Nearly every surgery requires that the patient can rest and not return to work for a time. This will depend on the type and patient of the surgery. It could take days or even weeks. Many patients who had spinal surgery needed to take several weeks off work for many years. Even the most determined patients couldn’t do it. Modern techniques enable patients to return to work within one week.
Recovery Time After Herniated Disc Surgery
You should consult your doctor if you are thinking about having surgery to repair your herniated spine. This will help you to understand what to expect and how it works. Your doctor will be able to answer any questions and provide all the details.
Preoperative Preparation
Pre-operative education is a requirement for many doctors. This course will inform you about your procedure and help you prepare. These sessions might interest you
- Average recovery time for herniated disc surgery
- Hospital staff include different healthcare professionals
- Types of surgical and diagnostic equipment that is used during surgery
- How to manage your post-surgery pain
- You can take a virtual tour or live one of the hospitals/surgical centers
If you have any questions, make sure to ask them during the session. If you have additional questions, let your doctor and nurse know.
Day of Surgery
The day before your surgery, you will be required to report to the hospital or the surgical center at a certain time. Your doctor will give you instructions before the surgery. These instructions should always be followed. It will be strictly forbidden to consume food or drink prior to the operation.
When you arrive at the hospital, your surgeon will examine your vitals and place an IV line. Your doctor will check on you, and then review the surgery again. After that, you will be taken into the operating room to receive general anesthesia.
You’ll feel tired and disoriented upon your return to the recovery area. Your doctors will assess your vital signs and neurological state to treat your pain. You will be examined for infection at the incision. If you are awake, you may be transferred to another area for recovery or a room in the hospital.
Minimally invasive microdiscectomy can be used to help you get home. To begin, you’ll need to get off your bed. Next, get out of bed and take a seat in a chair. As soon as you feel better, walk up and down each corridor of the hospital. Food will be provided. You will usually be allowed to go home as long as you are able walk, manage your pain, urinate normally, keep your food down and can control your pain. No matter how well you are doing, an open microtomy will typically result in you being admitted for observation.
What can be done to take good care of yourself at your home?
Incision care
- Tape can be left on incisions made by doctors for up to one week, or until it is removed.
- Warm soapy water is used to clean the area. Dry it afterwards. Avoid alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. They can slow down healing. Cover the bandage with gauze wrap if it rubs against clothing. You should change the bandage each day.
- It is important to keep the area clean and dry.
Medicines
- Your doctor will let your know if you can restart your medication. Your doctor will also instruct you on how to use any new medication.
- When taking medication, be careful. Follow the instructions for pain medication.
- If you were prescribed pain medication by your doctor, then take it.
- If you do not take prescription pain medication, talk to your doctor about an over-the-counter option.
- Do you think your pain medications are making your stomach sicken?
- Unless your doctor says otherwise, you should take your medication immediately after eating.
- Ask your doctor for different pain medicine.
- If you were given antibiotics by your doctor, be sure to follow his instructions. It is important to not stop taking your antibiotics simply because you feel better. It is crucial to continue taking antibiotics.
Diet
- You can still eat your normal diet. If you feel upset, you can eat bland foods, such as toast, broiled chicken, plain rice, and yogurt.
- Drink lots of fluids, unless your physician tells you otherwise.
- It is possible to notice a shift in your bowel movements following surgery. This is normal. It is important to avoid constipation. You might consider a fiber supplement. Talk to your doctor if you are still having bowel movements after several days.
Activity
- Get enough sleep when you are tired. Sleeping enough can help you recover.
- Every day, take a walk. Begin walking just a bit more each morning than you did yesterday. Gradually increase the amount of time you walk. Walking improves blood flow, prevents constipation and increases blood flow.
- You should never lift anything that could cause strain. Do not lift heavy grocery bags, milk containers or briefcases, children, pets, vacuum cleaners or cat litter bags.
- It is possible to change your position every 30 min, whether you’re standing or sitting. This will decrease your back pain, and speed up the healing process.
- Until your doctor allows you to, you should refrain from doing strenuous activities such as weight lifting or running.
- Ask your doctor when it’s safe to drive again.
- You shouldn’t drive more than 30 miles per hour for the first 2-4 weeks after your surgery. Some patients may be required to drive longer distances. Make sure to walk or stretch frequently.
- Your work type and your health will impact how long you can take off from work. It is more likely that you will return to work sooner if you work in an environment where there are less people around. Your doctor should discuss your work requirements.
- Although you might want to have sex at any time you like, you should avoid situations that cause pain and stress.
Exercise
- Follow your doctor’s directions and perform back exercises.
- To increase strength and flexibility in your back, your doctor might recommend that you see a physiotherapist.
Additional instructions
- Warm water bottles, an on-low heating pad or a warm blanket can be used to reduce stiffness. The heat should not directly be applied to the incision. It is not a good idea to put a heating pad on your skin before going to bed.
Three Weeks After Herniated Disc Surgery
You may be required to sit for three weeks after herniated disc surgery. When you sit or stand in a workplace, it is important to maintain good posture. If your job is very physically demanding, your doctor might suggest that you take a break from work for several days.
In order to return to daily light activity, you need to continue increasing your walking and activity tolerance. Physical therapy can be started if you feel the urge. Patients who undergo minimally invasive spinal surgery may experience an immediate recovery with no post-operative rehabilitation.
You should feel almost 100% recovered by week 4. The sixth or eighth week will see you gradually returning to your normal activities, with an increase in intensity. You can trust a neurosurgeon to help you navigate any surgery to repair a herniated spine. Understanding what to expect after surgery will allow you to be focused on your recovery. This will enable you to return quickly to your normal activities and function.