Can You Live a Normal Life After Spinal Fusion?

Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that joins two or more vertebrae. Similar to a welding process, it works by fusing two or more vertebrae into one single bone. Patients whose back pain can be precisely pinpointed using X-rays and other scans are good candidates for this procedure. Spinal fusion can relieve back pain associated with degenerative disk disease, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, fractured vertebra, infections, herniated disks, and tumors (among other conditions).

Following Your Spinal Fusion Operation

When a patient first wakes up from this surgery, their spine is stabilized. It takes time for their spine to heal and become truly fused. In a small number of patients, this healing process does not happen, for a variety of reasons. In this small number of patients, they may have worsening symptoms over the next weeks, months, or even years. The patient’s screws and rods may break over time, leading to consistent pain of the spine and even the patient’s leg. Some patients will have a successful surgery at one spinal level, but will continue to have recurring pain both above and below this spinal level. This will cause pain and other symptoms to recur years after their successful surgery. This is considered part of the so-called “Failed Back Surgery Syndrome,” and is not truly the result of a failed procedure or any fault of the surgeon. It occurs for unknown reasons in only a small number of patients.

Natural Spine Degeneration

Immediately after their surgery, it is normal for patients to experience some limited mobility and limited flexibility of their spine. Most people experience some natural spine degeneration, which is part of the normal, gradual aging process. For patients who have had a spinal fusion, this process usually happens much more quickly. Most spinal fusion patients will experience some expected spine degeneration in the five years after their surgery.

Safeguards Following Your Surgery

If a patient falls after their spinal fusion surgery, this fall could potentially cause re-injury or prevent their vertebrae from healing correctly. Patients can prevent falls from happening by removing rugs, bathmats, and other potential tripping hazards from their homes.

Sitting after spinal fusion surgery can be painful and generally places a lot of stress on the back. In order to maintain their normal spinal curves, patients should avoid slouching or sliding down in their chairs. Patients should choose a chair that supports their lower back and allows their feet to be placed flat on the floor. It is also recommended that patients choose a chair that swivels or turns in order to reach objects, rather than having to twist their entire body to reach objects. Patients should take consistent breaks from sitting, and should stand up every 30-45 minutes.

Transportation Limitations

Generally, all people who have just had surgeries are at high risk of developing blood clots while flying on an airplane, as flying involves sitting for long periods of time. If a patient traveled on a plane to a hospital location for their spinal fusion, it is recommended that they wait about 1 week after their surgery date before flying home. Generally, patients are recommended to avoid short flights for 6 weeks, and to avoid long-haul flights for 12 weeks after their surgeries.

It is recommended that patients avoid riding in a car for more than 30 minutes at a time 2-4 weeks after surgery. After this time frame, patients can travel by car and drive a car as tolerated. It is recommended that patients take frequent stops every 30 minutes, in order to get out and move around for a few minutes at a time.

Returning to Your Normal Life

Most spinal fusion patients will return to work within 2-6 weeks following their surgeries, depending on the type of work that they do, and will be able to work long-term.

6-12 months after the surgery, an orthopedist should confirm that the vertebrae have successfully healed. During this time, patients can return to their normal lifestyle, including bending, lifting, and twisting. Before that time frame, patients absolutely must avoid bending, lifting, and twisting. Even once 6-12 months have passed, doctors do not recommend high-impact sports or strenuous physical activities. Most patients are successfully healed 8 months after their surgeries. However, if the patient had any nerve damage as a result of their surgery, it may take up to 2 years for the patient’s nerve tissue to return to normal.

Sources

Elsarrag, Mazin, et al. “Enhanced Recovery after Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review.” Neurosurgical Focus, vol. 46, no. 4, 2019, https://doi.org/10.3171/2019.1.focus18700.
Government of Alberta Personal Health Portal. “Lumbar Spinal Fusion: What to Expect at Home.” MyHealth.Alberta.ca Government of Alberta Personal Health Portal, https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid =zx4099.
Johns Hopkins Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery. The Road to Recovery After Lumbar Spine Surgery - Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/orthopaedic-surgery/_documents/patient-information/patient-forms-guides/JHULumbSpineSurgeryGuide.pdf.
Mayo Clinic. “Spinal Fusion.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 Nov. 2020, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/spinal-fusion/about/pac-20384523.