Physical Activity After Healing From Multilevel Spine Surgery

Spine surgery is often done to repair issues related to disc degeneration, bone spurs, herniated discs, scoliosis and many other spinal issues. If you are looking at multilevel spine surgery, you will most likely need several discs replaced and possible spinal fusions. This takes time to heal and requires limited activity for quite some time.

Understand the Procedure

• What procedure is done will greatly affect your activity and mobility both in the short term and long term. Bone fusions need to heal just as a fracture would. This takes time. Have realistic expectations and talk to your surgeon about what you can expect because each person is different based on age, health and existing activity levels. You may start rehabilitation as early as four weeks after surgery. with the fusion healed as early as six. It may take up to six months for the fusion to completely heal, but this doesn't mean you should refrain from activity.

Immediately After Healing

• By the time your fusion is healed you will most likely have started physical therapy. Your goal in the first few weeks is to regain basic movements. Check with your doctor about how much you can do. As soon as the doctor tells you that your fusion is healed, start strengthening the area. Generally, avoid activities such as lifting anything more than a book before this. Do activities that help you maintain good posture and don't twist the spine. As your fusion becomes stronger you can increase activities and strength training. If you rebuild the strength of the spine and back properly you should not be limited to lifting items, but you will most likely always have a better awareness of how you are lifting things. Low-impact activities such as swimming or cycling are the best workouts because they will not jar the spine.

Lifetime Expectations

• After the bones are fused and the area has healed properly, you will be given physical therapy to regain as much strength, flexibility and mobility as possible. Whenever a spinal fusion is done, you will have less flexibility in the spine. Depending on where the fusion was done, this may mean you have trouble turning your neck or bending down. This cannot be avoided or changed. Keep the spine above and below the fusion extremely healthy and limber because it will take the brunt of the strain. Most people will return to the activities they did before surgery. It is important to strengthen your back and use better posture when lifting or doing other activities to prevent the need for another surgery.