Rehabilitation after spine surgery
recovery after spine surgery · rehab after disc surgery · exercise therapy after back surgery · after spinal fusion
After spine surgery you are taught to move correctly, and your back muscles are slowly strengthened. A rehabilitation specialist leads the sessions.
After removal of a disc hernia, fixing of vertebrae and other spine operations.
⏱ Duration: a session usually takes 30 to 60 minutes; recovery takes from a few weeks to months
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Limits. Ask the surgeon what is not allowed yet: sitting for long, bending, lifting heavy things.
- Brace. If a brace was prescribed, bring it to the sessions.
- Clothing. Comfortable clothes and shoes that are easy to put on without bending.
What to bring
- Discharge papers from the operation
- Images
- The brace, if prescribed
- Comfortable shoes
How it goes
- The specialist checks movement, strength and sensation
- You learn to get out of bed by rolling to the side and to sit down without jerking
- You practice correct walking
- Gentle exercises for the belly and back muscles
- You learn to pick things up from the floor without bending your back
- The load is increased gradually
What you'll feel
- Your back may ache after sessions
- Numbness or tingling in the leg may fade gradually
- In the first weeks you tire quickly
Afterwards
- Do the exercises at home every day
- Follow the surgeon's limits on bending and weight
- Walk a little but often. It is good for your back
- Heavy work and sports only with your doctor's permission
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Growing weakness or numbness in the legs: call your doctor
- Numbness in the groin, or you cannot hold urine or stool: call your local emergency number
- Fever above 38, or the wound is red or leaking
- New severe back pain
Common questions
When can I sit after surgery?
It depends on the operation. Sometimes sitting is allowed right away, sometimes it is limited for a few weeks. The surgeon will say.
Can I do exercises from the internet?
Better not. Exercises are chosen for your operation, and extra ones can do harm.