Much like any other surgical procedure, disc extrusion surgery will require some downtime afterward. The exact length of your recovery period will be influenced by a number of factors, including the type of surgery performed and your age and overall health.

If you need guidance in planning for your upcoming surgery and recovery, your physician is your best source of information. Make sure that you fully understand the postoperative instructions that he or she provides, and ask for clarification whenever necessary. Your physician’s advice is valuable — be sure to take full advantage of it.

How to ensure a smooth recovery from spine surgery

As a patient, you will play a key role in your recovery from disc extrusion surgery. Here are some general things you should do to promote healing and improve your comfort as your recover:

• Be realistic. While you may see some improvement immediately after your surgery, the full results may not become apparent for several weeks or months. It will be important for you to manage your expectations to that you don’t become discouraged and “give up” on your rehabilitation in the meantime.
• Follow your surgeon’s instructions. As you start to feel better, you might be tempted to resume your regular routine earlier than instructed by your physician. Keep in mind that your body will need a certain amount of time to heal, and you should not try to do too much, too soon.
• Listen to your body. You will probably find that certain body positions and movements are more comfortable than others. If something hurts, you should immediately slow down or stop. Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. If you power through discomfort, you may end up prolonging your recovery or injuring yourself.

Recovering from minimally invasive surgery

At USA Spine Care, we specialize in performing minimally invasive spine surgery, which is a safer and effective alternative to traditional disc extrusion surgery.^ Our muscle-sparing techniques involve small incisions and minimal disruption to surrounding tissues in the neck or back. To learn more about the many potential advantages of our approach, contact us. We can provide you with a free MRI review* to determine if you are a candidate for our minimally invasive procedures.

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