Baylor Scott & White Spine & Scoliosis Center

Surgical techniques that we perform

Typically, a spine surgery will incorporate a combination of techniques to achieve the goals of surgery from the back doctors.

Pay bill

Baylor Scott & White Health is pleased to offer you multiple options to pay your bill. View our guide to understand your Baylor Scott & White billing statement.

Patient forms

To ensure that your visit to our office is as convenient and efficient as possible, we are pleased to offer our registration forms online. The patient registration form may be completed electronically and printed for better legibility or completed manually.

• New patient packet
• New patient packet (español)
• New patient form (Dr. Chavarria)
• Health history
• Release of information from BSWH
• Release of information from BSWH (español)
• Release of information to BSWH
• Release of information to BSWH (español)

Post-operative care for back surgery in Dallas

This information consists of generalizations and is appropriate for the vast majority of back patients, but each patient will have an individualized plan that the patient will create with his or her spine surgeon. The following is general information for all spine surgeries, followed by information for specific surgeries.

For the first few weeks after spine surgery, the sharp cutting pain from back surgery will subside, but most people will feel sore and have decreased endurance beyond that for a while longer. Over the first few weeks it is expected that back pain patients will wean off any narcotic (pain) medication. We will only be able to refill pain medications in the clinic, so it is important for spine patients to plan accordingly. We cannot refill pain medications or other medications over the phone after hours or on the weekend. If you need a refill or back pain medicine, it is recommended that you call the clinic for an appointment at least three business days before you would run out.

Patients should resume their normal diet once at home but should also add fiber, either through fiber supplements or food, like prune juice, to prevent constipation. Also, taking over-the-counter stool softeners, and laxatives if needed, is recommended after a spine surgery. It is much better and easier to prevent constipation than to treat it; the medications for constipation are over the counter, and a prescription is not required. The local pharmacist can provide guidance for these medications after a spine surgery in Dallas.

Patients should shower daily once at home, unless instructed differently from their spine surgeon. For cervical surgeries, remove your collar and shower normally. Typically, you will shower with your bandage on, and then have someone remove your bandage after showering, dry the area well and gently and place a new bandage. The bandages for lumbar surgeries, both front and back, are more of a cushion or pad to prevent pants from rubbing the incision. Rubbing the surgery incision will cause irritation, and that could lead to infection. The bandage does not need to look like what was used in the hospital—oftentimes gauze and tape is just fine.

Follow-up appointments are usually three weeks, two months and six months after surgery. Fusion surgeries are usually seen at the year anniversary of the spine surgery, and large spinal reconstructions are generally followed yearly for a few years. Obviously, if there are issues or questions that arise, patients are asked to contact the clinic to arrange follow up sooner.

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