Sitting After Back Fusion Surgery

If you can t get a comfortable night s sleep on your back there may be another option for you.

Sitting after back fusion surgery.

Short term effects in the short term you can expect that your movements may feel somewhat unnatural after spinal fusion surgery. Excess weight means excess stress on weight bearing structures including the. The road to recovery after spine surgery 6 a fusion stabilizes the vertebrae of the spine creating less chance for slippage of the discs. You may have imaging tests like x rays or an mri to see how your back is healing.

Whereas people normally stand sit and bend without thinking about it spinal fusion patients are almost always conscious of making those movements. Spinal fusion is surgery to permanently connect two or more vertebrae in your spine eliminating motion between them. At least 20 percent of all spinal fusion surgeries fail to relieve lower back pain according to dr. John sherman an orthopedic surgeon writing for the website spine health 3 this result is so common that it has been given the name failed back surgery syndrome even though it isn t actually a syndrome.

This is why you need to avoid the following movements after spinal fusion so as to avoid any kind of strain on the fused segments of the spine. Spinal fusion involves techniques designed to mimic the normal healing process of broken bones. Your surgeon may give you suggestions on how long you can sit after surgery before getting up to walk around. During spinal fusion your surgeon places bone or a bonelike material within the space between two spinal vertebrae.

Bone from the iliac crest hip local bone from the operative site. Avoid long car rides if you can while you are healing. What to expect after spinal fusion surgery. If you have been prescribed to wear a back brace by your doctor after spinal fusion then.

Sitting puts the most stress on your back. How to sit after spine surgery. You ll go back to see your doctor about 4 to 6 weeks after your surgery and then every few months to 2 years after. For example you may be asked to get up every half hour to stand walk around for 10 minutes.

Lumbar support pillows ergonomic chairs knee chairs and back braces may be fine for immediate recovery but winter believes the key to sitting comfortably after back surgery is using strong core muscles. Although sitting will not cause damage after back surgery during the first few weeks prolonged sitting is usually uncomfortable and people do best if they get up move around or change position on a frequent basis e g. Failed back surgery syndrome. During the three to six months following spinal fusion surgery the lumbar fusion bone mass starts becoming established.

If after surgery you re wondering what the best sleeping position is for recovery we ll tell you. What is a lumbar low back fusion. It s sleeping on your back. Achieve a healthy weight.

If you use a pillow to support your low back but then collapse over it and create an arch you re going to hurt your back.