Although minimally invasive spine surgeries provide significant pain relief for patients with back pain, there is an inevitable period of recovery. The surgical incision, muscles, and tendons need time to heal following your procedure, and this can cause pain. Patients may be in pain when the awake from surgery, but after a period of days or weeks, this pain will dissipate. In this article we will talk about how to recognize when you are turning the corner and starting to truly recover from a spine surgery.

What we mean by “Turning the Corner”

When we say – “turning the corner” after spine surgery, what exactly do we mean? Turning the corner is basically the point at which you really begin to feel better and show signs of improvement. Some patients may be bedridden for the first day or two after surgery. When they are able to get up and walk around, that is a sign that they are turning the corner.

Signs of Turning the Corner

Here are a few signs that you are turning that corner following your procedure:

• Pain stays constant or decreases, rather than increasing.
• Feeling returns to all areas of the body and tingling/numbness decreases.
• You don’t have to manage pain with medications as much.

In most cases, these signs will appear gradually over time. Recovery takes time and patience.

Speeding the Recovery Process

Taking care of yourself and not pushing the limits are two of the most important things you can do to help your body recover. Talk to your surgeon about their recommendations and requirements for recovering after your spine surgery. They have your best interests in mind, so be sure to follow their post-op instructions exactly – it’s the best thing you can do to help your body recover as fast as possible.

Comments are closed.