Spinal Precautions
March 5, 2008
I have previously blogged specifically about sternal and hip precautions but only briefly mentioned spinal precautions. Every day, I get visitors to this blog looking for information regarding spinal precautions, so here they are:
- No Bending
- No Lifting
- No Twisting
The precautions, also known as BLT’s (for Bending, Lifting, Twisting) are usually in effect from anywhere between two and three months.
The bending will depend on where in the spine the surgery took place. If it was in the cervical spine, don’t bend your neck. If it was in your back, don’t bend your back.
One should not lift anything more than 5-10 lbs. after a spinal surgery. A gallon of milk is about 8 pounds (or 8.35 according to a patient of mine who was a firefighter), and is usually a good reference point as to the maximum you can lift.
Twisting is pretty straightforward. Don’t twist your back (or neck). The two areas people have trouble with this is when sitting down, one tends to twist and look to see where they are about to sit; and when wiping themselves after a bowel movement. Be careful!
These precautions apply to most spinal procedures, whether it is just a spinal cord stimulator placement, a laminectomy, ACDF, ALIF, etc.
Entry Filed under: OT, occupational therapy, precautions. Tags: bend, BLT, lift, precautions, spinal, spinal precautions, spine, twist.
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1.
Cherie | June 20, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I have a lot of patients post surgical intervention. I had the privilege of the cold room during open heart surgery…I also couldn’t sit down ( no seat in the surgery room) so when the sternal clamp held the ribs apart and I saw pink, I couldn’t sit to ease the dizziness. I am sure it;ll be different for you. However, you truly appreciate the precautions. I’d love to hear about cardiac precautions, as basic as they are…I worked on a cardiac unit and we began exercise including shoulders to 90 1-2 days after surgery….but I thought we went higher just without resistance, pulling/pushing or isometrics….the trend at the facility I work at now is for pacers and cardiac sx; nothing above chest level. I’d love to hear more.
THANK YOU
Cherie, FL
2.
aishel | June 21, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Cherie, thanks for your comment. See the following link for where I discuss sternal precautions:
http://bloggingot.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/open-heart-surgery/
3.
debby gilliam | October 3, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I would like some specific guidelines for upper extremity functional activities and ther ex after cervical spinal sx. In the clinic we always restricted any resistive ther ex. But allowed functioinal activity like comb hair, shave, get glass from upper cabinet etc. Any feedback? or place where I can get details?
4.
aishel | October 4, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I’ve also heard that with cervical spines, any resistive exercise should be avoided. Beyond that, I don’t have much information.
5.
Rashmi Bhatia | March 4, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Hi,
I am wondering if you prevent patients from crossing their legs (hip ER to get foot on opp knee) to manage LB dressing following spinal surgery??
6.
jim | April 30, 2009 at 7:43 am
What medicine is linked to cancer for spine treatment
7.
jim | April 30, 2009 at 7:45 am
What medicine is linked to cancer for spine treatment that surgions still use