Spinal surgery

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Vertebra, lumbar (low back)

Vertebra, thoracic (mid back)

Herniated lumbar disk

Lumbar spinal surgery - series

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Spinal surgery - lumbar

Alternative Names:

Lumbar spinal surgery

Expectations after surgery:

The outcome depends on the source of the problem or the extent of the injury but most patients do very well after surgery.

Convalescence:

The length of hospital stay will vary according to the surgery performed, but can be as short as overnight for a simple discectomy, to up to a week if a spinal fusion is performed.

You will be encouraged to walk the first or second day after surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots (deep venous thrombosis).

Complete recovery takes about 5 weeks. Heavy work is not recommended until several months after surgery or not at all.

Review Date: 7/4/2004
Reviewed By: Andrew L. Chen, M.D., M.S., Steadman-Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation, Vail, CO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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