Recovery at Home

To share what you can do when you leave hospital and how long your recovery is likely to take.

Why? So you can plan your recovery and get back to doing the things you enjoy.

It will cover:

• Recovering at home
• Tips to help you manage after surgery
• What to expect over the next 12 months
• When you can return to school and certain sports activities

Once you are home, continue to build up your activities at a steady pace. You can decrease the number of painkillers you are taking as the pain improves. Increasing your activity levels will decrease your chance of certain complications.

After being discharged home, please call the spinal nurse specialist on 07812279918 if you have any concerns or if you have any general questions or queries. 

Your stitches will be dissolvable, but there may be adhesive strips called steristrips across the wound. These are paper strips and will be removed at 10-14 days or will be left to fall off naturally. Your wound should be dry and healed around 2-3 weeks after your surgery, you do not need to wear a dressing after this time. You will have an appointment with the spinal nurse specialist at 2-3 weeks to look at your wound.

Some people may have knots at the end of the wound which you can see and feel – these can be cut out at 2 weeks by your GP practice nurse. If left, they will eventually fall off but they may catch on clothing which is why you have the option to remove them after 2 weeks.

If you notice any of the following around the wound, you must contact the spinal nurse specialist or ward team for advice: swelling, oozing, pain, redness, gaping or tenderness.

Timelines:

• You will be able to shower 5 days after surgery if your wound is dry (the wound dressing is clean)
• Shower with the wound dressing on then replace the dressing after every shower so it is clean and dry
• The dressing is to protect your wound to stop scabs catching on your clothes which slows down the healing
• The wound dressing can be removed completely after 2-3 weeks if the wound is dry
• Taking a bath is not recommended until 3 weeks after surgery. 

Sitting and standing

It is important that you maintain good posture when sitting and standing. This will help with healing and will help to protect the spine. 

If you are sitting down:

• Try to maintain a good posture and position in the chair.
• Sit upright in a comfortable position and do not slump in the chair.
• You can use pillows for support if needed.
• To prevent getting stiff or being in pain, try to change your position regularly throughout the day.

When you are standing, for example when cleaning your teeth, try to stand in a good upright position with your shoulders back.

Getting on and off the bed 

• Bend your knees and move closer to the edge of the bed
• Roll onto your side and bring your legs off the edge of the bed
• Push onto your elbow and then use your upper arm to push up into a sitting position
• Repeat the same in the reverse order when getting back into bed

This will be the most comfortable technique for you and will avoid putting any unnecessary strain through your back. 

Lying down in bed

• When lying down in bed, sleep in positions which you find comfortable
• You are allowed to sleep on your front, side, or back
• You may find that having a pillow under or between your knees more comfortable
• It is important that you have regular rests during the day but remember to keep active
• Do not spend all day in bed, you’ll feel better if you move around

Medication

It is important that you take your medication as prescribed to keep on top of your pain. This will help you to remain active, complete your exercises and build up your strength.

General activities at home

Over the next 3 months, you must avoid any lifting or movement that will make you strain, and you must not bend or twist your spine excessively. You can continue with light activities at home along with light household tasks. These can be built up gradually as your pain settles and your strength builds up. It is important that you build up your activities at your own pace. 

 

Unless your physiotherapist tells you otherwise, try to:

• Complete 5 to 10 repetitions of each exercise depending on comfort 
• Complete each type of exercise 2 or 3 times each day if you are able.

Car journeys 

• You can travel in a car, but make sure you stop to take regular breaks if you have a particularly long journey. 
• You should be able to sit in a chair on the ward for the same duration as your journey home before being discharged. If you have a long journey home, you can add stops to reduce the length of time sitting. 
• Once you are back home, you are not limited to the house. We encourage you to go for walks and do what you feel ready to do. 

Tip: you may get tired more quickly during the first couple of weeks, so listen to your body and build things up so you can get back to doing what you enjoy.

Public transport – buses, trams, and trains 

• Plan your journeys before you leave the house to avoid busy times, so you don’t get caught standing on busy services until you are ready. 

Flying 

• Please discuss this with your consultant as it depends on the specifics of your operation and length of flight time. We’d normally recommend not to do flights over 4 hours until you are back to your full movement.
• We advise you take precautions prior to flying, such as using flight stockings and doing inflight exercises.
• Remember to check your travel insurance before travelling to check whether your condition is covered.

