What to Expect at Home

Recovery after microdiskectomy (diskectomy) is usually fairly quick.

After diskectomy or foraminotomy, you may still feel pain, numbness, or weakness along the path of the nerve that was under pressure. These symptoms should get better after a week or 2.

Recovery after laminectomy and fusion surgery is longer. You will not be able to return to activities as quickly. It takes at least 3 to 4 months after surgery for bones to heal well, and healing may continue to happen for at least a year.

If you had spinal fusion, you will probably be off work for 4 to 6 weeks if you are young and healthy. It may take 4 to 6 months for older patients with more extensive surgery to get back to work.

The length of recovery will also depend on how bad your condition was before surgery.

Activity

You will need to change how you do some things. Try not to sit for longer than 20 or 30 minutes at one time. Sleep in any position that does not cause back pain. Your doctor will tell you when you may become sexually active.

You may be fitted for a back brace or corset to help support your back:

• You should wear the brace when you are sitting or walking.
• You may void wearing the brace when you sit on the side of the bed for a short period of time or use the bathroom at night.

Do not to bend at the waist. Instead, bend your knees and squat down to pick up something. Do not lift or carry anything heavier than around 10 pounds (nothing heavier than a milk carton). This means you should not lift a laundry basket, grocery bags, or small children. You should also avoid lifting something above your head until your fusion heals.

Take only short walks for the first 2 weeks after surgery.

• After that, you may slowly increase how far you walk.
• You may go up or down stairs once a day for the first 1 or 2 weeks, if it does not cause much pain or discomfort.
• Do not start swimming, golfing, running, or other more “strenuous” activities until you see your doctor. You should also avoid vacuuming and more strenuous household cleaning.

Your doctor may or may not send you for some physical therapy after you leave hospital. You will need to learn how to move and do activities in a way that prevents pain and keeps your back in a safe position. These are:

• How to get out of bed or up from a chair safely
• How to get dressed and undressed
• How to keep your back safe when doing work for other activities, eventually including lifting and carrying items

You will also learn certain exercises that help make muscles in your back stronger, and keep your back safe and stable.

Your doctor and physical therapist can help you decide whether or when you can return to your previous job.

Riding or driving in a car:

• Do not drive for the first 2 weeks after surgery. After 2 weeks, you may take short trips when necessary.
• Travel only for short distances as a passenger in a car. Avoid trips where you are sitting for a long period of time. If you have a long ride home from the hospital, stop every 30 to 45 minutes to briefly stretch.

Wound Care

Your bandages (Steri-strips) will fall off within 7 - 10 days. If not, you may remove them yourself after this time.

You may feel numbness or pain around your incision, and it may look a little red. Check it every day to see if it:

• Is more red, swollen, or draining extra fluid
• Feels warm
• Begins to open up

Keep the incision dry for first 5 - 7 days. When you begin showering again, cover the incision with plastic wrap. Do not allow water from the shower head to beat down on the incision. The first time you shower, have someone there to help you.

Do not smoke or use tobacco products after spine surgery. Avoiding tobacco is even more important if you had a fusion or graft.

Overall, make sure your bathroom is safe. See also: Bathroom safety - adults

Pain Management

Your doctor will give you a prescription for pain medicines. Get it filled when you go home so you have it available. If the pain is becoming worse, take your pain medicine to help before the pain becomes very bad.

During the early recovery period, consider taking pain medicine about a half an hour before you are going to increase your activity.

When to Call the Doctor

Call your doctor or nurse if you:

• Have a fever above 101 °F or chills
• Have more pain where you had your surgery
• Have more drainage from the wound, or the drainage is green or yellow
• Lose feeling or have a change of feeling in your arms (if you have neck surgery) or your legs and feet (if you had lower back surgery)
• Have chest pain, shortness of breath
• Have swelling

Also call your doctor if:

• Your back pain begins to worsen and does not get better with rest and pain medicines.
• You are having difficulty urinating and controlling your bowel movements.

Alternate Names

Diskectomy - discharge; Foraminotomy - discharge; Laminectomy - discharge; Spinal fusion - discharge; Spinal microdiskectomy - discharge; Microdecompression - discharge; Laminotomy - discharge; Disk removal - discharge; Spine surgery - diskectomy - discharge; Intervertebral foramina - discharge; Spine surgery - foraminotomy - discharge; Lumbar decompression - discharge; Decompressive laminectomy - discharge; Spine surgery - laminectomy - discharge; Vertebral interbody fusion - discharge; Posterior spinal fusion - discharge; Arthrodesis - discharge; Anterior spinal fusion - discharge; Spine surgery - spinal fusion - discharge

References

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Ostelo RW, Costa LO, Maher CG, de Vet HC, van Tulder MW. Rehabilitation after lumbar disc surgery: an update Cochrane review. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Aug 1;34(17):1839-48.

Weinstein JN, Lurie JD, Tosteson TD, Zhao W, Blood EA, Tosteson AN, Birkmeyer N, Herkowitz H, Longley M, Lenke L, Emery S, Hu SS. Surgical compared with nonoperative treatment for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis. four-year results in the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) randomized and observational cohorts. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009 Jun;91(6):1295-304.

Chou R, Baisden J, Carragee EJ, Resnick DK, Shaffer WO, Loeser JD. Surgery for low back pain: a review of the evidence for an American Pain Society Clinical Practice Guideline. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 May 1;34(10):1094-109.

Update Date: 2/19/2011

Updated by: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.