|
Back and neck pain
Spinal degenerative disease and related disorders
What is the recovery period?
Wound healing
Any operation, however carefully performed, has an impact on the body as a whole. The body does not distinguish between an accidental wound, a war wound and a surgical wound. All of these injure tissues and cause complex chemical alterations, called metabolic changes. The extent of these changes and their effects upon the individual depend to some degree on the extent of the surgery, but even relatively small wounds, such as microdiscectomy, may disturb the body chemistry for up to a month. During this time an individual will feel somewhat ‘washed out’ or ‘lacking in energy’. The old-fashioned term convalescence describes this phase of recovery. After about four to six weeks most people will begin to feel normal again.
Work
The time to return to work following surgery varies considerably from one person to another and depends on a number of factors, including economic circumstances and an individual’s level of motivation. It is usually acceptable for somebody to be off duty for up to six weeks, but by three months most people should be able carry out a normal day’s work. A job involving particularly heavy physical work might need a longer period of recovery, perhaps six months.
Sports
Activities which do not load the spine, for example swimming, can be started again at a relatively early stage, perhaps six weeks after surgery. More vigorous sports, particularly those involving twisting and loading, for example tennis and skiing, should only be started again when the body tissues have healed fully. This will take up to six months in most cases. Remember that you should get fit to play sports, not play sports to get fit.
Any operation, however carefully performed, has an impact on the body as a whole. The body does not distinguish between an accidental wound, a war wound and a surgical wound. All of these injure tissues and cause complex chemical alterations, called metabolic changes. The extent of these changes and their effects upon the individual depend to some degree on the extent of the surgery, but even relatively small wounds, such as microdiscectomy, may disturb the body chemistry for up to a month. During this time an individual will feel somewhat ‘washed out’ or ‘lacking in energy’. The old-fashioned term convalescence describes this phase of recovery. After about four to six weeks most people will begin to feel normal again.
Work
The time to return to work following surgery varies considerably from one person to another and depends on a number of factors, including economic circumstances and an individual’s level of motivation. It is usually acceptable for somebody to be off duty for up to six weeks, but by three months most people should be able carry out a normal day’s work. A job involving particularly heavy physical work might need a longer period of recovery, perhaps six months.
Sports
Activities which do not load the spine, for example swimming, can be started again at a relatively early stage, perhaps six weeks after surgery. More vigorous sports, particularly those involving twisting and loading, for example tennis and skiing, should only be started again when the body tissues have healed fully. This will take up to six months in most cases. Remember that you should get fit to play sports, not play sports to get fit.
|
Page 15 of 19
Contents
- Introduction
- What causes spinal pain?
- Why do I experience different types of pain?
- What other symptoms can develop?
- How common are spinal problems?
- Could it be something serious?
- What will happen if the pain is not treated?
- What do the various words used by doctors mean?
- What tests can be performed?
- How is spinal pain treated?
- When is an operation necessary?
- What do you recommend, doctor?
- Who should perform my operation?
- What are the drawbacks of surgery?
- What is the recovery period?
- What is surgery fails?
- What advances are likely in the future?
- Conclusions
- Other organisations that may be able to help
