Bone Spur Repair: What to Expect at Home

Your Recovery

A bone spur repair is surgery to remove a bone spur, a bony growth that forms on normal bone. Your doctor made one or more small cuts called incisions near the bone spur. Then the doctor used small tools to remove the piece of bone. Your surgery may have been done using a few small incisions and a lighted viewing tube called an arthroscope (arthroscopic surgery). Or the doctor may have made one larger incision (open surgery).

You may feel tired for several days after bone spur surgery. The surgery area may be swollen. And you may notice that your skin is a different color near the incisions. This is normal and will start to go away in a few days.

Your recovery will depend on where the bone spur was and the type of surgery you had. It may take several days to a few weeks for you to feel better. You may have to limit your activity until your strength and movement are back to normal.

This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.

How can you care for yourself at home?

Activity

• Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
• Be as active as you can. It can help prevent problems and help you recover. Talk to your doctor about what you can do and about any limits on your normal routine.
• Depending where on your body you had your bone spur surgery, you may need to use a sling, a brace, or crutches. Follow your doctor's directions for using them.
• The amount of time off you will need depends on the area and extent of your surgery and the type of work you do. If you have a desk job, you may be able to return to work or your normal routine in a few days. If you lift heavy objects, or do other labor, it may be several weeks or longer before you can return to work.
• You may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, if your doctor okays it. Pat the incision dry. Do not take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay.
• Ask your doctor when you can drive again.

Diet

• You can eat your normal diet.
• If your bowel movements are not regular right after surgery, try to avoid constipation and straining. Drink plenty of water. Your doctor may suggest fiber, a stool softener, or a mild laxative.

Medicines

• Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. The doctor will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines.
• If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
• Be safe with medicines. Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • Store your prescription pain medicines where no one else can get to them. When you are done using them, dispose of them quickly and safely. Your local pharmacy or hospital may have a drop-off site.
• If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
  • Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
  • Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
• If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.

Incision care

• You will be given specific instructions about how to care for the cut (incision) the doctor made. The instructions will depend on the type of materials used to close the cut.
• If your incisions are open to the air, keep the area clean and dry.
• If there are strips of tape on the cut (incision), leave the tape on until it falls off.

Ice

• Put ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when you are awake). Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and contact your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

• You passed out (lost consciousness).
• You have chest pain, are short of breath, or you cough up blood.

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

• You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.
• You are sick to your stomach or cannot drink fluids.
• You have loose stitches, or your incision comes open.
• You have signs of a blood clot in your leg (called a deep vein thrombosis), such as:
  • Pain in your calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin.
  • Redness or swelling in your leg.
• You have signs of infection, such as:
  • Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
  • Red streaks leading from the incision.
  • Pus draining from the incision.
  • A fever.
• You bleed through your bandage.

Watch closely for any changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any problems.