Recovering at Home
At home, you are in charge of your recovery. Protect your back by taking care of your incision and returning to activity slowly. See your surgeon for follow-up visits. Also improve your strength and motion by exercising as directed.
Incision Care
Take care of your incision as instructed. Bathe or shower as directed, and change the dressing if you are told to. If Steri-Strips were placed over the wound, they should loosen as the incision heals.
Getting Back into Action
You'll need to increase your activity level slowly. The information below will help you know what to expect.
- Know that some days you will feel better than others. It helps to take short, frequent walks each day. Keep in mind that you'll be walking back, too.
- You may be able to drive or return to a desk job within weeks after surgery. If you do more active work, you may need to wait 2 to 4 months before going back.
- As your back heals, you may feel ready to have sex. If you have questions about safe positions, talk with your surgeon or nurse.
Follow Up
Follow-up office visits allow your surgeon to make sure your back is healing well. Stitches or staples are often taken out 1 to 2 weeks after surgery.
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Call Your Doctor If: Call your surgeon if you have any of the following symptoms:
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Improving Strength and Motion
Strong, flexible muscles help protect your back. You may be taught special exercises. Or you may be told to do the ones shown here. At first, these may be easier to do on a bed than on the floor. Talk with your health care provider if doing your exercises causes new or lasting pain.
Pelvic Tilt
- Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat.
- Tighten your stomach muscles. Press down until the curve of your low back flattens against the bed or floor.
- Hold 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times. Do this twice a day.
Partial Sit-Up
- Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat.
- Slowly raise your head and shoulders off the floor.
- Hold 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times. Do this twice a day.
Lifting Safely
The first weeks after surgery, lift only objects that weigh less than 5 pounds. When you must lift, now or in the future, protect your back by following these steps:
- Get close to the object. Lower your body by bending at the hips and knees. Keep your ears, shoulders, and hips in a line.
- Hold the object close to your body.
- Press down with your feet. Allow your legs to lift your body and the object.
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