Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. But a short hospital stay might be needed particularly for those who have serious medical conditions. Follow instructions when it comes to neck support, advancing your neck motion, moving your arms, and so on. Its not uncommon for patients to return to work about two weeks post-surgery, although others may needan entiremonth ofhealing. Your physical therapist should be able to point you in the right direction when it comes to optimal positions for your neck. However, the minimally invasive approach may hasten your lumbar discectomy recovery time. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. The day after your surgery, your doctor will likely discharge you from the hospital. Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion. Risks for this surgery include: Your risks may vary depending on your age and your general health. Recovery after Microdiscectomy Microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to help relieve the pressure from pinched nerves known as sciatica or lumbar radiculopathy. Diskectomy reduces herniated disk symptoms in most people who have clear signs of a compressed nerve, such as pain that travels down the legs. Also call your provider if you develop a fever or if you have a lot of pain in the area. Minimally Invasive Lumbar Discectomy | Johns Hopkins Medicine Accessed April 18, 2022. In some cases, a patient may not be able to speak at all or speak above a whisper for days or weeks after the surgery. You can clean the incisionsitewith a towel, but care must be taken to prevent the surgical tape from coming off. Objective The objective of this study is to describe the natural history of neurologic recovery after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Dr. Moise is a member of The Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. In a decompression surgery, such as a laminectomy or discectomy, the nerve root can take a long time to heal, making it difficult to gauge the outcome of the surgery right away. Top 6 Microdiscectomy Recovery Mistakes You Need to Avoid . Diskectomy is surgery to remove the damaged part of a disk in the spine that has its soft center pushing out through the tough outer lining. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Your pain should become less than it was before your surgery. Using small surgical tools, your surgeon will create a tiny incision and move aside the muscles and nerve root. This permanent plate helps hold the bones in place while you heal. The results often indicate whether or not a nerve has been damaged post-surgery or if there could be some delays in healing. You will need to wear a hospital gown during your procedure. Although most patients enjoy noticeable pain relief immediately following the surgery, nerve recovery after a lumbar discectomy is dependent on a variety of factors. After the surgery, for at least 2 to 4 weeks the patient should: not lift heavy objects sit for long periods bend or stretch excessively The nerve root can take a long time to heal from a lumbar decompression (such as a discectomy, microdiscectomy or laminectomy ), making it difficult to gauge the outcome of the surgery. Two to 14 Days Once you have returned home, you should expect to experience many of the side effects common to major surgery: sleepiness, fatigue, and pain. There may also be a healing delay with nerves that control muscle movements called motor nerves. To perform the exercise: Be sure to stop the exercise if you are experiencing an increase in pain in your low back, buttocks, or legs. Narcotic pain medications can cause constipation, so your medical team will give you instructions regarding medications or dietary modifications to manage this side effect if you will be using this type of pain control. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/herniated-disk-in-the-lower-back. Sciatica is most commonly caused by a prolapsed intervertebral disc. Most patients are gradually weaned off opioids over a period of 1 to 2 weeks. If you have any questions about the Barricaid treatment, ask your doctor or contact us at 844-288-7474. is, the faster the recovery and the less chance of complications. Hold the press-up position for 2 seconds, and then slowly lower back down to the starting position. Low-back surgery, such as a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy, can be difficult to properly rehab. Instructions regarding bathing and keeping your incision clean and dry will depend on the type of sutures and wound dressing that you have. You might need to limit lifting or bending. Depending on your work, you may need to work on proper lifting techniques, or you may require an ergonomic evaluation if you spend time sitting at a desk or a computer terminal. Once youhave gained improved lumbar range of motion, hip, and core strength, it may be time to start to work on specific activities to help you return to your previous level of work and recreation. 2016;6(4):e37. Tighten your abdominal muscles as you tilt your pelvis posteriorly, and hold the position for 2 seconds. You will be positioned so your surgeon can perform your surgery. Because it is primarily used to perform a discectomy to remove a portion of a damaged disc, your symptoms may still be present after surgery if there are other issues causing nerve root compression. The nerve root is then gently moved to the side and the disc material is removed from under the nerve root. A new treatment, Barricaid, is a bone-anchored device that closes this hole, and, If you have any questions about the Barricaid treatment, ask your doctor or contact us at. Pain should be reduced significantly. You will go to a pre-operative area and change into a hospital gown. You might be able to go home the day of surgery. Your surgeon will access your bone through a skin incision; sutures, a bandage, and gauze will be placed on the area from which the bone is harvested. If you suspect any problems with your back or incision, call your doctor right away. I had a discectomy on my l2/l3 which pressed nerves severely. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Your course of healing may be slightly shorter or longer depending on your overall health, the severity of your cervical spine disease, and the extent of your surgery. Before deciding if and when to have your ACDF procedure, you will need to ensure that you can take time for the recovery, which includes several days of rest, several weeks or months weeks of limited activity of your neck and arms, and months of physical therapy.