Spine surgery can be a major step in helping you return to the most functional and pain-free state, but your recovery won’t happen overnight. Most people won’t reach maximum recovery for months or even years after their surgical procedure, but it’s important not to get discouraged by slow progress. So when can you expect to feel back to normal following your spine surgery? We tackle that question and more in today’s blog.
When Will I Be Fully Recovered After Spine Surgery?
All spine injuries are unique to the individual, and because there are oftentimes a few different ways to surgically address a problem, there’s no standard answer to the question posed in the title of this blog. A number of different factors will influence when you’ll feel back to normal following your spine surgery, but it’s also worth noting that there are some things you can do to speed up your recovery and get back to feeling normal sooner. Some ways you can work to get back to feeling normal again as fast as possible after your spinal procedure include:
- Do Your Physical Therapy – First and foremost, you’ll want to do your physical therapy exercises as directed by your physician. You’ll get out what you put in, so it’s important that you attend all in-person sessions and that you regularly do any home-based exercises you’ve been assigned by your PT. Physical therapy is the single best thing you can do to get your spine feeling back to normal as soon as possible after surgery.
- Be Mobile – You obviously want to mind any physical restrictions that have been put in place by your surgeon, but being upright and mobile is important for helping the structures that have been affected by the trauma of surgery return to a functional state. Movement helps boost your circulation and bring healthy blood and key nutrients to structures that need it most after an operation. If you just lay in bed for weeks after your operation, your recovery is going to take longer than if you were upright and active.
- Care For Your Mental Health – There is a significant connection between your physical and mental health, and we know that ignoring your mental and emotional health can cause issues for your physical recovery. Don’t isolate yourself during your recovery and still find ways to pursue hobbies and activities that you enjoy that stimulate your mind. It’s easier to follow through on exercise and physical therapy programs when you are in a good headspace.
- Have Realistic Recovery Goals – Make sure that you have a conversation with your spine specialist and really understand what a realistic recovery timeline looks like. It’s important to distinguish between when you’ll be healthy enough to return to some activities – like walking, driving or working – and when you’ll reach maximum recovery. You may be able to return to certain activities well before you have achieved maximum recovery, so know that you may still have plenty of rehab ahead of you even though your doctor clears you to return to work after four weeks.
Dr. Sinicropi and the team at the Midwest Spine & Brain Institute will do everything in our power to help you reach full recovery as quickly as possible following your operation, but it’s going to take some work on your end. We’ll give you all the tools you need to make the strongest recovery possible, and then we want you to go out and achieve it. For more information, or for help with a different back issue, give Dr. Sinicropi and the team at the Midwest Spine & Brain Institute a call today at (651) 430-3800.
