Recovering from Laminectomy or Laminotomy

After surgery, you can expect to feel some pain at first. The doctor will give you pain medicine to help. Also, doctors will help you get up and moving shortly after surgery. And you'll be shown how to clear your lungs.

At first, you may be given pain medicine through an I.V. (intravenous) catheter or by injection. Expect to feel some pain, even with the medicine. This is normal. But if the medicine doesn't reduce your pain enough, be sure to tell the nurse. The nurse will ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the worst pain.

With PCA (patient-controlled analgesia), pain medicine is sent through your I.V. line at the push of a button. To provide a steady level of pain relief, only you should push the button. For your safety, the pumps have special features to limit the amount of medicine you get. Once you are able to eat and take medicine by mouth, you will be taken off your PCA pump and given oral pain medicine (pills) as prescribed by your doctor.

You may start to walk within hours after surgery. Often this is done with the help of a walker. This reduces some risks of surgery, such as blood clots. With an I.V. and a PCA pump in place, walking may be a little tricky. But don't worry. A doctor will help you. Ask for help from your doctor before trying to get up on your own without help, especially if you have been taking pain medicine.

Fluid can collect in the lungs after any surgery. To clear your lungs and prevent pneumonia, breathe deeply and cough. You should do this often—at least a few times each hour. A respiratory therapist or nurse may show you how to use an incentive spirometer. This device can help you take deep breaths to open your lungs and clear mucus.