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At NJ Spine and Orthopedic, your back health is our top priority. We strive to care for our patients even after surgery to ensure their procedure was productive and provides relief for years to come. Following certain spinal surgeries, one of the most important things to do is to wear a back brace as instructed by your doctor. The brace will help with the healing, mobility, and overall health of your back. A Back Brace Helps with the Healing Process Laser spine surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a laser to break up the tissue on the spine through a small incision. When it comes to healing from this procedure, the spine has the ability to heal itself over time, as does any body part. However, wearing a brace will help with: Stabilization of the spine Reducing motion in the spine Improving posture Decreasing pain Speeding up your recovery A benefit to wearing a brace is that it will help with your healing process and create pain relief simultaneously. Wearing your brace will be a part of your pain relief treatment and enhance your recovery. Types of Back Braces You Might Need Before your surgery, you will be fitted for the brace that will both provide the best fit for your body and the most support based on the location of your treatment. Here are the most common types of braces that you might see: Soft Lumbar Corset Brace: Usually made from a soft or stretchy material, this brace will help with lower back pain and may be assigned if surgery is lower back focused. Thoracic-Lumbar-Sacral Orthosis Brace: The most common type of brace following a spinal surgery has a hard exterior and typically velcros securely around your stomach. This brace also has comfort padding to ensure comfort during wear. Cervical Collar Brace: This type of brace comes in both hard and soft materials. It provides relief by stabilizing the neck, which is connected to the spine. When to Wear Your Back Brace It is recommended to wear your back brace when you are up and moving around. While you are sitting or lying down, you don’t need your brace because you are resting your body. However, if it is more comfortable you can sit and lay down with it as well. Following your surgery, your doctor will go over the specific times and occasions you should be wearing your brace in more detail. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions to ensure an easy healing process. When in Doubt, Ask Our Experienced Surgeons at NJ Spine and Orthopedic We are dedicated to providing surgeries that eliminate pain, discomfort, and dysfunction in the back and neck. We take pride in being there for our patients before, during, and after their procedures. If you have questions about a brace or any other component of spinal surgery, call us at (866) 272-9271 or reach out to us online to schedule your free consultation!

Most commonly performed to treat ruptured or herniated discs, laser spine surgery is a minimally invasive procedure in which surgeons utilize a focused beam of light to remove soft tissue over a spine through a small incision. Although this type of procedure often comes with a quicker recovery and less pain than more intrusive surgeries, laser spine surgery will still require some preparation. The surgical team that will be taking care of you should provide you with a list of what you will need to do before the procedure, but you’ll also need to speak with your doctor about what to expect from the surgery and ask questions about what they expect for your personal experience. For everything else, consult our list of expert tips on how you can better prepare for laser surgery. Medical Preparations for Laser Spine Surgery To promote a smooth recovery and reduce complications, there are a few lifestyle habits that your doctor may recommend you take up prior to the operation. Don’t be surprised if your doctor suggests that you: Refrain from smoking Eat a healthy diet Stay active Lose weight if you are overweight Minimize stress Your doctor may also recommend that you stop taking certain medications beforehand to prevent a reaction with the anesthesia or excessive bleeding. Make sure to consult with your doctor about all other medications or supplements that you are taking. Laser spine surgery is commonly performed as an outpatient surgical procedure. This means that you probably won’t have to stay the night at a hospital and that you should be able to sleep in your own bed, so make sure that you have arranged for a friend or family member to take you home. You won’t be able to drive yourself after waking up from anesthesia, so this is an important step. Getting Your Home Ready for Laser Spine Surgery Recovery When recovering from surgery, your capabilities will be limited for a while. To set yourself up for the best recovery, we recommend that you prepare your home before the procedure. Here are a few changes you can make to set yourself up for a smooth recovery: Put frequently used items in easy-to-reach areas: This will help to prevent stretching. Secure loose rugs: Doing so will prevent tripping and falling. Arrange for someone to help with chores: You’ll need to avoid strenuous activities like housework and yard work. Raise your bed: If your bed isn’t at hip-level, you may want to raise it to keep from shifting yourself too much. Order precooked meals: Having food made will allow you more time to focus on rest and recovery. Luckily, the recovery period won’t last as long as it would with conventional spine surgery, but having these precautions in place will help to ensure that you don’t overexert yourself and can look forward to a speedy recovery. Interested in Receiving Laser Spine Surgery? NJ Spine & Orthopedic Can Help If you’re experiencing pain in your back or spine and are located