Recovery from spinal surgery can look different for every patient. It's important to follow your surgeon's aftercare instructions to heal as best you can, and also to understand that there may be recovery factors that are beyond your control. For example, multiple studies have shown that older patients can take longer to recover from any type of surgical procedure than younger people.
The benefit of recognizing factors that contribute to your surgical recovery is that you can address those that you can control. For example, if you have spinal surgery or revision spine surgery at an older age, you can harness all other factors that can help you recover more optimally. These include resting as your body requires and eating a nutrient-dense diet after your back surgery.
Activity is an integral aspect of recovery from spinal surgery. It may feel like a fine balance at first. You need to walk short distances several times a day as soon as possible after surgery. This is one of the best ways to prevent blood clots in the legs. At the same time, you'll need to avoid movements that can put stress on the spinal segment that's been treated. Your post-operative instructions may advise you to avoid twisting, lifting, or bending. In general, you may need to move slowly and with more caution than usual.
To optimize your surgical recovery from a first or revision spinal procedure, consider the following suggestions:
Balance your activity levels. At first, you may need to push yourself just a bit to balance the ratio of lying down to moving around. The less you move after having back surgery, the more likely it is that your muscles will weaken and stiffen. The spinal joints rely on regular movement (without stress) to sustain optimal lubrication. Joint mobility can decrease significantly after just a few days of being sedentary.
Think ahead. Depending on your current condition, previous surgery, and other factors, Dr. Lipani may discuss the benefits of pre-surgical physical therapy. This may be best described as "prehabilitation." Beginning physical therapy before revision spine surgery may help strengthen the muscles around the joint or joints to be addressed, thereby facilitating an optimal outcome and shorter recovery period.
Commit to post-surgical rehabilitation. Whether or not you participate in physical therapy before your revision spinal procedure, it's important that you commit to full, prompt, and consistent engagement in all post-operative rehabilitation recommendations. This includes physical therapy as well as activity restrictions as needed based on your procedure.