Spinal Fusion Healing Process
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Postoperative Period
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Immediately following the spinal fusion surgery, you will stay in the hospital for a minimum of 3 to 4 days (possibly longer, depending on your age and general health). You will be taking narcotic pain medication to help manage the pain from your surgery, because you will feel pain. After being discharged from the hospital, you will be limited in the amount and type of activity you can participate in (again, this may depend on your age, health and the kind of occupation you have). If you are older or your health is poor, you may be transferred to a rehabilitation center while you are recovering. See the Spinal Fusion link in Resources.
Follow-Up Doctor Visits
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You will have to return to your doctor's office frequently during your recovery period to see if your recovery is progressing. During these office visits, you'll receive X-rays, which will help your doctor to check the healing of your bone graft around the fused vertebrae. Evidence of healing is the same as that for a broken bone; the doctor wants to see new bone growing around the graft and vertebrae, just as it grows in between and around broken bones. At the earliest, this will be seen on X-ray at approximately the 6-week mark following surgery.
Returning to Work
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Depending on your rate of healing, your age and health and the type of work you do, your doctor will require you to stay at home during your recovery. If you are young and in relatively good health, with a job that isn't physically strenuous, you may be allowed to return to work within 1 month to 6 weeks. Conversely, if you're older and you have a physically demanding job, your return to work may take 4 to 6 months. While you're home waiting to go back to work, your doctor or surgeon may prescribe a back brace for you to wear; this brace may be very stiff, restricting movement, or it may be a lighter brace for additional support and comfort.
Physical Therapy
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Spinal fusion surgery is a major procedure that will require you to participate in rehabilitation to strengthen your back; your doctor may also require you to begin an aerobic conditioning program. Depending on the area of your spine that was surgically fused, your doctor and a physical therapist will develop a rehabilitation and conditioning program tailor-made for your recovery. Again, if you are young and in relatively good condition, your rehabilitation and therapy program may begin as early as 4 weeks post-operative.
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