How long after a back operation can you sit? (2023)

How long can you sit after back surgery?

Sitting is limited to 20 minutes at a time for the first two weeks after surgery. This is increased to 40 minutes by four weeks. You should return to bed or go for a short walk if you start to feel uncomfortable. Periods of sitting can be repeated many times a day with a rest lying down in between for 30 to 60 minutes.

Although sitting will not cause damage after back surgery, during the first few weeks, prolonged sitting is usually uncomfortable and people do best if they get up, move around or change position on a frequent basis (e.g. every half hour).

The right way to sleep after back surgery

The best position to sleep in after spine surgery is lying flat on your back, placing a pillow below your knees or lying sideways with a pillow between your bent knees.

After surgery, avoid sitting in soft chairs and on couches where your hips drop below your knees. If a chair is too high for you, place your feet on a small stool or box to help maintain correct sitting posture. Take frequent breaks by standing up and stretching every 30 to 45 minutes.

By the sixth week following your surgery, you should be walking for 30 minutes twice a day. And that's a good habit to continue even when you're fully recovered. Remaining active aids your successful recovery from back surgery. At the same time, you need to take care not to reinjure your back by overdoing it.

Nerve Healing

Although many patients notice an immediate difference in symptoms after surgery, results can vary. This does not mean that surgery was unsuccessful. Immediately after surgery, pain may improve followed by improvements in numbness and tingling. This can take weeks or months to improve or resolve.

In my opinion, walking after lower back surgery is the single most important exercise you can do to burn calories. In addition, it will also help restore muscle tone to the muscles along your spine, and will help your body recover from the local inflammation caused by your surgical procedure.

It is okay to sit while eating and for half an hour at a time. Recliners are better than soft-backed chairs. Do not lift more than 10 pounds for the first 4 weeks after surgery. It is okay to climb stairs.

While wiping, bend from the knees rather than at the hips. A long- handled device may help to reach all areas. 4. The use of pre-moistened, flushable wipes is strongly recommended.

How do you roll out of bed after back surgery?

Just like sleeping on your back, sleeping on your side helps reduce pain and pressure. Try to alternate between sleeping on your left and right side to distribute the pressure and benefit your spine's alignment. Right after surgery, you can also place a pillow under or in between your knees.

Vehicle Transfer After Spine Surgery - YouTube

Your Recovery

It may take 4 to 6 weeks to get back to doing simple activities, such as light housework. It may take 6 months to a year for your back to get better completely. You may need to wear a back brace while your back heals. And your doctor may have you go to physiotherapy.

It is very common to experience lower limb pain 2-‐4 days post surgery and again after 3 weeks. Usually this pain is less than the pain you had before surgery but in some cases it can be severe and quite stressful.

It is quite common to feel fatigued after surgery, regardless of whether it was a minor or major procedure. This is because your body expends a lot of energy afterward trying to heal. There is an immune response that kicks in, which can be physically draining as well.

It can take 6 months to a year for your backbone to heal. A laminectomy or discectomy removes a bit of tissue from the spine area. You may get better in 12 weeks. Whichever you had, care for your back after surgery usually follows the same general steps.

Activity Precautions. No matter what type of back surgery you're undergoing, and no matter how well controlled your pain is, it's vital that you avoid bending, lifting, and twisting. Bending from the waist, lifting more than 10 pounds, and twisting your torso all put undue pressure on your vulnerable spine.

While it may seem easy to climb stairs a few days after surgery, this motion can put undue stress on your spine and slow down your recovery. You can go upstairs in the couple weeks following surgery, but it's best to limit stairs to once or twice a day in the first few weeks.

Why does my buttocks hurt after back surgery?

Causes of Buttock Pain Post-Discectomy

Some pain in the back or buttock region post-op is completely normal. However, if the pain persists or gets worse over time, there might be some other issue at play, such as a pinched nerve or sciatica pain.

Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay. Do not drive for 2 to 4 weeks after your surgery or until your doctor says it is okay. Avoid riding in a car for more than 30 minutes at a time for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery.

It is okay to sit while eating and for half an hour at a time. Recliners are better than soft-backed chairs. Do not lift more than 10 pounds for the first 4 weeks after surgery. It is okay to climb stairs.

While it may seem easy to climb stairs a few days after surgery, this motion can put undue stress on your spine and slow down your recovery. You can go upstairs in the couple weeks following surgery, but it's best to limit stairs to once or twice a day in the first few weeks.

Doctors recommend sleeping on your back or your side as you heal from spine surgery. Sleeping on your belly is generally not recommended because your spine is not in a neutral position for a prolonged period. Consider wearing satin pajamas to bed to help it make it easier for you to adjust your sleeping position.

Putting undue stress on a bone that needs healing often exacerbates an injury. Apply that same concept to recovery from spinal surgeries. Avoid bending at all after a lumbar fusion if possible, as bending or twisting can interfere with the way the fusion heals and even damage the work that was done.

It is quite common to feel fatigued after surgery, regardless of whether it was a minor or major procedure. This is because your body expends a lot of energy afterward trying to heal. There is an immune response that kicks in, which can be physically draining as well.

Spinal Fusion Recovery Time

It typically takes about 4 to 6 weeks to return to an office or sedentary job, but it can take 3 months or longer to return to activities that are more physical. Despite the name of the surgery, the spine is not actually fused during a lumbar spinal fusion procedure.

It is very common to experience lower limb pain 2-‐4 days post surgery and again after 3 weeks. Usually this pain is less than the pain you had before surgery but in some cases it can be severe and quite stressful.

Bending, Lifting, Twisting Restrictions after Back Surgery - YouTube

Can you sleep on your back after back surgery?

It is generally OK after back surgery to sleep in whatever position is most comfortable. Some prefer to sleep on one side or the other with a pillow between their knees and/or behind them to support the back.

Getting dressed

Putting on and taking off socks, slacks, and underwear may be easier to do lying on your back. A tool called a dressing reacher can be of help. To make dressing and undressing easier, wear loose clothes and slip-on shoes with closed backs.

Nerve injury and paralysis

Some patients who have lumbar decompression surgery will develop new numbness or weakness in one or both legs as a result of the operation. Paralysis is an uncommon, but serious, complication that can occur as a result of lumbar decompression surgery.

In my opinion, walking after lower back surgery is the single most important exercise you can do to burn calories. In addition, it will also help restore muscle tone to the muscles along your spine, and will help your body recover from the local inflammation caused by your surgical procedure.

With all the stress your body is going through after surgery, your iliopsoas muscles may tighten to try to support and protect the injured area. Unfortunately, the lower back and hip pain that often accompanies this protective act can be confusing and frustrating when it adds extra pain to your recovery.