18 Gift Ideas To Help Someone Recovering From Back Surgery

If your loved one has to undergo back surgery then a gift that can help them on the road to recovery would be most welcome.

Back pain is a big problem in the United States today, with as many as 8 out of 10 Americans expected to suffer from it at some point in their lives.

And while for most people back pain eventually goes away, for others it can be more serious and lead to them requiring surgery to fix it.

Which is a worrying and disruptive time for both the person undergoing back surgery and their friends and family too.

As the road back to full health can be a long one and they'll need plenty of help and support along the way.

So if you have a loved one about to go through back or spinal surgery, how about getting them a gift they can use to help with their recovery.

As the following gift ideas for someone recovering from back surgery are all ones that they'll appreciate having in their hour of need.

What Can I Buy For Someone Recovering From Back Surgery?

People who are recovering from back surgery need things that will make them more comfortable, make their home safer and more accessible, keep them entertained, bring them pain relief and help them to sleep more deeply.

1. A Book To Let Them Know What's Coming

One of the worst things about undergoing surgery for the first time is stepping into the unknown, as this can cause untold amounts of worry and stress.

So our first gift idea for someone recovering from back surgery is actually one you can give to them beforehand, which is Prepare For Surgery, Heal Faster by Peggy Huddleston.

As this book will help them to prepare for their upcoming surgery and recovery by guiding them along each step of the way.

Which is ideal for putting their mind at ease as they go through a tough period of their lives.

2. Wedge Pillows To Keep Them Comfortable

Sitting up or laying down flat for too long may not be possible in the first few days after back surgery due to the pain and discomfort it may cause.

So the Lunix orthopedic bed wedge pillow set would be a fantastic gift to give to someone during this period.

As they can use these wedge pillows on their bed or sofa for support and to stay comfortable and change their position to one that takes away this pain.

3. A Back Scratcher For Those Hard To Reach Itches

Your range of movement can be severely restricted during the early days of the back surgery recovery process, with each stretch or movement causing a stab of pain.

And one seemingly trivial problem this can cause is not being able to reach certain areas of your body to scratch an annoying itch.

But anyone that has been in that position will tell you that even a tiny itch that they can't get to will drive them crazy after a while! 

So for the ideal little gift that they definitely won't have thought of buying for themselves, check out the Wovte bear claw back scratcher.

4. A Reacher Grabber Set So They Don't Have To Bend Or Overstretch

Bending, twisting and lifting will be difficult and painful in the early stages of recovering from back surgery.

As it will take a few weeks for everything to settle down and for them to regain their full range of movement again.

So the RMS reacher grabber set is a super useful gift for anyone undergoing back surgery.

As this contains two grabber tools they can use to pick things up without bending as well as a tool to help them put their socks and shoes on and a bath sponge on a pole so they can clean themselves up more easily.

5. A Walking Cane To Support Them Early On

Depending on which type of back surgery they have just undergone, they may be a bit unsteady on their feet for the first few days of their recovery.

So getting them a walking cane as a gift can be a real help.

As this will allow them to keep steady and avoid any slips and falls that could be catastrophic.

With the Honeybull walking cane being a good choice here.

6. Comfortable Slippers With Good Support

They'll be spending a few weeks at home as they recover afterr back surgery, so a pair of slippers is a good idea in general.

As not only will they help to keep them warm and comfortable, they can also provide a better grip as they walk around than wearing socks would do.

And the Orthofeet orthopedic slippers would be an optimal choice for them in this situation.

As these also have superb support and cushioning in them to relieve the pressure on their lower back which can ease their pain.

7. Something To Keep Them Entertained

Recovering from back surgery can be a slow and monotonous process, and boredom can easily rear it's ugly head.

So why not encourage your loved one to make use of this unwanted free-time by catching up on all the books they've been meaning to read but never got around to.

Because with the gift of a Kindle Paperwhite they can download whichever book they want to read without the need to go out to the bookstore or library.

And getting stuck into a few good books can make the recovery time pass far more quickly and enjoyably than otherwise.

8. A Weighted Blanket To Comfort Them

Going through surgery and the recovery process afterwards can be an extremely stressful and worrying experience for people.

So our next gift idea here is to get them a weighted blanket.

As using one of these on the couch or during the night when they are feeling raw and vulnerable can be a real help as the weight of the blanket calms the nervous system and reduces anxiety.

With a good quality one being the Baloo weighted blanket.

