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EDISCSCULPTIn the past, anyone who needed spine surgery could expect to undergo an intensive recovery process which required being out of work for weeks or even months, and away from strenuous activities such as exercise for at least several months. While open back surgery is still needed in some cases, most patients who need spine surgery can now be treated with laser back surgery, allowing them to return to work in as little as one week.
Recovery Time by Procedure
When it comes to recovery time, not all spine surgery is created equal. Traditional spine surgery requires the physician to open the back to access the spine, creating a wound several inches in length. In open back surgery, removal or fusion of bone is fairly common, as is the addition of hardware to the spine. After these procedures, the body takes a long time to heal, and the healing process may be quite painful. In contrast, laser spine surgery allows physicians to treat most routine spine conditions with cutting-edge laser technology; only a small incision is required, and the procedure can be performed in an outpatient setting using only local anesthetic.
While the exact recovery time depends on the type of procedure and each individual's body, most laser spine surgery patients make a full recovery in a 2 to 6. In contrast, traditional back surgery patients may take as two weeks for the wound to heal, and as long as a year long as a to fully recover.
The amount of time a person must take off before returning to work varies based on the patient's job. People with physically strenuous jobs must wait until they have completely healed to return to work; patients who work desk jobs can return to work as soon as they are able to comfortably get through the day, and no longer require prescription pain relievers. Patients with desk jobs can usually return to work in one week after laser spine surgery, and 6 weeks after traditional spine surgery. Patients with physically strenuous jobs must wait the full recovery period, as outlined above.
The recovery time for rare and serious conditions may vary significantly from this timeline. In addition, if you are undergoing surgery one more than one section of the spine, the recovery time will also be higher.
During Recovery
It's important to take steps to ease your recovery once you get home, regardless of whether that recovery is set to be short or long. While these steps are most important for people undergoing major spine surgery, all patients should keep them in mind.
Recovery Time by Procedure
When it comes to recovery time, not all spine surgery is created equal. Traditional spine surgery requires the physician to open the back to access the spine, creating a wound several inches in length. In open back surgery, removal or fusion of bone is fairly common, as is the addition of hardware to the spine. After these procedures, the body takes a long time to heal, and the healing process may be quite painful. In contrast, laser spine surgery allows physicians to treat most routine spine conditions with cutting-edge laser technology; only a small incision is required, and the procedure can be performed in an outpatient setting using only local anesthetic.
While the exact recovery time depends on the type of procedure and each individual's body, most laser spine surgery patients make a full recovery in a 2 to 6. In contrast, traditional back surgery patients may take as two weeks for the wound to heal, and as long as a year long as a to fully recover.
The amount of time a person must take off before returning to work varies based on the patient's job. People with physically strenuous jobs must wait until they have completely healed to return to work; patients who work desk jobs can return to work as soon as they are able to comfortably get through the day, and no longer require prescription pain relievers. Patients with desk jobs can usually return to work in one week after laser spine surgery, and 6 weeks after traditional spine surgery. Patients with physically strenuous jobs must wait the full recovery period, as outlined above.
The recovery time for rare and serious conditions may vary significantly from this timeline. In addition, if you are undergoing surgery one more than one section of the spine, the recovery time will also be higher.
During Recovery
It's important to take steps to ease your recovery once you get home, regardless of whether that recovery is set to be short or long. While these steps are most important for people undergoing major spine surgery, all patients should keep them in mind.
- Get active - While it will take some time to regain full mobility, the first day after surgery you should walk for at least several minutes. This promotes circulation and gastrointestinal health, as well as helping to keep your muscles strong. As you recover further, be vigilant about physical therapy.
- Anticipate your limitations - Line up babysitters, freeze healthy meals, clear your floors, and keep commonly used objects within reach. Over-exerting yourself in the days just after surgery can delay recovery.
- Communicate with your doctor - If you are experiencing side-effects from a medication, displaying signs of infection, or just feel uncertain about your recovery, let your physician know.
- Keep to a healthy lifestyle - Eat healthy meals at regular intervals, try to get a good night's sleep every night (without excessive napping during the day), and maintain good posture.
These tips can hasten any recovery, as well as making it more comfortable. They also help prevent complications after surgery, which are a common cause of delayed recovery.
Only a doctor can tell you whether surgery can be used to treat your spine condition. To schedule a consultation today, please call the Datta Endoscopic Back Surgery and Pain Center at 212-420-0312.
info@dattaendoscopic.com