Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

When determining if spine surgery is the right path forward, many people try to envision what their life would look like after the procedure and recovery is complete. However, since they’ve likely never gone through anything like this, it can be tough to picture what life will be like when the operation and recovery is complete. And while we can only speak in generalities and lean on our first-hand experience, we want to use today’s blog to paint a picture of what your life may look like after your back surgery.

Life After Spine Surgery

Every person and spinal procedure is unique, so we can’t say that every person will experience all of the following things unilaterally after their procedure. That said, here’s a look at some of the improvements and challenges you may notice after your spinal procedure.

• Fatigue – Surgery is a major trauma on your body, and it’s going to be working hard behind the scenes to address the physical trauma of surgery. Your immune system will also be working hard to ward off potential infections, and all of these defense mechanisms require energy, so don’t be surprised if you feel fatigued the first few days after surgery. It is to be expected, and it shouldn’t last long, but don’t be discouraged that you may feel more tired or weaker than you expected during the initial stages of recovery.
• Effort Required – Surgery is only one aspect of your recovery program, and you’re going to need to put in plenty of work on your own if you want to make the strongest recovery. You’re not just going to be able to sit in bed and become much stronger than you were prior to your operation. In order to make the strongest and most functional recovery possible, plenty of effort is going to be required. Your recovery team and your physical therapist can help show you how to direct that effort into recovery exercises that help you make the best functional gains during your rehab period.
• Decreased Pain – Again, we can’t speak for everyone, but in most cases one of the pain goals of surgery is to reduce or eliminate pain. While you may be in some additional pain as a result of the trauma of surgery for a couple of days, you should soon notice a significant decrease in pain compared to your pre-operative condition. You will want to come in with a plan to control post-op discomfort, but in most cases it’s very realistic to expect that you will be in less pain soon after your procedure is complete.
• More Independence – One of the best things about undergoing a spinal procedure is that it is designed to improve your quality of life and help you regain some independence. Whether a back injury was keeping you out of the gym, away from your favorite sport or simply making it difficult to do tasks around the house, oftentimes a spinal procedure can greatly improve physical function so that you can get back to performing daily activities and tasks you enjoy. If back pain is affecting your ability to be independent, know that surgery can help to restore your freedom.
• Slow But Steady Progress – We also want patients to understand that their recovery won’t happen overnight. Recovering after a spinal procedure, even one that is minimally invasive in nature, will typically be measured in months, not days, so know that you are in for the long haul. It will be worth it in the end, and you should be able to notice improvement as you get further from your surgery, but know that it will take some time. We ask for patient patients, because most recovery programs aim for slow and steady functional restoration.
• It’s Worth It – Finally, for the vast majority of patients, it’s worth it to move forward with a spinal procedure because of what life looks like when all is said and done. The operation and recovery may be difficult at times, but the end result is a version of yourself with less pain, more function and an improved quality of life. Life looks better after a successful surgery and recovery, so take the leap and trust an experienced spine surgeon like Dr. Sinicropi with your care.

For more information, or for answers to questions you have about a different back issue, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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