Nearly all surgeries require that the patient is able to rest and not return to work for a period of time. This can vary depending on the type of surgery and patient. It may take days or even months. For many years, patients who had spine surgery required several weeks off work. Even the most resilient of patients could not do it. Modern techniques allow patients to return to work within a week.
Recovery Time of Herniated Disc Surgery
If you are considering having surgery to repair your herniated disc, make sure you work closely with your doctor. This will ensure that you fully understand the process and what you can expect. Your doctor should be able to explain all details and answer any questions you may have about the surgery.
Preoperative Preparation
Pre-operative education is a common requirement for many doctors. This session will teach you about your surgery and help you prepare for it. You might be interested in:
- Recovery time for typical herniated disc surgery
- Hospital staff include different healthcare professionals
- Type of surgical and diagnostic equipment used during surgery
- How to manage your pain after surgery
- You can take a virtual or live tour of the hospital/surgical center
If you have questions, be sure to ask them during the session. Also, let your nurse or doctor know if there are any other questions.
Day of Surgery
You will be required to report at a specific time to the hospital or surgical center on the day of your surgery. Pre-op instructions should be given by your doctor. These instructions should be followed carefully. You will not be allowed to eat or drink before the surgery.
Your surgeon will check your vitals and set up an IV line when you arrive. Your doctor will visit you to check on you and review the surgery once more. You will then be taken to the operating room where general anesthesia will also be administered.
You will feel tired and disoriented when you awaken in the recovery area. Your pain will be treated by your doctors, who will examine your vital signs and neurological status. Your surgical incision will be checked for infection and other problems. You may be moved to another area of recovery or a hospital room if you are awake.
The goal of a minimally invasive microdiscectomy is usually to get you home. You will first need to get up from your bed. Next, you’ll need to sit down in a chair and walk to the toilet.
You can start walking up and down the hospital corridor as you feel better. You will be offered food. You can usually go home if you are able to walk and control your pain, urinate normally, and keep your food down. Typically, if you have had an open microtomy, you will be admitted for observation over night regardless of how your progress is.
What can you do to take care of yourself at home?
Incision care
- You can leave tape on any incisions (cuts) made by the doctor for up to a week, or until it falls off.
- Use warm soapy water to wash the area and then dry it. Avoid alcohol and hydrogen peroxide as they can slow down healing. If the bandage rubs against clothing or weeps, you may use a gauze wrap to cover it. Every day, change the bandage.
- Make sure the area is clean and dry.
Medicines
- Your doctor will let you know if you are allowed to restart your medication. Your doctor will also provide instructions on how to take any new medications.
- Take precautions when taking medication. Use pain medication exactly as prescribed.
- Take the prescribed medication for pain if it was given to you by your doctor.
- Ask your doctor if an over-the-counter medicine is available if you don’t take prescription pain medication.
- You think your pain medication is making your stomach sick?
- Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, take your medication after eating.
- Ask your doctor for different pain medicine.
- Follow the instructions of your doctor if you were prescribed antibiotics. You should not stop taking antibiotics just because you feel better. It is important to complete the entire course of antibiotics.
Diet
- You can continue eating your regular diet. You can eat bland foods such as plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, or yogurt if your stomach is upset.
- Drink lots of fluids – unless your doctor says otherwise.
- After your surgery, you may notice a change in your bowel movements. This is normal. Avoid constipation and straining your bowel movements. A fiber supplement may be a good idea. Ask your doctor if you still haven’t had bowel movements after a few days.
Activity
- When you are tired, rest. You can recover by getting enough sleep.
- Every day, walk. Begin by walking just a little bit more each day than you did yesterday. Gradually increase your walking. Walking improves blood flow, prevents constipation, and increases blood flow.
- Do not lift anything that could cause strain. You should not lift heavy grocery bags or milk containers, heavy briefcases or backpacks, cat litter or dog food bags or vacuum cleaners, or children.
- You can change your position every 30 minutes, whether you are sitting or standing. This will reduce your back pain and speed up the healing process.
- You should avoid strenuous activities like jogging or weight lifting until your doctor allows it.
- Ask your doctor when it is safe to drive again.
- For the first 2 to 4 weeks following surgery, you should not drive a car more than 30 minutes. You may need to ride a car longer distances, so make sure you stop frequently to stretch your legs and walk.
- The type of work that you do and how quickly you feel well will affect the amount of time you take off work. You are more likely to return to work faster if you work in an office than if your job is very active. Discuss your work requirements with your doctor.
- While you may want to have sex whenever you feel like it, avoid positions that cause pain or stress.
Exercise
- Follow your doctor’s instructions and do back exercises.
- A physiotherapist may be recommended by your doctor to increase the strength and flexibility in your back.
Additional instructions
- Warm water bottles, a heating pad on low or a warm blanket on your back can reduce stiffness and sore muscles. The heat should not be directly applied to the incision. You should not put a heating pad on top of your skin before you go to bed.
Three Weeks After Herniated Disc Surgery
If your job requires you to be sedentary, it is worth returning to work during the three-week recovery period for herniated disc surgery. You should practice good posture when you sit or stand in an office. Your doctor might recommend that you stay off work for several weeks if your job is very physically demanding.
To return to your daily light activity, you should continue to increase your walking and activity tolerance. If you feel the need, you can start a course of physical therapy. However, some patients who have minimally invasive spine surgery experience a quick recovery and no need for post-operative rehabilitation.
By the fourth week, you should feel almost fully recovered from surgery. You can gradually return to your daily activities with a gradual increase in intensity by the sixth or eighth week. A trusted neurosurgeon can guide you through any surgery to repair a herniated disc. Knowing what to expect following surgery will help you to focus on your recovery and allow you to quickly and safely return back to your normal level of activity and function.
