For many people, having spinal fusion surgery is a big step in helping them live a fuller life. However, friends or family may have reservations about spinal fusion surgery since it involves your spine. This is a sensitive area in your body that is involved in so many functions. There are things you can do to help talk to your family about this surgery to help put their mind at ease, and we’re going to outline them for you below.
1. Discuss Your Reasons for Having the Surgery
Although it may seem obvious to you, many of your family members may not know why you’re having this surgery or what it’ll help with. In turn, they can be very concerned when you first bring it up. So, sit down and outline your exact reasons for wanting the surgery. Maybe you have long-standing issues with your back and chronic pain, or maybe you recently sustained an injury, and alternative options like therapy failed you.
The key is to be very straightforward and honest with your loved ones when you discuss your reasons behind getting spinal fusion surgery. Many of them will understand when you explain how the surgery will directly help you resolve these issues. They’re also more likely to be very supportive if you explain how your current state impacts your life and how the surgery can improve it. You could even dig in and find specific cases that are close to or mirror your situation and show them how the surgery helped improve their life.
2. Walk Through the Procedure
When you hear about spinal fusion surgery every person can come up with a different way that they think the procedure gets performed. For your friends and family, this can lead to a lot of anxiety surrounding it, especially if they’re not fully aware of how far surgical techniques and procedures have come in recent years. Generally speaking, people tend to feel better when they understand exactly what is going to happen during your surgery.
Before you sit down to talk to your family and friends, sit down with your surgeon and have them walk you through the entire procedure. Ask any questions you have about the procedure itself and any follow-up care you will need. You could even ask them to give you a general outline in common terms to take to your friends and family. This will give you talking points and help get everyone’s questions answered, so they know exactly what to expect before, during, and after surgery.
3. Keep Calm and Be Confident
The entire time you talk to your friends or family, you want to be calm and confident about the procedure. Even if you’re nervous, it’s a good idea to convey confidence to anyone you talk to because this can help you avoid an anxiety loop. If you have older or very young people you want to talk about the spinal fusion surgery too, make sure to state it in a way that is very easy for them to understand.
It’s easy to find things like diagrams online where you can point out what is going to happen. If you’re calm and confident about it, your family and friends are more likely to accept it and not be so worried about you. You may have to reassure them a few times leading up to surgery, but keep the lines of communication open and be honest with them each time you talk to them.
4. Keep Communication Open
If your loved ones had no idea you were considering surgery, they might have no idea what to say when you initially broached the topic. They could go research on their own, but you really want them to come to you with any questions or concerns they may have. This way, they can get the answers straight from the source, and this can help get rid of a lot of anxiety or unknowns.
You could send out a short text asking if anyone has any questions once you have the initial talk. If someone brings it up to you in a different setting, encourage them to ask questions or tell you if they don’t understand everything. This will help you get a good idea of how well your initial conversation went. You should also have a plan in place to answer questions following surgery.
5. Talk to a Nurse or Surgeon
Many times before a surgery, the surgeon or nurses will have a few consultations. You can bring someone with you, and they can take the information back to the rest of your family. They may even agree to talk to your family with you during a virtual visit so everyone can ask the questions they want to ask to get a better understanding of what is going to happen.
This is why you want to pick out a very reputable and knowledgeable facility to perform your spinal fusion surgery. They should use the latest techniques and technology at their disposal, and you want them to be well-versed in every portion of the surgery. Talk about the plan pre and post-op, and they can also give everyone a nice overview of the entire procedure.
Florida Spine Associates Excels at Spinal Fusion Surgery
If you’re currently looking for a reputable and knowledgeable staff to perform your spinal fusion surgery, look no further than Florida Spine Associates. Our dedicated staff is ready to help answer your questions.
If you have questions about how to approach telling your family or loved ones about this surgery, we can help there too. We’ll help outline talking points for you to get the conversation started and moving along. If you have questions or concerns, now is the time to contact us at Florida Spine Associates. We’ll do everything we can to ensure the whole process goes smoothly and that everyone is calm and knows exactly what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.