The 3-day plan for out-of-town patients, Tuesday through Thursday

Day 0 — Arrival (typically Monday)

Fly into Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) or Atlanta (ATL). GSP is closer (about 45 minutes by car) and the standard choice for most patients; ATL has more flight options at the cost of a 2-hour ground transit.

Pick up rental car or arrange ground transportation. Check into lodging in the Seneca area. The office maintains a list of hotels and short-term rentals that patients have used successfully. Rest, eat a normal meal, and follow the pre-procedure instructions for the morning of consultation.

Day 1 — In-person consultation (typically Tuesday)

Arrive at the office at the scheduled time. The consultation typically runs 60-90 minutes and includes review of imaging, physical examination, discussion of the planned procedure, and informed consent.

Following consultation, any pre-procedure work-up needed is completed (basic labs if not already done, any imaging clarification). Procedure scheduling is confirmed for the following day. Return to lodging; follow pre-procedure instructions for the evening.

Day 2 — Procedure (typically Wednesday)

Arrive at the facility at the scheduled time (typically morning). Pre-procedure preparation, IV placement, and final review. The procedure itself takes approximately one hour; total time at the facility is typically 3-5 hours.

Same-day discharge to your lodging with a companion (you can’t drive yourself due to sedation). Most patients are walking comfortably within hours, eating a normal evening meal, and sleeping reasonably well that night. Mild local incision discomfort is normal; pain at the original symptom site often begins to improve within 24-48 hours.

Day 3 — Post-operative check (typically Thursday)

Return to the office for a post-operative check. The visit typically runs 20-30 minutes and includes incision inspection, neurological exam, and discussion of recovery expectations. Activity guidelines are reviewed.

If everything looks good (the typical case), you’re cleared to fly home the following day. Return to lodging for one more night. The post-operative check is the last in-person interaction; subsequent follow-up is remote unless complications arise.

Day 4 — Fly home (typically Friday)

Fly home. Most patients describe the flight as tolerable but tiring; sitting for extended periods is uncomfortable in the first week. Standing up periodically during longer flights helps. Plan for a quiet weekend at home before returning to typical activities.

Subsequent follow-up is remote — phone, video, or secure messaging at the standard post-operative intervals. Imaging follow-up if needed is coordinated with local providers. The bundled procedure price includes the standard post-operative follow-up period.

Day 1: Arrival, in-person consultation, pre-operative evaluation

Most out-of-town patients arrive the evening before Day 1 to allow rest and adjustment. Day 1 begins with the in-person consultation where Dr. McMillan reviews your imaging on the office display — adding clarity that phone calls can’t match. Pre-operative evaluation includes review of medications, allergies, comorbidities, and standard pre-procedural blood work if not already obtained. The day ends with confirmation of the Day 2 procedural plan. Logistics planning at /out-of-town-patients/.

Day 2: The procedure

Procedure day starts with a fasting requirement from midnight the night before (water and prescribed medications typically allowed up to two hours prior — team will confirm). The procedure is performed outpatient at the surgical facility, typically about an hour for endoscopic decompression or discectomy. Local anesthesia plus light sedation is standard — most patients are awake but comfortable, able to ambulate within hours. Bundled price details at /whats-included-bundled-price/.

Day 3: Post-operative evaluation and departure

Day 3 begins with an in-person post-operative check. Dr. McMillan reviews the surgical site, confirms walking tolerance, reviews post-operative restrictions, answers overnight questions. Most patients are cleared to travel home from Day 3 — for return travel involving long flights or extended drives, an extra day of local rest is sometimes recommended. Departure from GSP airport (45 minutes) is straightforward.

After you return home

Follow-up is conducted remotely — phone, video, or secure messaging — at standard intervals (1 week, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months). Bundled price covers routine follow-up. Activity restrictions during initial 2 weeks are specific but minimal: no heavy lifting, no prolonged sitting, walking encouraged. Office workers return to full duties 1-2 weeks; manual labor 4-6 weeks. Recovery context at endoscopic discectomy or endoscopic decompression for stenosis.

What to pack, what to arrange, and how to prepare

Practical preparation for the 3-day visit reduces stress on the day of the procedure. Documents and identification: photo ID, insurance card, list of current medications with dosages, list of allergies, contact information for your primary care physician, and if you have prior spine imaging or reports that weren’t submitted for MRI review, bring them. Personal items: comfortable loose-fitting clothing (button-front shirts are easier post-procedure than pullover), slip-on shoes rather than lace-up, phone charger, any medications you take regularly (bring the actual bottles rather than loose pills). For overnight stays: the usual toiletries, sleep clothing that’s easy to put on and take off, and something to occupy time — a book, tablet, or similar.

Travel companion: plan for someone to accompany you or to be available to drive you back to your lodging after the procedure. Residual sedation effects mean you cannot drive yourself for at least 24 hours post-procedure. For out-of-town patients this is usually a spouse, adult child, or friend who’s made the trip with you. For local patients, arranging a driver in advance is essential. Rideshare from the surgical facility is possible but not ideal — the pickup logistics with sedation still in effect are cleaner with a known driver.

Fasting: the standard requirement is nothing by mouth after midnight the night before the procedure. Water and prescribed medications are typically allowed up to 2 hours before the procedure — the surgical team will confirm specific requirements based on the medications you’re taking. If you’re diabetic, if you take blood thinners, or if you have other conditions that complicate fasting or medication management, this will be discussed during the pre-procedure phone conversation. Medications to potentially adjust: blood thinners (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, aspirin, clopidogrel) may need to be held prior to the procedure — the surgical team will provide specific guidance based on your medication list and the specific procedure planned.

What to expect during the drive/flight home: most patients tolerate return travel well within 24-48 hours of the procedure. For patients with return flights, an aisle seat is more comfortable than a window seat because you can stretch and stand as needed. For patients driving, break up long drives into 2-hour segments with brief walks; extended sitting in the immediate post-procedure period is uncomfortable and unnecessary. For patients staying in the area longer than the standard 3 days, the lodging recommendations from the office cover extended-stay options. Practical logistics context is also at /out-of-town-patients/ and /medical-travel-cost-spine/.

Further reading and authoritative sources

The pages linked below cover related topics in more detail. For patients who prefer independent, non-practice sources, the external references at the end of the list provide authoritative verification of clinical facts, procedural information, and regulatory context. This practice’s clinical statements are traceable to the peer-reviewed literature and professional-society guidelines listed here.

Related pages on this site:

• Free MRI Review — details, indications, and process context relevant to the topic above.
• 3-Day Plan — details, indications, and process context relevant to the topic above.
• Out-of-Town Patients — details, indications, and process context relevant to the topic above.
• MRI Review by Mail — details, indications, and process context relevant to the topic above.
• Medical Travel Cost — details, indications, and process context relevant to the topic above.
• Practice Location — details, indications, and process context relevant to the topic above.

Independent authoritative sources:

• GSP — Greenville-Spartanburg International — authoritative independent source for verification and further reading.
• NASS Patient Resources — authoritative independent source for verification and further reading.

For patients whose questions extend beyond the material covered here, the direct path forward is the free MRI review for candidacy-specific questions or a phone call to (864) 886-9888 for process or logistics questions. The practice’s broader clinical philosophy — including the reasoning behind the no-fusion-first orientation and the single-surgeon model — is documented at /our-philosophy/.

Written bySteven Lockhart, Healthcare Marketing Group

Medically reviewed byMarion R. McMillan, MD, Interventional Pain Medicine & Endoscopic Spine Surgery