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Up and About: What to Expect from Spine Surgery Recovery
April 30, 2022
Have you undergone spine surgery or are planning to undergo it? If so, you are probably worried about the recovery process.
Spine surgery recovery can take up to a year in some circumstances, though some people can begin to feel better in as little as a few weeks. Your recovery time will be decided by your surgery and your habits afterward.
When having spinal surgery, it’s important to take all the steps you can to properly heal. In this article, we’ll go over everything you can expect during your recovery.
Keep reading to learn more about spine surgery recovery.
What Is Spine Surgery?
There are several different types of spinal surgery that require different levels of recovery. The four most common types of spinal surgery are foraminotomy, laminectomy, spinal fusion, and diskectomy.
If you are recovering from one of these surgeries or a spinal injury, you must follow a good spine surgery recovery program. Most often, your doctor will tell you exactly what to do to recover.
Recovery Time
Depending on your spinal injury or surgery, you will have a different approximate recovery time. For example, if you are recovering from a diskectomy or a foraminotomy it will take 2 to 3 weeks to start feeling better.
Laminectomy takes a much longer amount of time at 3 to 4 months before a full recovery. A spinal fusion may take as long as one year or as little as six weeks depending on the person. Older people tend to need longer to recover.
The amount of recovery time that you need will depend on your condition before the surgery, the extent of your injury, your age, and more. Ask your doctor how long they expect your recovery to take.
Avoiding Activity
It’s essential to your spine surgery recovery that you avoid doing certain activities. Anything that involves twisting, bending, or lifting can slow your spine injury rehabilitation.
During the day you may make these movements without realizing it. Because of this, you should avoid driving, carrying in groceries, and doing household chores.
Be mindful of the position of your spine throughout the day and take things slow. You can purchase some tools to help you go about your days such as a grabber, extra pillows, or a back brace.
Prioritize Your Recovery Program
Prioritizing your recovery will help you get back to the things you love to do sooner. Often, sticking to a schedule helps people stay on track for their recovery. Attend and optimize each of your physical therapy appointments.
Follow all of your doctor’s recommendations for recovery, get plenty of sleep, and keep a balanced diet. Recovery can be frustrating and seemingly endless. Remember these tips and stay positive, healing is on the horizon.
More Tips on Spine Surgery Recovery
Spine surgery recovery takes time and work. As long as you follow these basic tips as well as your doctors’ instructions, you can expect to be on the path to a full recovery.
At All Spine Care, we provide excellent treatment for all kinds of spinal conditions and injuries. We want to help you get the care you need to get back to your life. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.