Enhanced Recovery After Surgery for Spine Patients

Holistic Support at ChiroMed – Integrated Medicine in El Paso, TX

Spine surgery can provide significant pain relief and help people move better. At ChiroMed – Integrated Medicine in El Paso, TX, we help patients recover faster and stronger by incorporating principles from Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs, also known as Enhanced Surgical Recovery (ESR). These programs use a team approach with steps before, during, and after surgery. They cut down on strong pain drugs like opioids, shorten hospital time, and lower the chance of going back to the hospital. Our clinic offers holistic care from chiropractors and nurse practitioners, plus new tools like virtual reality (VR), to enhance recovery.

Led by Dr. Alexander Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, ChiroMed brings together chiropractic care, advanced nursing, nutrition, and more under one roof. We focus on treating the whole person to promote natural healing. ERAS ideas fit perfectly with our integrative approach for spine surgery patients in El Paso.

Core Components of ERAS for Spine Surgery

Effective ERAS programs have steps in three phases: before, during, and after surgery. These help the body heal with less stress.

Preoperative Phase: Getting Ready at ChiroMed

Good prep makes a big difference.

• Patient Education and Counseling — We teach what to expect, including pain plans and activity goals. This lowers worry and helps patients stick to the plan (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, n.d.).
• Nutrition Optimization — Eating right before surgery builds strength. We check and address nutrition issues, such as adding special drinks (Elsarrag et al., 2022).
• Multimodal Pain Planning — We plan non-opioid drugs early, like acetaminophen, to start gentle control (Wainwright et al., 2023).

At ChiroMed in El Paso, our nurse practitioners guide this prep for smoother results.

Intraoperative Phase: Gentle Surgery Techniques

During surgery, doctors use low-harm methods, careful fluids, and pain drugs without heavy opioids (Debono et al., 2023).

Postoperative Phase: Fast Return to Activity

This phase brings the most gains.

• Early Mobilization → Walking soon after surgery builds strength and avoids problems (Wainwright et al., 2023).
• Multimodal Pain Management → We mix non-opioid drugs to control pain with fewer side effects and much less opioid use (Dietz et al., 2023; HCA Healthcare, 2022).
• Early Eating and Drinking → Normal food soon gives energy and helps the gut (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, n.d.).

These steps lead to shorter hospital stays—often 1-3 days less—and up to 44% fewer opioids (HCA Healthcare, 2022).

Benefits of ERAS: Less Opioids, Shorter Stays, Fewer Readmissions

ERAS changes recovery for spine patients.

• Reduced Opioid Use: Smart plans lower opioid needs by 30-50% or more without worse pain (Dietz et al., 2023).
• Shorter Hospital Stays: Patients go home sooner thanks to better pain control and increased mobility (Wainwright et al., 2023).
• Lower Readmission Rates: Fewer issues mean a lower chance of readmission (HCA Healthcare, 2022).

At ChiroMed, we help patients keep these benefits with follow-up care in El Paso.

Integrative Chiropractic Care at ChiroMed for ERAS Support

Chiropractic care is a key part of our holistic approach at ChiroMed – Integrated Medicine. Dr. Alexander Jimenez, with over 30 years of experience as a chiropractor and family nurse practitioner, leads our team in natural recovery methods (ChiroMed, n.d.).

We help spine surgery patients like this:

• Prehabilitation — Before surgery, gentle adjustments improve posture and mobility to prepare the body.
• Postoperative Care — After surgeon approval, we reduce scar tissue, ease tension, and restore movement (Active Health Center, n.d.; New York City Spine, n.d.).
• Non-Opioid Pain Relief — Adjustments and soft-tissue work naturally reduce pain.

This aligns with ERAS by reducing drug use and speeding mobility.

Nurse Practitioners at ChiroMed: Coordinating Your Recovery

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are vital in ERAS. At ChiroMed, Dr. Jimenez and our NPs coordinate everything.

• Education and Monitoring → We explain the plan and track progress.
• Medication Management → Focus on non-opioids and safe adjustments.
• Team Coordination → We connect surgeons, therapists, and chiropractors (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, n.d.).

This ensures patients follow the path for the best outcomes.

Virtual Reality (VR) at ChiroMed for Strength and Recovery

ChiroMed in El Paso uses new technology like VR to make rehab fun and effective.

VR offers guided, game-like sessions.

• Pain Reduction: Fun settings distract from pain.
• Better Strength and Mobility: Guided exercises with feedback help build core and balance.
• More Motivation: Patients stick to therapy longer for faster healing.

We blend VR with chiropractic care for holistic spine recovery.

Holistic ERAS Approach at ChiroMed in El Paso, TX

At ChiroMed – Integrated Medicine, we combine ERAS steps with our integrative services: multimodal pain control, early activity, chiropractic adjustments, NP coordination, nutrition, and VR. This leads to faster, safer healing with less opioids.

Patients in El Paso get personalized care that treats the whole body. Visit us to see how we support spine surgery recovery naturally.

Contact ChiroMed today at our El Paso location for a consultation.

---

References

Active Health Center. (n.d.). Rehabilitation after surgery: Integrating chiropractic care into recovery. https://activehealthcenter.com/rehabilitation-after-surgery-integrating-chiropractic-care-into-recovery/

American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. (n.d.). Enhanced recovery after surgery. https://www.aana.com/practice/clinical-practice/clinical-practice-resources/enhanced-recovery-after-surgery/

ChiroMed. (n.d.). ChiroMed – Integrated Medicine Holistic Healthcare in El Paso, TX. https://chiromed.com/

Debono, B., et al. (2023). Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols for spine surgery – review of literature. Polish Annals of Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10156499/

Dietz, N., et al. (2023). Adoption of enhanced surgical recovery (ESR) protocol for lumbar fusion decreases in-hospital postoperative opioid consumption. Global Spine Journal. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10189339/

Elsarrag, M., et al. (2022). Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in spine surgery. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9293758/

HCA Healthcare. (2022, December 13). HCA Healthcare’s innovative approach to surgical recovery promotes better outcomes, decreased opioid usage and faster recovery times for patients. https://hcahealthcaretoday.com/2022/12/13/hca-healthcares-innovative-approach-to-surgical-recovery-promotes-better-outcomes-decreased-opioid-usage-and-faster-recovery-times-for-patients/

New York City Spine. (n.d.). How a chiropractor can aid spinal fusion recovery. https://newyorkcityspine.com/how-a-chiropractor-can-aid-spinal-fusion-recovery/

Wainwright, T. W., et al. (2023). Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in spine surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Spine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12592135/