Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

We know that you’re itching to get back to normal daily activities following your spine surgery, but if you jump back into certain activities too quickly, you can put your spine at risk of injury. Doing too much too quickly is a recipe for disaster, but you’re also not going to make the best recovery by just sitting in bed for a month after your procedure. So how can you safely ease back into daily activities after spine surgery? We share some tips for returning to daily activities after spine surgery in today’s blog.

Getting Back To A Normal Routine After Spine Surgery

This should go without saying, but just to be sure that we cover our bases, we’re going to say it – The following is just general information and should not take the place of real advice provided by your treating surgeon. Odds are the following tips will mirror the advice given to you by your surgeon, but just remember that their recommendations trump what you’ll read below because every case is unique and they have the benefit of viewing your specific issue. With that in mind, here are some tips for returning to normal daily activities after a spinal operation.

1. Ease Into It – It doesn’t matter whether you’re trying to walk down the hall or return to athletics, you need to take things slow when pursuing a new physical challenge in the wake of spine surgery. Gradually build up your distance or duration, carefully pushing yourself to take on bigger challenges until you feel completely comfortable during the activity. Your doctor or physical therapist can give you a better timeline for when you may be able to return to certain activities, but just know that you’ll need to ease into whatever physical activities you pursue after your spine surgery.
2. Listen To Your Body – Odds are certain movements are going to be a little uncomfortable after spine surgery, and you’ll really want to take stock of how you are feeling during different activities. Discomfort is normal and is actually something that physical therapists hope for, because it means that you’re pushing structures out of their comfort zone, and that is what makes them stronger. However, if discomfort suddenly becomes pain, there’s a problem. Learn to distinguish between discomfort and pain so that you can keep your recovery on track.
3. Manage Your Diet And Sleep Schedule – You will want to have the energy to attack each day and the right nutrients to fuel your body, and you can do that by being mindful of your diet and sleep patterns after your spine surgery. It can be easy to fall into bad eating and sleeping habits if you are physically limited for a bit after surgery, but strive to make healthy food choices and go to bed around the same time each night. Fueling your body with healthy food and sleep can make it easier for your body to handle the physical challenges you throw at it.
4. Do Physical Therapy – We are huge proponents of physical therapy after spine surgery, and it is the recovery technique that will best prepare you to return to daily activities following your operation. PT will help you become stronger and more flexible, which will make daily activities much easier. Conversely, if you skip out on your physical therapy exercises, pain and discomfort can persist, making you more sedentary and less likely to pursue certain daily activities. Stick to your PT schedule until you receive clearance from your doctor or PT.
5. Mind Your Restrictions – Finally, make sure that you are following any restrictions put in place by your doctor or physical therapist. If you try to take on activities outside of your restrictions, you can suffer a major setback or even cause the surgery to fail. If you truly believe you are ready for certain activities or your recovery is progressing ahead of schedule, reach out to your doctor and get clearance.

We want to help you get back to doing all the activities you love following your spine procedure, but it’s going to take some time. If you are willing to follow the above advice and the instructions of your treating surgeon, we’re confident that you’ll be back to normal daily activities in no time. For more information, or for help with a different spinal issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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