Adults might start returning to work, and children and adolescents might get the green light from their doctor to return to school. Your doctor will likely have you off all prescription pain medications by this point in your recovery. While you may start feeling better, you should still be mindful of your restrictions. At 12 weeks, your doctor will want to take some X-rays to check your progress.
If all is well, you should be able to return to almost all of your normal, unrestrictive activities. The only things your doctor may still consider off-limits are sports that require a great deal of spinal flexibility, like gymnastics or bowling, or activities that can potentially damage your spine, such as riding a rollercoaster or playing contact sports.
After a final recovery check-in with an orthopedic surgeon, many patients can resume all activities including contact sports between 6 and 12 months post-op. Remember, these recommendations are made by doctors on a case-by-case basis. Always consult your doctor before starting or resuming contact sports and other more extreme activities, such as rock climbing or bungee jumping. While discomfort and stiffness are normal parts of the recovery process, increased pain is a sign that you need to slow down and take it easy.
You know your body best, so listen to it. For parents with children about to undergo scoliosis surgery, knowing what to expect and planning ahead helps reduce anxiety about the procedure. Ask your orthopedic surgeon as many questions as you need to before and after surgery — print a list of questions and take it with you, if that helps.
If you still have unanswered questions about adolescent or adult scoliosis surgery recovery, call board-certified spine specialist Dr. Geoffrey Cronen. Rehabilitation Following Lumbar Fusion. Spinal Fusion for Idiopathic Scoliosis. You are here Treatment Back Surgery. By Steven Anagnost, MD. Peer Reviewed. After scoliosis surgery is complete, an epidural is placed in the back in order to control pain.
Generally, the epidural is removed after the third day following surgery. A catheter is placed in the bladder in order to keep the patient from walking to the bathroom following the first couple of days after surgery is completed. After the catheter and epidural are removed, patients are assisted by a physical therapist in order to walk.
The first day of physical therapy often involves the individual moving from the bed and into a chair. The second day of physical therapy involves the patient walking a further distance, usually outside of their hospital room. On the third day of physical therapy , the patient is allowed to walk as much as they can tolerate.
Finally, the physical therapy treatment ends on the fourth day when the patient is allowed to walk up and down stairs. Before a patient is able to be discharged, they must undergo x-rays of their spine. These x-rays are taken in order to ensure that there are not issues with the spinal alignment or implants that were placed during surgery. What happens after scoliosis surgery is important to understand, as well. The rods that are installed during surgery act as splints to hold the spine in position while the fusion process occurs.
This can take up to six months, with fusion continuing for up to a full year. Once the fusion process has completed, the spine is kept from curving abnormally by the recently fused bone. The rods typically remain in the body because removing them would require an additional surgery! A patient will be allowed to return home after surgery, but they will be weak, medicated and in need of time to rest. Bending, lifting, twisting, driving and numerous other activities are forbidden during the initial few weeks after surgery.
Moreover, patients will require assistance from a friend, family member or other loved one to keep up with daily care and tasks. Pain management is also a serious consideration after scoliosis surgery. Often, patients will be prescribed narcotics, which will ease their pain and discomfort.
However, these drugs will also limit cognitive ability and reduce overall energy levels significantly. Patients and their caregivers also need to be be diligent in the care of the surgical incision site. It needs to be kept clean and dry to ensure the best-possible recovery. After about two weeks, the patient will meet with their doctor for a follow-up appointment. It gives the surgeon the opportunity to assess the patient and collaborate on a plan to move forward.
Patients will be able to engage in social activities, ride in vehicles, go back to school and transition away from narcotic pain relief. However, rest and recovery should remain the top priorities.
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