor explained that I essentially had two main vertebrae which were carrying the weight of the spinal fusion and everything else above it. If these vertebrae were to get injured in anyway or start to have a curve, my spine would have to be fused even lower! This is why I've now started high intensity walking on treadmills (which you can learn more about in my previous workout blog posts), which I do instead of running!

Restraint #4: Bending forward.

This restraint was more applicable right after surgery and during my recovery than it is now. Bending forward is to be avoided as it puts an immense amount of strain on your back. Imagine your back being cut open, your spine forcefully straightened, rods and screws being inserted to keep your spine straight, and all your muscles getting used to the changes - there's a lot of moving parts!

Restraint #5: Showering.

This restraint was during the initial recovery stages of surgery. Since my incision was still healing, I was not allowed to get any moisture or water on my bandages due to the risk of infection. Essentially, I could not shower or get my hair wet, as I have long hair which would fall over the bandages. I was not allowed to get any water or moisture on or around my bandages for two weeks. Yes - this did make me feel very gross. When I was in the hospital I had my hair in two French braids (as suggested by my surgeon and nurses), upon leaving the hospital I put my hair in a bun, and my hair stayed in that bun for the week and a bit that followed my leave from hospital. One way to make myself feel less gross was to have a damp, warm washcloth that I would place on my face and after use to clean my armpits and other areas.

Restraint #6: Wearing high heels.

Although putting on a pair of high heels was very far from my mind after surgery, I wanted to mention it as I know individuals receiving spinal fusion surgery may wear them on a regular basis! Wearing heels after surgery is not explicitly discouraged, as it determines on the location of fusion and the number of vertebrae that are fused. That being said, in my own personal case, wearing heels was discouraged. When you wear high heels, your pelvis 'tips' forward to counter your weight shifting forward when wearing high heels. Since the height of the heel determines how far your pelvis tilts forward, the higher the heel you have, the more pelvic tipping you'll get! Since I had spinal fusion in my lumber vertebrae, I was told that if I wanted to wear heels to not have them be higher than an 'inch-or-so' in order to avoid too much pelvic tipping.

Restraint #7: Taking baths.

Baths were also discouraged as they could be harmful to the healing of the scar. If you were to think of how your fingers or feet look after being submerged in water for a while, the same thing can happen to your healing scar! Being submerged in water can cause the scar to 'pucker,' which can impact how it heals. The 'no baths' restraint is also applicable to other water activities like swimming or going on waterslides!

Restraint #8: No creams or lotions near the scar.

Even though the media (especially social media) often portrays certain oils or creams as 'magical scar healers,' they are not needed for a scar to recover properly. To this date I have not used any lotions or oils on my scar. Lotions, creams, or oils are designed to penetrate the skin in order to moisturize (or do whatever the bottles claim). It is important to avoid using them on or near the scar during the initial recovery process as you don't want the oil or lotion to get into the incision (it could cause infection). Your body is also working towards healing the scar, so it's best not to interfere during the beginning of healing! After a medical practitioner gives you the go-ahead to use lotions or oils or your skin, it's completely up to you if you want to use them or not!

Restraint #9: No sun.

Tanning or 'sunbathing' is never recommended by physicians due to the risk of skin cancer; however, being outdoors is recommended as long as the individual is wearing sunscreen (with an appropriate SPF) and limiting their time in the sun! For spinal fusion patients, sun is a big no! I could be outside; however, I was recommended to always have a top covering my scar, and a thick layer of sunscreen on. The reasoning behind this is that getting a 'tan' or any sun on my scar could make it burn quicker. This burn could delay the healing of the scar and also cause it to be discoloured. I was told to think of the area surrounding and including my scar as a skin injury - if my skin on my arm had a large cut in it would I put it out in the sun without sunscreen and something covering it? Definitely not. I also avoided sun on the majority of my body when I could, as getting a sunburn anywhere is quite painful, and my body was already working in overdrive to recover from a major surgery.

Restraint #10: Weightlifting limits.

I've written about my restraints for lifting nay weight over several blog posts; however, I thought that this restraint was an important one to discuss! Initially I was advised to not life any weight at all for the first month after surgery. That being said, my weight limits were increased gradually over time. My weight limits changed from zero pounds, to around two pounds, to five pounds, to ten pounds, and then no weight restrictions! Although this restriction is no longer applicable to me, I still would not go out of my way to lift something incredibly heavy, as I wouldn't want to injure myself! I also try to evenly distribute weight if I have to carry somethings that's a little heavy!

I hope you all enjoyed reading about my post-surgery experience! I had a lot of questions and requests to do a post similar to this one, so if you'd like to suggest any blog post ideas feel free to message me on Instagram or on this blog!

I'd also like to just reiterate that these are more general 'don't dos' and not applicable for everyone. Some individuals undergoing spinal fusion may have more restrictions or less restrictions depending on the severity of curvature, how many vertebrae are being fused, and other medical conditions that are present before or after surgery! These restrictions came from my pre-operation pamphlet and also personal conversations that I had with medical staff!

This blog is my own personal experience and journey with Scoliosis. It is not a medical blog, and if anyone has concerns about their own health, they should see a physician.