Spinal symptoms can arise from various causes, such as herniated discs compressing nerves, spinal congestion, osteoporosis, and more. When other treatments for the spine fail to improve the condition, spinal surgery becomes the last resort used for treatment. This is a common treatment method, where doctors consider treatment based on the characteristics of the disease, such as to reduce pain, to relieve spinal nerve compression, etc. However, many patients are still concerned about spinal surgery, especially regarding whether they can walk again afterward.
What should you know before spinal surgery?
Patients and their families must understand before spinal surgery that the results may be good, not good, or not as expected by the patient. However, the rate of adverse outcomes is very low. There are four factors involved in the treatment outcomes that may cause the surgery not to meet the patient’s expectations:
- The surgical team’s experience and expertise in diagnosing spinal diseases and other conditions in the patient, such as diabetes, hypertension, medication history, as these all affect the surgery.
- The patient themselves, for example, patients with underlying diseases, especially those with more than one chronic condition, which affects physical recovery.
- The choice of treatment method. It must be accepted that nowadays, there are many surgical methods available. Spinal surgery also has various techniques, such as endoscopic surgery, laser surgery, or major open surgery. These methods affect recovery and the return to normal physical condition.
- Postoperative care, such as proper physical therapy and appropriate exercise without overexertion or excessive strain, including reducing risk factors that harm the spine.
Can you walk normally after spinal surgery?
When undergoing surgery and physical therapy while following proper care, patients can walk again. However, in cases where 80-90% of patients cannot walk, it is often due to the patients themselves. For example, after surgery, they refuse to do physical therapy, possibly due to aging, discomfort from wearing spinal support devices, pain at the wound site, or reluctance to move. Family members may also discourage pushing too hard. Lack of continuous physical therapy, combined with no exercise before surgery, leads to muscle weakness and deterioration during recovery. If no exercise or physical therapy is done until the wound heals, the unused muscles over 3-4 weeks will weaken, making it difficult to stand, causing discouragement, and the patient may end up bedridden again. This leads to muscle atrophy due to lack of movement, which is why some patients cannot walk after surgery.
What to expect after spinal surgery
Generally, patients can stand and begin walking practice on the 2nd or 3rd day, depending on the doctor’s assessment, after removal of blood or urine drainage tubes. In the first few days, there may be tightness and pain around the surgical wound as anesthesia or mild painkillers wear off. If pain occurs during this period, patients should inform the nursing staff to receive pain medication. Postoperative pain usually gradually subsides over the next 3-4 days (depending on the individual, wound size, age, and physical condition). During this time, patients and families should focus on physical rehabilitation to strengthen muscles faster.
Most patients improve and feel more comfortable, able to return to daily activities or work within 3-4 weeks, depending on the patient’s physical strength, type of work, and type of surgery.
Don’t: 5 Forbidden Behaviors After “Spinal Surgery”
1. Bending forward and backward excessively or extreme bending or arching of the back
2. Bending the back to pick up or lift objects incorrectly (should bend the knees)
3. Lifting heavy objects
4. Being in places with vibrations
5. Sitting for long periods, especially in soft seats that cause the back to curve
