It is so important for us to try to identify potential problems when in the pre-op mode and start strategizing early. If you wait until the day before discharge, assuming you are inpatient, to ask to talk with a patient advocate, you are sunk.

Before I got a computer and on the internet, I had already had several spinal surgeries but knew nothing about Home Health or rehab. I was told by the surgeons that I didn't need any extra bells and whistles because I was relatively young and tough. I took it as a backhanded compliment. I lived alone and had no help. For several weeks, I couldn't sleep in my bed because I couldn't change the sheets. I just threw a quilt on the sofa to lay on and used another to cover with. Never again. Have a great weekend.