Postoperative Care

You may feel immediate relief from pain following this procedure. You may be able to walk the same day and you may be discharged from the hospital within 24 hours. Although the X-STOP^® IPD^® Procedure can typically be performed on an outpatient basis, your physician may recommend a short hospital stay.

Following your discharge, physical therapy may be recommended. Your doctor may ask you to return for an examination approximately six weeks later. While your doctor may recommend some limitation in your physical activities in the weeks following your operation, you should be able to travel and engage in light activity as soon as you feel able to.

Physical activity limitations may include:

	no bending backward
	no heavy lifting
	no stair climbing
	no sports such as swimming, golf, tennis, racquetball, running or jogging.

Postoperative medication is generally not required. Walking is usually acceptable as long as it is comfortable and does not exceed one hour in duration. Normal activity can usually be resumed with the doctor’s recommendation within two to six weeks after the procedure.

It is important for you to realize that you have undergone a surgical operation and that you should not participate in strenuous activities until your doctor has indicated you may do so. You must follow your doctor’s directions carefully in order to fully recover from your surgery.

If you are planning to have other diagnostic procedures or treatments, not related to your X-STOP^® IPD^® Procedur, please tell your doctor that you had X-STOP^® IPD^® Procedure.

Caution: It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully in order to fully recover from surgery. Failure to follow postoperative care recommendations may result in recurrence of symptoms and discomfort. A stress fracture of the spinous process may occur if strenuous physical activity is resumed too soon postoperatively.