How long after spinal fusion does the pain go away?

How long after spinal fusion does the pain go away?

As the back continues to heal, patients usually start to feel better and find they can take on more activities. The worst pain is generally over by 4 weeks after surgery. Pain is likely to continue to decrease gradually, but some patients continue to have pain 3 to 6 months after surgery.

How do you relieve spinal fusion pain?

These can include:

1. Medications.
2. Physical therapy.
3. Traction.
4. Spinal injections.
5. Watching and waiting. If your symptoms are caused by an unstable spine, lumbar spinal fusion is probably your only effective treatment option. If you feel your symptoms are not severe enough to have surgery, tell your doctor.

Is there physical therapy after spinal fusion surgery?

Physical therapy is frequently necessary following spinal surgery to help strengthen your back or neck muscles, improve your range of motion and flexibility, and help heal the tissues in the areas where your surgery was performed.

How much should you walk after lumbar fusion?

Walking is the best activity you can do for the first 6 weeks after surgery. You should start out slowly and work up to walking 30 minutes at least twice a day. Do not be surprised if you require frequent naps during the day.

Why do my legs hurt so bad after spinal fusion?

A really rare cause of postoperative leg pain, if it ever happens, is scar tissue. Scar tissue forms after all surgeries and it does not damage surrounding tissues. It can limit the mobility of a nerve root, but physical therapy can usually help in the early postoperative period.

Why do I still have pain after spinal fusion?

If the level above or below the fusion breaks down, it is called adjacent segment disease. Inflammation of the membranes that surround the nerves of the spinal cord can cause arachnoiditis and leads to pain. In general, if pain relief is experienced in the three months after surgery, the relief will likely continue.

How bad is pain after spinal fusion?

After surgery, pain is no longer achy and arthritic but stems from wound healing, swelling and inflammation. You will experience some pain outside of the hospital. For most back surgeries, it will take 1-1.5 months to resume “normal” mobility and function. During this time, pain should be tolerable and controlled.

Why do my hips hurt after lumbar fusion?

There are three possible causes of SIJ pain: (1) an increased mechanical load transfer onto the SIJ after fusion; (2) bone graft harvesting in the iliac crest close to the joint; and (3) the misdiagnosis of an SIJ syndrome before fusion (i.e., the lumbar spine is thought, erroneously, to be fused) [4].

What is physical therapy after spinal fusion surgery?

One strategy that chiropractors and physical therapists recommend is to use aquatic therapy for spinal fusion recovery. Aquatic therapy involves exercising in water. The natural buoyancy of the water reduces pressure on the spine, yet the resistance of the water also helps ensure that exercises are able to condition the muscles.

What is Fusion Rehab?

FUSION Rehabilitation is a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary facility specifically designed to fuse the techniques of physical therapy and chiropractic care.

What is rehab after lumbar fusion?

The average hospital stay after a lumbar fusion is three to four days. Most patients are able to start outpatient physical therapy four to six weeks after surgery. Some can return to work after just four weeks, though it is not uncommon for patients with strenuous jobs to require four to six months off work.

Is physical therapy needed after lumbar fusion?

Physical therapy after spinal fusion surgery may last for 2-3 months. To fully recover from spine fusion surgery, patients typically need up to 8 months of rest and physical therapy. Healing and physical therapy may progress more quickly if you had a lumbar fusion surgery with instrumentation.