When to return to work after spine surgery?
The purpose of our study was to define the expectations for returning to work for different kinds of spine surgery, from minimal lumbar diskectomy to major spinal reconstruction and fusion of several vertebrae.
When do the restrictions on spinal fusion go away?
Most of the restrictions get lifted between three to six months following the spinal fusion surgery and almost all of the restrictions get lifted after a year of surgery. However, there will be some permanent restrictions that you will have to follow for the rest of your life after undergoing spinal fusion surgery.
When to recognize an emergency spinal cord injury?
Spinal cord emergencies are uncommon, but injury must be recognized early so that the diagnosis can be quickly confirmed and treatment can be instituted to possibly prevent permanent loss of function.
Can a person work after a lumbar fusion?
An example: 96% of patients were working long term after their first lumbar fusion and 79% of patients were working after revision of a failed fusion attempt. 5. Even patients requiring multiple surgeries are able to work long term after revision surgery.
When do you go back to work after spinal fusion?
If you had spinal fusion, you will probably be off work for 4 to 6 weeks if you are young and healthy and your job is not very strenuous. It may take 4 to 6 months for older people with more extensive surgery to get back to work. Length of recovery also depends on how bad your condition was before surgery.
How many people are still working 4 years after spine surgery?
– Looking specifically at long term work for these 255 patients, 95% of those undergoing lumbar discectomy were still working four years later. For patients requiring laminectomy for spinal stenosis or nerve compression as a result of arthritis, 81% were still working four years after surgery.
Spinal cord emergencies are uncommon, but injury must be recognized early so that the diagnosis can be quickly confirmed and treatment can be instituted to possibly prevent permanent loss of function.
Can a person go back to work after back surgery?
Even people requiring bigger surgeries like spinal fusion are 90% likely to return to work and stay at work long term. While most people recover from back pain through exercise and healthy lifestyles, those who require surgery can expect to return to work and “get their life back” too.