Herniated Disc Surgery And What Comes Next

If you have been suffering with the pain and stiffness of herniated discs for some time, you are probably excited by the prospect of spine surgery. It means the beginning of a recovery. However, the first few weeks and months after surgery may not be the easiest. Spinal surgery does have a rather long and demanding recovery, and it's important to know what to expect. Take a look. 

Take at least a month off from work.

Even if you have a rather non-physical job, you are looking at taking at least a month off from work after spinal surgery. You will need to spend a lot of time lying down at first, and you won't be able to sit in one place for too long. If your job requires anything more demanding than sitting, then you are looking at closer to three months off, and for a physical job, such as unloading trucks or construction, you may need as long as a year off. Tell your doctor about your job, and ask them for an estimate of how long it will be before you can return to work. Give your boss this estimate, and don't let them pressure you into returning any sooner.

Have someone help you with wound care.

You will need to check your incision every day or two after surgery to make sure it is not overly red, warm, or swollen. It's tough to do this yourself since the incision will be on your back. Make sure you have a friend or family member staying with you, and make sure that person is comfortable checking the wound and changing your bandages. They will also need to help you shower the first couple of times, as it will be very important to keep the incision dry.

Rest, rest, rest.

With some types of surgery, like tendon surgeries, it is often important to get up and start moving ASAP to keep the area loose. This is not the case with back surgery. Since it was the bones that your surgeon operated on, you risk doing real damage if you push yourself to do too much too quickly. You really need to rest, take it easy, and only do as much activity as your doctor has approved you to do. For example, if they told you that you're ready to take 5-minute walks, don't take 10-minute walks.

Recovering from spine surgery can take a while, but if you are patient and approach it smartly, you will have great success and a pain-free future.

To learn more, contact a resource like Town Center Orthopaedic Associates, P.C.

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