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- Patients are usually seen
by the surgeon at two, six and ten weeks after surgery.
- A daily walking program should
begin as soon as possible after surgery. At first it may
be limited to a short distance, but it should be the main
form of therapy for the first 6 weeks.
- During this time, anything
weighing more than a gallon of milk should not be lifted.
By the end of the second week, strength and endurance should
be improving.
A formal physical therapy program
may begin at 4-6 weeks, and should lead to a lifetime home exercise
program to minimize the chances of recurrence.
Operative Treatment for
patients with Back Pain Predominating
Surgery is the final option,
and should be used only if all other treatments
have failed over several months. The back pain is often due
to degeneration of the disc itself rather than a compressed
nerve. When back pain is the main symptom, the surgery most
often recommended is a fusion. In this operation,
the vertebrae are fused together to limit motion.
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