Stop smoking/using nicotine: This is paramount as smoking significantly impairs bone healing and increases infection risk.
Optimize overall health: Manage chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Lose weight: If you are overweight, it can reduce stress on the spine and aid recovery.
Follow pre-operative instructions: This includes medication adjustments, fasting, and hygiene.
Improve nutrition: Eating a healthy diet supports healing.
Strengthen core muscles (if advised by surgeon): Pre-operative physical therapy can sometimes help.
Disc replacement surgery provides a less invasive alternative to spinal fusion surgery and protects against adjacent level degeneration.