This post was co-authored by Grace McClure and Dr. Nicholas Frisch), M.D., OS, MBA. Constipation after surgery is no laughing matter. Although “toilet talk” may not everyone’s favorite dinner table topic, it is a frequently asked question between patients and surgeons and in support communities and forums. To

For many adults, driving a vehicle and feeling independent go hand-in-hand. After joint replacement surgery, driving represents freedom, progress, and a return to your new normal. In short, getting back into the driver's seat is a major and meaningful milestone. So, when is it safe to drive after a hip

A surprising number of people are afraid of anesthesia. The idea of "going under" or being "put to sleep" can stir some anxiety in most of us. However, is this fear completely irrational? Or is there really something to worry about? Two common fears that patients cite about anesthesia are:

Feeling depressed after back surgery catches a lot of people off-guard. Postoperative depression isn't something that's widely discussed at appointments, in hospital handouts, and even between patients. However, a lot of people who have spine surgery report feeling depressed or have symptoms of depression during their recovery. A study by

Scar tissue massage after back surgery can be very beneficial to patients. Whether you've had a laminectomy, discectomy (microdiscectomy), spinal fusion, vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, scar tissue is an evitable part of recovery. In fact, scar tissue after back surgery is a normal part of healing. As your incision site and

If you have a hip or knee replacement on the books, there's no doubt you've spent a lot of time thinking about recovery. What will recovery be like? How painful will recovery be? How will I know if my recovery is (or isn't) normal? How long will I be down

The popularity of medical marijuana is on the rise. More than ever before, marijuana is being used as an alternative treatment for a host of medical conditions—both physical and emotional. When it comes to chronic pain, osteoarthritis, back pain, medical marijuana is now being recommended by some physicians and

A single hip or knee replacement can be stressful enough. But what happens when you need both done? Is it better to get both joints replaced at once? Or is it safer to stage your replacements, building-in recovery time? For those who've been diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis in both joints,

This post was co-authored by Grace McClure and Dr. Trevor North, M.D., OS Everyone knows back surgery is scary but what doesn't get as much airtime is how anxiety-filled recovery can be. It's tough to know what to expect after back surgery and whether the symptoms you're experiencing are

Do you have spondylosis, a bulging disc, stenosis, scoliosis, or chronic back pain? Considering back/spine surgery to treat your condition? Read on to learn how much pain to expect after surgery. When you've got chronic back pain, the thought of going through a procedure that will temporarily cause more