Heel slides, wall squats, and straight leg raises, though they seem basic, are some of the most effective rehabilitative exercises to incorporate into your spinal surgery recovery routine.
Walking is one of the first physical therapy exercises to help improve your healing, which you must start doing the day after your surgery. A good starting point is walking at least 20 to 30 minutes on a treadmill or outdoors. Throughout your recovery, increase the amount and length of your walks.
Doctors recommend sleeping on your back or your side as you heal from spine surgery. Sleeping on your belly is generally not recommended because your spine is not in a neutral position for a prolonged period. Consider wearing satin pajamas to bed to help it make it easier for you to adjust your sleeping position.
Regular exercise to restore the strength of your back and a gradual return to everyday activities are important for your full recovery after low back surgery. Your orthopaedic surgeon and physical therapist may recommend that you exercise for 10 to 30 minutes, 1 to 3 times a day during your early recovery.
Don't forget about your restrictions for the first 6 weeks after surgery. You need to avoid twisting and bending. You also need to avoid lifting, pushing or pulling objects greater than 5 lbs. Lifting and activity restrictions will be gradually removed as the healing process takes place.
Patients are told to avoid driving, sitting for prolonged periods, and lifting anything heavy for the first 1-2 weeks. Surgeons may prescribe physical therapy to help patients regain full movement of the spine. Full recovery for most patients is roughly 6 weeks to 3 months.
You may have trouble sitting or standing in one position for very long. It may take 4 to 6 weeks to get back to doing simple activities, such as light housework. It may take 6 months to a year for your back to get better completely. You may need to wear a back brace while your back heals.
Avoid sitting for prolonged periods.
Although sitting will not cause damage after back surgery, during the first few weeks, prolonged sitting is usually uncomfortable and people do best if they get up, move around or change position on a frequent basis (e.g. every half hour).
Can I Start Running Again After Back or Neck Surgery? If you love to run but have been sidelined by back pain, you're probably wondering if you'll be able to run again after surgery. The short answer is probably—but don't rush it.
It takes between six months and one year to fully recover from L4-L5 fusion. You may need four to six weeks to return to basic activities around the house after the procedure, and one to two months to return to work.
Another way to sleep after spinal fusion surgery is on your side. Just like sleeping on your back, sleeping on your side helps reduce pain and pressure. Try to alternate between sleeping on your left and right side to distribute the pressure and benefit your spine's alignment.
After surgery, try to walk around for a few minutes 2-3 times per day.
A 3500 steps/d threshold may serve as an initial recommendation during early postoperative counseling.
After your surgery, the muscles in your back become weak and limit movement. Without the strengthening and conditioning from exercise, you may put yourself into the position of a failed back surgery.
Some patients who have lumbar decompression surgery will develop new numbness or weakness in one or both legs as a result of the operation. Paralysis is an uncommon, but serious, complication that can occur as a result of lumbar decompression surgery.
Heel slides, wall squats, and straight leg raises, though they seem basic, are some of the most effective rehabilitative exercises to incorporate into your spinal surgery recovery routine.
Some patients find high-backed, firm rocking chairs relieve some back discomfort. Rocking chairs also may speed healing of bowel dysfunction that's common after surgery.
Most people return to work after 4 to 8 weeks, if their job isn't too strenuous. If your job involves a lot of driving, lifting heavy items or other strenuous activities, you may need to be off work for up to 3 to 6 months.
Scar tissue may tether a nerve, causing pain. Muscle pain. New-onset muscle tension in the back is fairly common after surgery. However, muscle tension can improve with treatment and should be addressed early, to prevent long-lasting pain (myofascial pain syndrome).
Chronic pain that develops after an operation is often known as 'chronic or persistent post-surgical pain'. Knowing when pain becomes chronic after surgery is especially difficult because many people have had their surgery to treat a painful condition, such as a painful hernia or a long-standing back problem.
Eating foods rich in protein is important for healing and repairing tissues. Protein also helps your body make new blood cells, which are necessary for wound healing. Good sources of protein include lean meats, poultry, fish, tofu, eggs, legumes, and nuts.
Your stomach is going to be sensitive after surgery, and you may not be able to process dried or dehydrated foods as much as you usually can. Avoid eating dried fruits, beef jerky, and some potato chip varieties.