How the first application for postoperative recovery of the cervical and lumbar spine was created

20.04.2022.

The MySpine Postoperative Assistant application was created based on Domagoj's spine surgery experience. During his recovery, he developed the idea, and later he realized everything in cooperation with an expert team of physiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, orthopedists, neurologists and neurosurgeons.

The application has two main goals

The first goal is to inform you. All that information that Domagoj could not get or the process was unnecessarily complicated and time-consuming, is now organized in one application - MySpine. Through tips, plans, exercises and answers to frequently asked questions, you will get something that will really benefit you. You won't need to learn from your own mistakes! Learning from one's own mistakes is very dangerous, because mistakes increase the already present pain and complicate the recovery process after spine surgery.

Another goal of the app is to collect and organize recovery data. And it's all super-easy to share with your doctor. The data that is collected is information about the level of pain, a record of the medicines you take, how much you move, how much you exercise, and the like. All this data is then grouped into one detailed interactive report within the application and forwarded to the doctor with one click. Based on the report, your doctor will be able to better analyze the recovery and more precisely determine further steps.

In order for the report to have the appropriate data, just follow the instructions within the application. This primarily refers to these four activities:

  • Perform daily tasks that include walking training and medical exercises recommended by professional medical staff.
  • Record the level of pain you feel at least once a day, and your weight loss at least once a week.
  • Record the intake of all medicines (for this you will use the 'Add new reminder' function).
  • When you're sitting, start the sit timer so the app notifies you when it's time to change your position.

In the app, you'll find practical functionality and information worth its weight in gold

Whether you've had lumbar or cervical spine surgery, the best thing you can do for your spine in the first 6 weeks of post-surgery recovery is moderate walking several times a day.

MySpine walking program and movement log are created depending on the type and date of your surgery. The application suggests the recommended daily number of steps and provides insight into detailed statistics. 

In addition to the number of steps, depending on how many days have passed since your operation, the app also suggests the allowed sitting time. All you need to do is start the seating counter when you sit down.

Daily tasks are a combination of a walking program and customized medical exercises that follow your recovery.

The program of medical exercises is made as follows:

  1. for the first 4 weeks, you practice breathing techniques and perform exercises for better circulation
  2. from the 4th to the 8th week in the exercise program, you will receive 7 additional medical exercises
  3. in the period from the 8th to the 13th week of recovery, you will have 5 more exercises in the exercise program
  4. from the 13th week onwards, you have 8 additional medical exercises in the exercise program

In addition to recovery, your daily routine will include other daily activities

Let's take the bathroom for example. Until before the operation, you used the bathroom and did not think about how demanding it actually is. We don't want to scare you - we want to help you. That's why we wrote about daily activities after surgery, how to prepare for spine surgery, scar care, dressing and getting up properly. Gold worth of information, tips and answers to frequently asked questions will make it easier for you. Within the application, we have listed the products and aids (eg for easier dressing), which made Domagoj's recovery easier. You probably will too.

With exercises, walking programs and the presence of pain, it is completely expected that you forget when you need to take your medicine. MySpine has the function of adding reminders, and in addition to setting reminders for taking medications from the prescribed therapy, there is the possibility of recording the intake of additional medications that are not written in the reminder.

Every exercise done, every sitting and daily walk is counted and recorded. It's all part of recovery. Just like pain. And you will record the pain within the application at least once a day. Based on this data, the application will generate a detailed interactive report for your doctor. You can see an example of the report you share with your doctor here.

Unfortunately, not all reports are as practical and accessible as this one.

With this in mind, a section of the application called 'Documents and History' was created. You can save all medical documentation or photos of the scar there to monitor the healing process.

This is only part of the MySpine functionality, and we will constantly supplement the application with new content and useful information

Also, although the app was created in collaboration with professional medical staff and people who care for patients after spinal surgery on a daily basis - please contact your doctor. Every recovery is special. Check with your doctor if there are any specific movements that you should not perform. Take your doctor's instructions very seriously.