You’re not advised to do any vigorous activity after major surgery. This does not mean that you cannot or should not do exercises. You may need to do breathing exercises with a spirometer, as well as range of motion exercises. Rest is important, but being inactive too much can lead to a deep vein thrombosis, or blood clot, in the leg. Walking is a common way to keep active during recovery. By improving blood flow, being active can speed your recovery.

Due to the expectation that you will limit your activities after surgery, sex may be prohibited. You have to pay attention to how you move your body after back surgery. However, that does not mean you can’t have sexual intimacy. Ask your doctor about the best times precio de operación de hernia discal to have sex and what positions are less stressful on your back. If you’re upfront and proactive with your doctor about how to prevent injury, sex may not be off limits.

You’re responsible for the care of any incisions you have while you recover from surgery. You will have to take special precautions in order to prevent infection. You may have to periodically change bandages, for example. To avoid damaging the skin or delaying healing, you’ll need to carefully clean the wound.

You may have to keep your wound dry for a while. You should also be alert to any signs of infection so you can notify your doctor. Watch out for swelling, discharge and odor. During your recuperation period, your everyday activities will be more difficult. We don’t often consider the amount of movement that goes into daily hygiene. Even something as simple as cleaning your self in the bathroom or using the toilet could cause further harm or be difficult.

There are many different tools you can use during your recovery to continue with these activities. A raised shower seat or toilet could be a great investment. You could also keep grabbers, slip-on shoelaces to avoid having to bend down and tying your shoes and slip-ons to prevent straining yourself when reaching for items.

The recovery period for back surgery varies according to the type of procedure. According to Theresa Marko of New York City, who is a doctor of physical therapist with board certifications in orthopaedic PT, recovery after discectomy usually takes between six and eight weeks.

Laminectomy and fusion surgeries, on the other hand, take longer to recover from. Marko explains that these procedures “are more involved” and it may take your body up to twelve weeks to heal. Healing can last up to a full year in some cases. You will be out of work from four to six week if your spinal fusion was done when you were young, healthy, and your job wasn’t very demanding. Older people who have had more intensive surgery may need to wait four to six month to return to work.

The length of your recovery depends on many factors, not just the type of back surgery you have. Your age, the severity of your injury, and how fit you were before surgery also play a role. Marko says, “Healing time increases as we age, because the body heals more slowly than it did when we were young.”