What Is Life Like After a Spinal Fusion?

There are many different types of spinal surgery, as the spine is long. Depending on what your spinal condition is, you can have surgery on anywhere from the base of your neck to your tailbone. Life after spinal surgery naturally consists of a recovery period, but you can resume an active life in most cases.

• There are many types of spinal surgery.

Hospital Stay

• Spinal surgery may keep you in the hospital for several days.

  After surgery, you can expect to be in the hospital for several days. The extent of spinal surgery will determine your length of stay, and in some cases, you may have to be transferred to a rehabilitation unit for a week or two.

Pain

• You can expect some pain after spinal surgery.

  You will also experience pain after surgery, but the doctor will control it. Ordinarily you will have an IV-induced pain reliever for the first day or two, and after that the doctor will prescribe an oral pain reliever.

Recovery Period

• Recovery can take weeks or months.

  Depending on your age, you can expect a recovery period of several weeks to several months. Healing from spinal surgery can be compared to that of healing from a broken bone, which typically takes about six weeks.

Physical Therapy

• A physical therapist will help you approach movement differently.

  A physical therapist will teach you that proper movement is imperative to your recovery. You can expect to be taught different ways of sitting, standing, moving and walking.

No High-Energy Sports

• Spinal surgery may mean the end of a sports career.

  Regaining your former activity level is going to depend on the type of surgery you have undergone. In some cases, you may not be able to return to high energy sports, such as football or wrestling.