Back Surgery Recovery Times

Injuries sustained from twisting, falling or being hit, as well as the normal wear and tear of daily life can damage the spine to the point of needing surgery. Recovery times from back surgery will vary upon the injury and the type of surgery performed.

Discectomy

Your surgeon will perform a discectomy to remove a herniated or degenerative disc from the spine. Recovery time varies from one week to four weeks depending upon the underlying disease.

Laminectomy

A spinal decompression or laminectomy might be performed if you suffer from spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spine. The procedure opens up the spine and allows more room for the nerves. Recover time averages between four and six weeks.

Fusion

In a spinal fusion, two vertebrae are fused together, and recovery time is two to four weeks You will possibly require home health assistance and possibly therapy for several weeks after surgery.

Vertebroplasty

During vertebroplasty, your surgeon injects compressed cement into the spine, allowing for stabilization of fractured bones in the spine. Recovery time for this minimally invasive procedure is one to two weeks.

Artificial Discs

Still being studied is the option of artificial disc implantation as an alternative to spinal fusion. Recovery time can be as long as four weeks, like the fusion, but is typically much shorter.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Back Surgery--When Is It a Good Idea?

Resources

• Spine-Health
• Mayfield Neurosurgery Clinic