9. Adult Coloring Books To Calm Them

It might sound surprising but coloring in has been found to be a really soothing and calming activity for adults and a great stress buster.

So why not get them an adult coloring book and a set of colored pencils to get stuck into while they are recovering at home.

As something like the Mindfulness coloring book for adults would be ideal, as the intricate drawings and designs will absorb them and distract them from any worries they might be having.

Which will help them to stay relaxed and feeling good about life.

10. An Ice Pack For The Inflammation

During the first week or two of recovery after back surgery there will be a lot of painful swelling and inflammation to deal with until things start to settle down again.

And a good way to combat this and get some relief is by applying an ice pack to the swollen areas for short periods.

So the gift of a Chattanooga ColPac reusable gel ice pack would be a really handy one for them to have around in the freezer when needed.

And these come in a variety of sizes too so you can get one that suits their needs.

11. A Heating Pad To Relax Those Aching Muscles

Once they are a few weeks into the recovery process and the swelling has gone down then they can begin to use heat instead of ice to relax the muscles and relieve some of the pain.

As this will increase circualtion to the area and help with the healing process.

So a heating pad or a heating lamp would be a good gift option to help them get some pain relief further down the line.

With the iReliev far infrared heating pad being my choice here.

12. A Blackout Sleep Mask For Deeper Sleep

It's absolutely vital that you can get a good night's sleep while you are recovering after back surgery.

As it's during sleep that the body truly gets the rest it needs to heal and recover.

So anything that can help them to sleep better and more deeply would be a super gift to give them.

With the Manta Sleep Mask Pro being one example, as this comfortable sleep mask will provide the total darkness that makes deep sleep much easier.

13. A Full Body Pillow To Keep Them Aligned At Night

Another thing that can keep someone awake at night after surgery is the pain and discomfort they feel in their bodies.

So the gift of a full body pillow would be a lovely idea.

As they will be able to use this to wrap their body around for support and to get into the ideal sleeping position to keep them pain-free.

So check out the Coop Home Goods full body pillow to give them something to cuddle up to during the night.

14. A Grippy Shower Mat To Avoid Any Slips

Any sharp movements after back surgery bring twinges of pain, so a slip or a fall during this time would be agony.

And this is a big worry at a time when you'll be very unsteady on your feet.

So gifts that can make your loved ones home safer and more accessible for them as they recover are great ones to give.

With one option being the Gorilla Grip shower mat, as the shower is one of the most hazardous places with the wet and slippy surfaces if you don't have a grippy shower mat.

15. A Toilet Seat Riser To Make Life Easier

Another top gift idea to make their life a lot easier is to get them a toilet seat riser.

As the Vive toilet seat riser will sit on their current toilet and raise the height of it so they don't need to bend or lower themselves down as far when answering a call of nature.

And the hadles on the side will make it easier to get up and down off the throne too!

Which is great news when every little movement of your body hurts. 

16. A Recliner Chair To Fully Relax In

Being able to rest and relax fully at home is a vital part of the recovery process after back surgery.

And what better way to do it than in a recliner armchair.

Which makes the Signature Design power lift recliner chair a wonderful gift for them to use as they recover.

As this chair reclines back to give them a sitting angle that is super comfortable and reduces pressure on their lower back and body, while also having a power lift option to make getting out of the chair much easier.

17. A Pack Of Epsom Bath Salts For Relaxing Aching Muscles

Having a bath won't be an option for someone after back surgery for the first few weeks of their recovery.

However, once it's safe to do so having a long soak in a hot bath is a wonderful way of relaxing their sore muscles and reducing stress.

So getting them a pack of epsom salts to use would work fine as a gift idea.

As the Epsoak epsom bath salts bundle contain magnesium which absorbs into the skin to enhance the positive muscle relaxing effects of the hot water even further.

18. A Funny T-Shirt To Ease The Tension

Sometimes the best way to ease the worry and tension of going through a major operation is with a bit of humour.

So getting them a funny get well soon gift could be the right option for you.

With one example they might like being this Straight Outta Back Surgery t-shirt which they can wear with pride on their first visit outside again.

Rounding Up

Going through back surgery is a big deal for anyone and the recovery process can be slow and difficult.

So why not treat your loved one to a helpful gift that can make things a bit easier for them.

As each of the gift ideas for someone recovering from back surgery that I've featured here are ones they will find useful as they get back on their feet again.