• After your operation, it is important to remember that everyone builds up how much they can do at different rates. 
• The information outlined below is a general guide of what to expect. Please discuss with your consultant.

0 to 6 weeks 

Over the first 6 weeks, aim to gradually increase the length of time you spend sitting, standing, and walking. Remember to rest when necessary and move little and often.

You will need to wear the TED stockings provided to you for the first 6 weeks, especially overnight.

You will be given pain medication to take home with you. This will be based on your individual needs. You should take these as directed. Pain relief may be needed for up to 6 weeks, but you can stop taking them when you feel you no longer need it. 

You can return to school when your pain levels and movement makes it possible to. Remember you will need to sit for long periods in class. Most people are back to school at 4 to 6 weeks, but some people take longer. You may also want to go back for parts of the day before returning full-time.

If you notice any swelling, redness, oozing, gaping, tenderness, or pain at the operation site, please contact the spinal nurse specialist for advice on 07812279918. 

2 weeks and 6 weeks

At around 2 weeks, you will attend a follow up appointment with your spinal nurse specialist to check the wound and ensure it has healed. You will also see your consultant or spinal nurse specialist at 6 weeks. It may be a little earlier or later depending on the availability of appointments. 

3 to 6 months 

Around the 3-to-6-month mark, you will need to attend a follow up appointment with the spinal nurse specialist. X-rays and clinical photography will take place during this appointment. The spinal nurse specialist will also check your scar and alignment. 

You might be able to return to low impact or low intensity sport and increase your time spent walking.

Contact sport might be acceptable from 6 to 12 months, but you will need to check with your consultant first.

12 months 

You will have regular annual follow ups at the clinic for at least 2 years. During these appointments x-rays will be taken and your alignment will be checked. 

Return to School

You can return to school when your pain levels and movement makes it possible to. Remember you will need to sit for long periods in class. Most people are back to school at 4 – 6 weeks but some people take longer. A phased return to school is highly recommended, potentially starting with a couple of lessons or a half day, then gradually increasing your time spent at school. 

You must think about your posture and make sure you sit with your back supported whilst in lessons. Think about what you can carry in your school bag and build up at your own pace depending on what feels comfortable. We strongly recommend that you use a light rucksack type bag over both shoulders.

Tip: To avoid getting jostled or bumped in the crowded school corridors, try to avoid the busy classroom rush. It might help to ask your teacher for permission to leave the class a few minutes early, giving you extra time to safely get to your next lesson. 

Returning to P.E. and other sports activities

Timescales can be very helpful, but everyone is different and will recover at a different rate. Please discuss this with your consultant as timings of starting these sports activities can vary.

• P.E. varies depending on the sport, and if it is contact or non-contact
• Low impact or low intensity sports from 3 months
• Swimming and cycling can start between 6 weeks and 3 months, depending on wound healing
• Going to the gym on the static bike or walking on the treadmill from 6 weeks
• Running from 6 months
• Contact sports from 6 to 12 months

Walking is a key exercise to continue when you go home, alongside the exercises outlined in the ‘Recovery in Hospital’ section. We advise increasing your walking distance and speed gradually. 

When you are discharged, you will be given advice from your physiotherapist on getting used to your new posture and will be encouraged to start gentle active movement. The physiotherapist will discuss this with you and will provide you with written information regarding your activities when you go home. 

Outpatient physiotherapy is not routinely required following your operation but is available on referral from your consultant or the spinal nurse specialist to meet specific post-surgical goals.

If you have undergone revision or an extension of previous surgery, then please ask if you have any further questions.

If you have any queries about home, school, or anything outlined in the booklet, please do not hesitate to contact the physiotherapists, occupational therapists, consultants, or the spinal nurse specialist.

You can also find lots of helpful information on the website of Scoliosis Support and Research.

The information in this booklet has been gathered by the scoliosis physiotherapist and is based on information from NUH consultants, the scoliosis specialist nurse and extensive research.

If you have any queries on, or after your discharge, please contact our physiotherapists on 0115 8493326.

E40 ward
Tel: 0115 924 9924 ext. 89040

The Children’s Pain Team
Tel: 0115 924 9924 ext. 84551 / 86236