You should let me know if you’ve had a fall. We will need to ensure that the impact hasn’t caused any complications. Usually, everything is fine, though you might feel a bit more sore afterward. Contact my team for reassurance or to schedule a check-up.
After surgery, it’s natural to feel hesitant about moving, but rebuilding your confidence in your spine is crucial. Staying active is key to preventing muscle tightness and spasms. However, balance is important — activity should promote healing, not risk further damage. The specific guidelines will depend on the type of surgery you had, and I’ll go through them with you in detail during your consultation.
It’s common for numbness and weakness to persist after spine surgery, especially if these symptoms existed before the operation. Surgery relieves pressure on the nerves, allowing them to recover, but nerves take time to heal. While pain often improves quickly, numbness and weakness can take weeks or even months to improve.
Yes, weakness after spine surgery is normal, especially if your spinal nerves were compressed before surgery. Surgery alleviates pressure on the nerves, but the nerve’s recovery takes time. The extent of recovery depends on how long you’ve had symptoms and the severity of the nerve injury.
Some pain at the incision site and pulling sensations when moving are normal during the first week or two. This is part of the healing process for the skin and muscles. If you’re concerned about your pain at any stage, contact my team for further advice.
The timeline for returning to normal activities depends on the type of surgery you had. My goal is to get you back to your daily routine as quickly as possible, and I’ll give you detailed instructions based on your specific operation. In general, keyhole surgery allows for faster recovery.
Physiotherapy plays a crucial role for some patients after spine surgery, but it’s not always necessary. Often, staying active with normal daily activities is sufficient. I’ll discuss whether physiotherapy is right for you during your recovery plan.
Massages are safe after the incision has fully healed, which typically takes about two weeks. Before then, the area should not be rubbed or irritated. After that healing period, feel free to enjoy a massage.
Here are some common post-surgery experiences:
Yes, bruising after surgery is common. It may seem larger than the incision itself, but this is normal and caused by blood settling under the skin. The bruise might look dramatic but should fade in a few weeks and is usually not tender.
Yes, you can still have an MRI after spine surgery. Any metal used in your surgery is typically made of titanium, which is non-magnetic and safe for MRI scanners.
No, titanium implants won’t set off airport alarms. Titanium is non-magnetic, so you don’t need to worry about carrying X-rays to prove your surgery at security checkpoints.
Even with modern techniques and technology, surgery doesn’t always provide a 100% guarantee. However, I carefully track my outcomes to ensure high success rates. If your surgery didn’t meet the expected outcome, we’ll review your case, reassess your options, and work together on a new plan moving forward.
If you have new symptoms after surgery, it’s important to contact my team immediately. While it’s often nothing serious, I’d rather assess the situation and reassure you than leave you worrying.
If you notice any leakage from the incision site, contact my team immediately. We need to rule out any possible infection, although my infection rates are less than 0.5%.
Contact my team ASAP so I can assess the situation. We will determine if any further action is needed
