Patients are asked to follow up regularly with the spine surgeon after a certain period of time. In the interim, patients may need to contact their surgeon if there are unusual changes to their postoperative recovery, which include discharge from the wound, worsening of pain, which is not relieved with pain medications, worsening of neurological deficits, occurrence of new neurological deficit, occurrence or worsening of tingling and numbness, involvement of bowel or bladder.
If the patient suffers chest pain, shortness of breath, any stroke-like symptoms, or paralysis, sudden onset of severe pain or in the calves or in the belly, these patients should contact the emergency room or call 911 as soon as possible.