If you’re thinking about having foraminal narrowing surgery, you probably want it to be as effective as possible. After all, if you’ve already gone to the trouble of conservative, nonsurgical treatments without much success, you’re likely looking forward to some relief from your symptoms. There are a few simple steps that you can take to reap the maximum benefits from your surgery.

Tip No. 1: Get all the information you can

As with any surgery, you want to be sure to learn as much as possible about your foraminal narrowing surgery before consenting to it. Be sure to ask your physician and/or surgeon about:

• What the procedure entails
• How it can help with your particular symptoms
• What the typical recovery is like
• How long you’ll have to wait before you can start walking, performing household tasks and participating in other activities again

It may help you to bring along a family member or friend who can help you take notes during these appointments so that you don’t miss an important point or forget to ask a question.

Tip No. 2: Ask about your options

When making appointments with your physician or surgeon, inquire about the surgical options available to you. Open spine surgery is the traditional choice for foraminal narrowing surgery, but there are minimally invasive options as well. At USA Spine Care, our surgeons perform outpatient, minimally invasive surgery that is often the clinically appropriate first choice for those with foraminal narrowing and other spine conditions when compared to traditional procedures. You may find that one of these options is a better fit for your needs.

Tip No. 3: Provide a complete picture to your surgeon

Be forthcoming about your previous treatments as well as your past imaging results with your surgeon or physician. Having access to this information can help your medical provider determine where exactly your spine problem is occurring and determine the best course of action for you.

Tip No. 4: Follow instructions

If you do decide to have foraminal narrowing surgery, it’s vital to follow your surgeon’s instructions to prepare for the procedure. You also need to be prepared for your recovery period after surgery. For example, if you are told to avoid lifting objects or to minimize driving, you should heed those warnings to help make your healing and recovery process as smooth as possible.

If you’d like to learn more about the outpatient, minimally invasive surgery that USA Spine Care offers for foraminal narrowing, contact us today. We can provide you with an MRI review at no cost* so you can find out if you’re a candidate for our procedures.

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